Meet our therapists

What I would say, though, is that I’ve been involved in clinical psychology for about 30 years and I’ve been practicing meditation myself now for close to 40 years. And I’m very interested in how these two different things, Western science of how to help people, and the Eastern traditions for how to develop peace of mind, can be combined to really offer people who want to learn about these things, the best possible combination for making a useful difference for them. And I spent my career, over the years, doing my best to learn about these things so that I can find ways to offer these kinds of trainings and opportunities to other people.

I started at Toronto General Hospital in the late 1980′s where I developed the first mindfulness-based stress reduction program in Canada. Over a thousand people took part in that program. And now that I’m here in private practice, and I have the Mindfulness Clinic, we offer both group classes and individual therapy and…maybe I would say too, that the people that work with me here are very carefully chosen. We’ve…I’ve tried to find, and I’ve been able to find, people that are kind, smart and practical, people that have good hearts, and people that really want to be able to make a difference for viewers like you who are looking for someplace to come to find something that will be useful for the changes that you would like to make for yourself.

If you have any questions for me personally, you are quite welcome to give me a call. And the phone number and my e-mail address will come up on the screen now. Thank you.

I offer individual mindfulness-based psychotherapy. As well, I co-facilitate the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy groups. My training is as a…is in Counselling Psychology. I have a Masters and some specialized training in mindfulness and family systems therapy.

If you have problems or difficulties in your life that you’re not able to talk to family or friends about, I can help you. One of the things I can do is teach you meditation techniques such as loving kindness meditation which can be very helpful if you have a tendency to be critical of yourself. What you may find in coming to see me, is that you will find a space where you, hopefully, don’t feel alone with your struggle and you get support and kindness and enough space and time to sort out and find the answers for yourself.

If you would like to ask me some questions about my approach or how I might be able to help you, please give me a call.

I have a Masters Degree in counseling psychology,  andI have additional specialized training Cognitive behavioral therapy. For the past 10 years I have been helping people notice the connections between their thoughts, feelings and behaviors to help them  gain greater clarity and make positive changes in there lives. I also have a personal daily meditation practice myself,and this helps me to be present with, and attuned to the needs of my clients.

I am a trained yoga instructor and a long distance runner. I can help you utilize gentle yogic or other body-based techniques to help you find a greater mind-body connection,  reduce stress and feel better.

I have worked with many individuals who are trying to find greater work life balance, who feel anxious or depressed, who are trying to find a clear direction or make difficult choices or who have difficulties in their relationships. When I work with clients it is important to me that the counseling process is clear and straightforward. If you are coming for counseling with me I will make every attempt to demystify the process and make it transparent and practical so you can know and feel  real changes are useful and practical for you.

If you see me for counseling, together we will keep track from session to session of the changes in your life so that you will have evidence that our sessions helpful. This system of keeping track of changes is one that all of the therapists here at the mindfulness clinic use. Based on the statistics we have collected with the clients we have all worked with,our evidence shows that counseling sessions with all the therapists from our team is effective, practical and helpful.

Like many people who choose psychotherapy as an option, you may be experiencing a distressing situation, having conflicts in your relationships, undergoing a life transition, or you may decide that it’s finally time to address a problem from your past. Maybe you just have a vague sense that something is missing in your life.

Together we sill work to uncover the blocks that may be keeping you fromt he life that you want. I will bring my warmth, compassion and full presence into our sessions together, so that you can explore your issues and gain insight into who you are. I’ll work with you to set manageable goals, and I can also recommend practical tools such as relaxation techniques, breathing exercises or guided imagery to help you manage stress, anxiety, or to help regulate your mood.

If you would like to find out more about how I can help you, please call me at the Mindfulness Clinic.

I have extensive training in Buddhist meditation and philosophy. In the Shambhala Buddhist lineage, I have completed Sutryana Seminary and I am also involved with the Centre of Gravity community in Toronto.

I also have training in yoga and art. With these tools, I can help you shift toward a more intuitive life, focused on the here and now.

Drawing upon creativity, I can help

you find new ways of responding to the challenges you face and accompany you in an exploration of the full range of your potential.

As therapy unfolds, you may experience an enhanced awareness of personal responsibility and choice, allowing you to move from loneliness and isolation toward feeling more connected, spontaneous and flexible.

We can work together to help you regain physical and mental vitality, to expand your emotional range so that you may gain more trust in yourself.

I have particular experience addressing anxiety, insomnia, addictions and depression using body-based practices, including yoga.

