Strength-Based Therapists in Ontario

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Samantha Bernhard

Samantha Bernhard

Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying

Virtual In-Person

Mississauga in-person therapy now available! Life can feel overwhelming at times—whether it’s the weight of unresolved emotions, relationship struggles, or the stress of daily life. If you’re looking for a space to feel seen, heard, and supported, I’m here to help.

Cierra DoCouto

Cierra DoCouto

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual In-Person

Helping adults in Burlington, Ontario navigate anxiety, self-esteem challenges, relationship concerns, and attachment patterns. Offering in-person and virtual psychotherapy that is collaborative, evidence-informed, and tailored to support personal growth, emotional well-being, and resilience.

Christine Nichols

Christine Nichols

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

You deserve the peace that comes with living authentically. On your journey to finding your purpose, you may be experiencing stress, anxiety, low-mood, or challenges with your self-worth. These experiences can make life feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to feel disconnected from the person you truly are. A better, more connected life is possible. As your therapist, I provide a genuine, compassion…

Shereen Ishag

Shereen Ishag

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

Virtual psychotherapy across Ontario for teens (12+), adults, couples, and families. I work with clients experiencing relationship difficulties, emotional disconnection, anxiety, grief, and trauma-related concerns. I draw from emotion-focused and attachment-based perspectives, including EFCT-informed work, as well as other integrative approaches.

Donnica Campbell

Donnica Campbell

Registered Social Worker/ Psychotherapist

Virtual

Beginning therapy can feel like a vulnerable step, and it can also open the door to greater grounding, clarity, and self-connection. I work from a trauma-informed and inclusive approach. Together, we’ll explore what healing looks like for you, at a pace that feels supportive, and work toward feeling more connected, empowered, and well.

Khysandra Lee

Khysandra Lee

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Mahum Ahmed

Mahum Ahmed

Registered Social Worker

Virtual In-Person

Struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or PTSD? You may feel overwhelmed or stuck and want deeper understanding—not just symptom relief. I offer compassionate, tailored therapy using evidence-based approaches like CBT. Together, we’ll build emotional regulation, stronger relationships, and a more fulfilling, empowered future.

Daniel Cooper

Daniel Cooper

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual In-Person

I specialize in anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. We'll work together to manage symptoms, understand patterns, and cultivate self-compassion. I blend scientifically-grounded methods with a person-centered, culturally-sensitive approach. Integrating ACT, CBT, Narrative, & Mindfulness practices, you'll find a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore emotions, identities, and values.

Katelyn Matias

Katelyn Matias

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual In-Person

Hi, I’m Katelyn Matias, a Registered Psychotherapist and the Founder of Anchor & Bloom Psychotherapy. My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, relational, and grounded in attachment theory. I believe that our experiences, relationships, and nervous system responses shape how we understand ourselves, navigate emotions, and connect with others.

Grace Gao

Grace Gao

Registered Social Worker

Virtual In-Person

Grace is passionate about creating accessible and culturally responsive mental health support, particularly for individuals who may feel hesitant to seek formal counseling services. As a bilingual professional fluent in English and Mandarin, she values creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where clients feel heard and respected.

Delia Bagi

Delia Bagi

EMDR Therapist

Virtual

Délia Bagi, RP(Q) is a warm, intuitive EMDR therapist who specializes in helping self-aware people finally feel the change they've long understood. With expertise in anxiety, trauma, and relationships, she blends EMDR, CBT, and mindfulness into a thoughtful, unhurried approach - creating real, lasting shifts between sessions, not just during them.

Nikki Ward

Nikki Ward

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual In-Person

Therapist & Clinic Owner at Electric City Wellness Accepting new clients both In-Person in Peterborough & Virtually throughout Ontario! Offering FREE 20-minute consultations!

Erin Ibrahim

Erin Ibrahim

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), BA

Virtual

Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, relationship stress, self-esteem struggles, or just feeling stuck, we can work through it together. Pulling from a variety of frameworks to instead suit your unique needs instead of making it feel one-size-fits-all, I have interest in anxiety, depression, relationships, attachment, neurodiversity, and self-esteem. I look forward to connecting!

Janice Lyons

Janice Lyons

Registered Social Service Worker

Virtual In-Person

Are you feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, or exhausted? Are you tired of searching through profiles to find the right therapist? I'm Janice. Let's work together; I am now accepting new clients. Typically, sessions focus on how anxiety, neurodivergence, beliefs, relationship issues, and self-esteem affect us. You will learn to understand yourself and develop effective management skills.

