Sam comes to us from the University of Toronto, where she pursued a Master of Education degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Sam recognizes the significant impact counselling has on individuals and the importance of creating a safe environment for clients. Sam completed her practicum placement at the Toronto Counselling Centre for Teens and looks forward to continuing working with teenagers in her current role. She has a passion for helping teens develop coping skills and being there to support them during a time in life when they are finding themselves and navigating new situations.

Sam has experience working with those experiencing body image concerns and difficulties with eating, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and anger. Adolescence can be challenging, and Sam recognizes the importance of helping teenagers in the present so they can be successful in their future and feel confident they have the tools they need to succeed. The modalities that inform Sam’s therapeutic approach include Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness-based therapies, Internal Family Systems, Emotion Focused Therapy, cognitive-based therapies, and Family-Based Therapy. She believes in finding the best fit for each client.

Sam believes in creating a nonjudgmental space where teens feel comfortable being their genuine selves. She utilizes humour and compassion to cultivate this space. She takes an anti-oppressive and trauma-informed approach to her practice and believes that individuals are the experts on themselves. She strives to utilize a collaborative approach in sessions to empower those she works with.

Sam enjoys getting lost in a good book, making bracelets, and spending time in nature. A fun fact about Sam is she is a certified Pilates teacher!

Samantha sees individual teens & adults, as well as families.

Samantha practises both at our Runnymede & Bloor Location and our Danforth & Chester Location.

Patricia has been working directly with young folks, kids, teens, and families for over 15 years. She works from an anti-oppressive framework and social justice context to build supportive, therapeutic relationships.

Patricia’s approach to working with individuals is all about highlighting and fostering strengths along with areas of success, resiliency, and collaboration in a non-judgemental space. She believes in the power of connection and compassion with yourself, family/chosen family, friends, and communities. Patricia will co-create and cultivate new ways of learning about, thinking about, and moving through challenging moments.

Patricia has extensive experience with complex family conflicts, as well as with assisting people to navigate the impacts of trauma, loss, grief, self-criticism, self-esteem, parenting/caregiving, and self-harming behaviours. She draws from multiple evidence-based modalities, including cognitive-based interventions, Narrative Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy.

People often remark on her warmth, dry sense of humour, and insight. She is also a parent with a rambunctious and adorable child. When she’s not in session, you can find her teaching, soaking up music and art, and biking around the city.

Patricia sees individual children, teens, adults & parents as well as families.

Patricia practises at our Runnymede & Bloor location.

Laura’s Master of Education in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy is from the University of Toronto. She has a long history of working with teens and families. Prior to her Masters, she was at the Distress Centre in Calgary where she provided a wide range of emotional support and crisis intervention to teens experiencing a broad range of concerns including anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship difficulties, self-harm, and grief. Before that, she worked with youth and their families within the school and community setting.

Laura’s hope is to help teens make sense of their experiences, utilize their strengths to cope with challenges, and be their authentic selves. Her hope with families is to help improve communication, restore connection, and heal from generational patterns. You will experience Laura as warm, caring and compassionate, allowing teens and families to share their stories, be understood, and feel empowered.

Coming from Colombia at the age of 6, Laura knows first-hand the difficulties that may arise when adapting to a new culture. She welcomes the opportunity to work with teens and families from diverse backgrounds. Laura is passionate about working from a humanistic, culturally-sensitive, and trauma-informed approach to best foster healing and growth. Her integrative approach draws on various evidence-based approaches such as Emotion-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Family-Based Therapy (FBT) for Eating Disorders, Narrative therapy, as well as Compassion and Mindfulness-based practices.

Outside of therapy, Laura loves being creative through dance, embroidering, playing the ukulele, and reading.

Laura sees individual teens, adults & parents as well as families.

Laura practises at our Runnymede & Bloor location.

Marlie considers adolescence an essential time to cultivate a compassionate relationship with one's self, nurturing and healthy connections with others, and to develop resiliency that promotes greater wellbeing throughout the lifespan. Marlie works part-time with our team and full time with a Toronto Family Health Team. She’s experienced in working with youth, adolescents, young adults and adults and their families. Marlie has had diverse work experience, including youth with disabilities and their families, general mental health for adolescents and adults, and addictions and concurrent disorders.

Therapeutically, Marlie takes an attachment- and trauma-informed and strengths-based approach to working with her clients. Marlie uses an integrated approach uniquely fitted to each client’s needs which draws on various evidence-based approaches, including: Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness-based therapies, Emotionally-focused Family Therapy (EFFT), body-based interventions, and some Cognitive-behavioural therapies. Marlie has completed additional training in IFS, EFFT, Narrative therapy and CBT-Insomnia.

Marlie sees individual teens & adults.

Marlie practises at our Runnymede & Bloor location.

Amy is a Registered Psychotherapist and has worked in community mental health and the non-profit sector for the last 20 years. Amy started her career counselling youth and families in Scarborough and Toronto and then worked in program management in mental health and education.

Amy has always been drawn to the energy and determination that young people bring to navigating their life choices and relationships. Amy’s approach to working with youth and families is rooted in exploration and collaboration. She works with warmth and humour to support youth in developing their understanding of their strengths, emotions and goals. Amy works in partnership with youth and families to enhance communication and connection. She is a parent to three children and appreciates the daily joys and challenges that come with parenting.

Amy uses an integrative approach to therapy drawing on various evidence-based therapies, including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, as well as applications of attachment theory and mindfulness strategies.

Amy sees individual teens, adults & parents as well as families. She also supervises therapists.

Amy practises both at our Runnymede & Bloor Location and our Danforth & Chester Location.

Bjorn comes to us from an agency in Peel Region where he supported a variety of youth and families going through a wide variety of experiences. He has journeyed alongside youth and families during times of crisis helping families stabilize while working to improve communication and family dynamics. He gets inspired when he sees teens and families going through their journey of healing and change.

In session, Bjorn provides space for each teen and family to explore feelings of anxiety, depression, low motivation, grief, loss and life transitions. He values the therapeutic relationship and will spend time to listen deeply to each teen’s story.

Bjorn’s approach to counselling is highly relational, trauma-informed, strength-based and anti-racist and anti-oppressive. Bjorn will be there to encourage and uplift your teen and family. Modalities that inform Bjorn’s therapeutic approach are Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Family-Based Therapy (FBT) for Eating Disorders, Narrative Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

Outside of counselling, Bjorn enjoys spending his time playing tennis, golf and has a passion for video games. He came to Canada when he was 6 years old and enjoys learning and experiencing different cultures.

If requested, Bjorn is able to provide therapy in Cantonese.

Bjorn sees individual teens, adults & parents as well as couples & families. He also supervises therapists.

Bjorn practises  both at our Runnymede & Bloor location and Chester & Danforth location.

Ailidh has been working with families and young people for nearly 20 years at the Distress Centre of Greater Toronto. She has worked with teens and families in hospital settings at Baycrest and CAMH, addressing themes such as loss, meaning-making (and meaninglessness), identity, addiction, and mood disorders. In addition to all of that professional experience, she is also parenting her own teen (and tweens)!

Ailidh is warmly compassionate and relational. She has tremendous respect for the challenges of been a teen in a world which is often unfriendly to young people, and understands that teens are striving towards their own growth and fulfillment. Ailidh is honoured to offer support to young people and their families at this vital, vibrant time in their lives.

Ailidh works with individual teens, adults & parents as well as couples & families. She also supervises therapists.

Ailidh practises at our Runnymede & Bloor location.