About Laura
THERAPIST. LISTENER. GUIDE
I believe in the power of a safe, supportive relationship to help you heal, grow, and create meaningful change.
My Approach to Working with You
We will begin with a free consultation where we can discuss what is bringing you to therapy and what you are hoping for. From there, we collaboratively create a treatment plan at a pace that feels manageable and supportive, and begin building a pathway for your healing journey.
People come to therapy for many different reasons, but much of my work with past clients has focused on helping them strengthen their sense of self-worth, feel more confident in their decisions, and navigate relationships while staying connected to their own feelings and needs. I often help individuals learn a more systematic way of setting boundaries and feeling less guilty about doing so. I have also supported people struggling with anxiety, low mood, depression, grief, and emotional overwhelm, often helping them process these experiences.
Usually, people intuitively have a sense of what will work for their lives and relationships, but for various reasons can become blocked from hearing that clearly. My role during the therapeutic process is to support you and help you reconnect with what genuinely makes sense for you in your life. In my opinion, you know you best.
In our sessions, we pay equal attention to what you are thinking, what you are feeling, and the meaning you are making of your experiences. As well, we want to understand what is happening in your body. Over time, you may begin to notice how stress, emotion, trauma, and long-standing patterns show up physically, emotionally, mentally, and relationally. You may begin to develop a greater awareness of these signals as they arise in the moment. Therapy can be very helpful in helping people target emotional reactivity and overwhelm.
We all have different parts of ourselves, and it can be helpful to explore those parts in therapy. Some parts may feel anxious or critical, while others are simply trying to protect us or help us manage and cope. Understanding these parts can help you respond to yourself with greater compassion and develop a deeper sense of self-trust.
“I often say, half jokingly, that the goal is for clients to eventually become their own therapist — so that in challenging moments, they feel confidence in what they need to do.”
A Little About Me
Since 2000, I have worked with many working professionals and post-secondary students. I support clients experiencing mood and anxiety concerns, emotional regulation difficulties, and attachment-related issues. Others may be struggling with burnout, weak boundaries, people pleasing, or may need help navigating a significant life transition. At times, my work also involves helping clients understand how childhood experiences have impacted their self-esteem, sense of self, and romantic relationships. I am experienced in supporting individuals living with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Developmental Trauma. My training as a social worker is rooted in anti-oppression practice, which continues to guide my work.
Over the course of my career, I have counselled young women in recovery from addictions, supported individuals living in social housing, provided trauma therapy at a community health centre, and participated in HIV/AIDS community development work in Southern Africa.
Over time, I evolved, and so did my work. I came to understand that talk therapy alone can only take people so far in their healing. I became incredibly fascinated by approaches that involve the body and nervous system. I have seen how somatic and sound-based approaches can allow healing to happen in ways that language does not always reach.
I am a Registered Social Worker, psychotherapist, and Certified Sound Therapy Practitioner. I have always thought of myself as a therapist first, but my work in sound healing has demonstrated time and time again that sound and music can be profound pathways to healing.
My approach is integrative, and I value being able to draw on multiple therapeutic modalities so that I can tailor the work to the person in front of me, rather than fitting that person into a single approach.
I am also genuinely curious about the energetic and spiritual dimensions of human experience too. I bring that curiosity into the room with clients who wish to explore it, and set it aside entirely for those who do not. Whether you speak the language of neuroscience, the language of the body, or the language of the soul, there is a place for you here.
My Professional Background and Additional Training
I hold a Master of Social Work degree with a specialization in Health and Mental Health from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. As a social worker providing psychotherapy, I am trained to look not only at emotional and psychological concerns, but also at the broader life context impacting a person’s well-being, including relationships, trauma, social and systemic pressures, and practical realities. My clinical training was at the renowned Women's College Hospital Trauma Therapy Programme, where I worked alongside doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, and other healthcare professionals.
I have also trained in Internal Family Systems, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Relational Cultural Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, Sound Therapy, and Restorative Yoga. I receive clinical consultation as needed from Dr. Brian Beech, as I believe it is my responsibility to continue learning and deepening my understanding of this work.
Since 2019, I have run my own private practice, a lifelong dream of mine, offering talk, somatic, and sound therapy. Through this work, I continue to learn not only about individual therapy, but also about supporting groups and corporate spaces. One of my biggest takeaways is that healing can take many forms, and people need different approaches depending on what works best for them. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with many incredible people, and I am honoured to do the work that I do.
I hope this gives you a sense of who I am and how I work.
Laura