I can assist you in overcoming barriers to practicing meditation and yoga in your daily life, as well as working through other challenges you may be facing on your spiritual path.

If you would like to discuss my approach or to book a session, please call me at the Mindfulness Clinic.

If you are having a hard time coping with a problem in your life, or if in general life just seems overwhelming, I’d like to help you move toward a more peaceful and enjoyable path.

I am currently completing doctoral work in psychology, and have 10 years experience as a therapist, counselor and researcher, and many more than that as a student of life, and sometimes, the school of hard-knocks!

Over the years, I have worked with people from diverse backgrounds, seeking help with a wide range of problems.

Examples of some of the issues I have worked with include: Relationship difficulties, whether of the romantic, friendship, family or work variety; depression; anxiety; issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity; difficulties resulting from marginalization and oppression; traumatic experiences; and grief.

So what am I like as a therapist?
First, I believe that just as we are all individuals who experience life in very unique ways, no single therapeutic approach “fits all”.

My therapeutic style then, could be described as eclectic. In other words, I use a number of different approaches, and I will customize our sessions to best suit your individual needs and situation.

When we meet, you’ll find that I am very down-to-earth and straightforward. I strive to always be clear about what we are doing in therapy and why, so that you feel in control of your own healing journey.

I work on the assumption that each of us is the primary expert about our own experiences in life, and that we all have within us the seeds of healing and wellness needed to move beyond difficult times and situations.

Ultimately, it is my goal to help you leave therapy with the knowledge and skills needed to move forward and handle whatever life brings your way, with a greater sense of confidence and peace.

If you would like to talk more about how I may be able to help you, please get in touch with me at The Mindfulness Clinic. I look forward to hearing from you!

I’ve also received training to help people with anxiety and sleep difficulties. If you are having trouble with anxiety, stress or sleep, and you would like some help with that, I could help you to break down those problems into small steps so that we can find strategies to overcome them. There are, today, very practical and effective ways to treat both anxiety and sleep difficulties. We would work with your emotions, behaviours, your thoughts, to help break those patterns that lead to anxiety and sleep problems.

I’m also trained to help people with other issues. For example, I could help you with relationship problems, difficulties with assertiveness, depression or problems getting along with others. We would work in a very collaborative way in that we would find, together, the best strategies to help you get the quality of life that you are looking for.

If you would like to get more information or if you would like to book your first appointment, give us a call. I’m looking forward to meeting you.

If you come to see me, I’ll do my best to help you deal with your problems and meet your goals. We will work together in partnership so that I can use what I’ve learned to help you meet your goals as quickly as possible. If you would like to know a little bit more about my training credentials, I’ll tell you about that now.

I have a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto. I am a Kripalu Certified Yoga Instructor and a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Practitioner. As well, I have a Diploma in Ayurveda from the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico. Ayurveda is the traditional system of health from India.

I’ve also been practicing meditation for over 15 years. So my training and studies in Eastern philosophy and contemplative practices inform my work as a therapist in that I use relaxation and breathing techniques, yoga, as well as mindfulness meditation to help with different problems.

If you would like any more information about how I can help you, please call me at the clinic.

Whether you are struggling with painful or difficult emotions, an unresolved or traumatic event of the pasts, feeling stuck in the same patterns, or just overwhelmed by your current life situation, I’d like to help you move through these issues in a way that gives you more freedom, and a sense of inner peace and joy in your life.

My special interests and current training are in the areas of mindfulness meditation, mind-body connection, and guided imagery.

I’ve worked with individuals with a variety of difficulties including: trauma, depression, anxiety, phobias, interpersonal relationship difficulties, identity issues, life transitions, as well as grief and loss.

In my approach to therapy, I believe that everyone has the potential for growth and self-realization, given the right conditions.

My role then is to help you to see more clearly the barriers that stop you from achieving your goals and to realizing your own answers to the problems that you are facing.

In therapy, we will approach these in a number of different ways, exploring effective techniques to find the tools that best fit for you.

Through our work together, you will learn how to become more present in your life, and how to move towards a new way of relating to yourself, your experiences, and to others, which allows for more inner peace and harmony.

Inevitably, we must all go through many ups and downs in our journey through life, and although we cannot always control the events in our lives, we can learn that we have control over how we deal with what we are experiencing, so that we feel able to ride the waves of life with greater ease.

If any of this resonates with you, please feel free to contact the mindfulness clinic. I look forward to hearing from you.