Daniel Farb

Since a young age, I have had a strong drive to alleviate the suffering of others. This drive, combined with a passion for understanding the nature of the mind and human behaviour, led me to pursue undergraduate studies in psychology and philosophy at the University of Toronto. My formal education was greatly enriched by volunteering extensively in diverse settings and in a variety of human service and mental health roles, including: crisis-line volunteer at Toronto Distress Centre; peer support group facilitator with the Mental Health Support Network (MHSN); and numerous positions at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). In 2014, I became employed by the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario (MDAO), where I gained valuable experience providing one-on-one and group support to individuals and family members affected by mental health and addiction issues. I concurrently pursued post-graduate studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), completing a master’s degree in counselling and psychotherapy. As part of my master’s program, I interned at Queen West Community Health Centre, where I had the opportunity to work with diverse populations and developed a greater appreciation for the prevalence of psychological trauma in people’s lives. I have since also worked as a psychotherapist and mental health counsellor in the public healthcare sector. In addition to my professional qualifications, I also identify as having experienced mental health and addiction challenges in my own life. Through my past training as a peer support worker, I’ve learned to view this personal experience as an asset in my work as a psychotherapist; I draw on these experiences as part of the knowledge-base from which I help clients to navigate their own journeys of healing and recovery. Being a client of psychotherapy myself has given me an “insider’s perspective” into the process of personal growth and change, which I believe increases my level of empathy and effectiveness in the work I do as a therapist.