Heather Andrew

Heather Andrew

Registered Clinical Social Worker MSW RCSW

Virtual

Heather Andrew is the founder of Aspen Wellness Centre. Heather has been a Mental Health Therapist for over eight years, supporting clients with a variety of needs including complex trauma, ADHD, PTSD, grief, anxiety, depression, family conflict and more. Heather is passionate about providing trauma informed care to her clients and is a fierce advocate for mental health awareness.

Monica Natalia

Monica Natalia

Registered Psychotherapist, Qualifying

Virtual In-Person

Do you constantly judge yourself harshly and worry about how others perceive you? You’re someone who puts everyone else first, making sure the people around you are comfortable and happy. Yet even with all that effort, you still feel anxious, overwhelmed, and never “good enough.” You may hold back from changing because you fear conflict, disappointment, or losing the people you care about. But d…

Arianne Nicole Palmares

Arianne Nicole Palmares

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual In-Person

Hi, I’m Arianne. I’m glad you’re here. I believe everyone deserves therapy access, regardless of background or identity. As a first-generation immigrant, I combine lived experience with clinical training to create a safe and brave space where you can be seen, heard, and take meaningful steps toward the life you want.

Jillian Ivany

Jillian Ivany

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual In-Person

Life can feel overwhelming, leaving you anxious, disconnected, or stuck in painful patterns. I offer Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy in a warm, non-judgmental space where all parts of you are welcome. Together we explore your inner world with curiosity to support healing, clarity, and connection to yourself and others. I offer virtual/in person session. Free 15min consultations available.

DeRoux Jones

DeRoux Jones

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

I’m DeRoux Jones, a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario with a Master of Counselling Psychology specializing in Marriage & Family Therapy. I serve individuals, couples, and families, helping with anxiety, depression, grief, relationships, and Christian counselling. My approach is collaborative, evidence-based, and client-centered, creating a safe space for growth and healing.

Brock Vaughan

Brock Vaughan

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual In-Person

Brains are messy. Therapy doesn't have to be.

How do therapists in Ontario compare?

Number of therapists listed

88

Average years in practice

5.4 Years

Currently accepting new clients

100 %

Therapists in Ontario who prioritize treating:

81% Anxiety
59% Relationship Issues
49% Depression
40% Trauma and PTSD
35% Self Esteem
34% Stress
30% ADHD
27% Emotional Dysregulation

How therapists see their clients

43% In Person & Online
52% Online Only
5% In Person Only

Top therapy approaches used in Ontario:

100% Strength-Based
88% Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)
74% Person-Centered
69% Trauma Focused
57% Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
55% Attachment-based
55% Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
52% Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)

Frequently Asked Questions About Strength-Based

What is strength-based therapy?

Strength-based therapy is an orientation in therapy that deliberately focuses on the client's existing resources, strengths, values, capabilities, and resilience — rather than primarily on pathology, deficits, and problems. It is not denial of difficulties; it is a choice to place equal or greater weight on what is working, what the person has overcome, what they value, and what they are capable of. Strength-based approaches include Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Positive Psychology therapy, narrative approaches, and many humanistic frameworks.

How does strength-based therapy differ from traditional approaches?

Traditional approaches often focus heavily on problems, symptoms, deficits, and what is wrong. Strength-based therapy shifts the lens: rather than "what is your problem and what caused it," it asks "what do you want to be different, what resources do you have, and what has worked before?" This is not bypassing real difficulties — it is choosing to mobilize the person's existing capacity alongside addressing their challenges. The approach is often experienced as more validating and energizing than deficit-focused approaches.

What is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)?

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is one of the most widely researched strength-based approaches. Developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg, SFBT focuses on identifying and amplifying what the client does when the problem is less present (exceptions), describing in detail what their preferred future looks like (the miracle question), and building on their existing strengths and resources. SFBT has evidence for depression, anxiety, family therapy, school settings, and diverse populations. It is brief — often 3–8 sessions.

Is a strength-based approach appropriate for serious mental health concerns?

Yes — strength-based approaches are not limited to mild concerns or wellness coaching. Identifying and mobilizing resilience and existing resources is valuable alongside evidence-based treatment for depression, anxiety, trauma, and serious mental illness. A strength-based lens does not mean ignoring suffering — it means holding both the difficulty and the capability simultaneously. For very serious presentations, strength-based approaches are most effective as part of a comprehensive treatment plan rather than as the only approach.

Who benefits most from strength-based therapy?

Strength-based therapy tends to resonate particularly with people who feel pathologized or whose sense of self-efficacy has been eroded by chronic difficulties; with people who prefer a future-focused, action-oriented approach over extended exploration of the past; with children and adolescents for whom building on strengths is developmentally appropriate; and with people from cultural backgrounds where talking about problems or expressing distress is less natural than focusing on action and solutions. The approach can be deeply empowering when done well.