Strength-Based Therapists in Toronto, ON
Yasmin Rombola-Bacchus
Registered Psychotherapist
Picture a road map through counselling therapy to find more meaningful connections with yourself & others, gaining more confidence & peace. Picture finding yourself again, a greater love for yourself & your life. Imagine a transformed you and a better future. In my practice, you will be provided with a safe & caring environment. Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life!
Bethany Richer
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who works with individuals navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, anger, self-esteem, ADHD, emotional regulation, school stress, sleep difficulties, relationship concerns and more. I aim to create a space where clients feel safe, respected, and understood, and where therapy moves at a pace that feels right for them.
Monica Natalia
Registered Psychotherapist, Qualifying
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…
Lisa Giles
Registered Psychotherapist
Helping you find joy and meaning in your life and relationships through compassionate, evidence-based counselling support. Lisa (she/her) has over 10 years of experience as a Registered Psychotherapist, Canadian Certified Counsellor, and Certified Perinatal Mental Health provider. Lisa works with individuals and couples online and in-person in Dundas, Ontario. Book a free discovery call today!
Jodi Evers
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Providing person-centred, psychodynamic therapy for adults across a wide range of treatment goals. Using an integrative approach that considers the whole person, treatment is adapted to the individual and is deep, experiential, challenging, trauma informed and focused on the body, emotions, and patterns of behavior.
Teodora Kostadinovska
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I am dedicated to supporting youth, adults, and couples who may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about their next steps in life. Reaching out for support can be a vulnerable and courageous decision, and my goal is to create a space where you feel safe, heard, and understood. Therapy is a journey, and I am here to offer a steady hand as you move toward growth and greater well-being.
Salima Jadavji
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW, CHyp™
I support high-functioning professionals and caregivers who feel exhausted, anxious, or disconnected beneath the surface. Using a trauma-informed, collaborative approach, I help you move beyond coping toward steadiness and self-trust. Email [email protected] to book a free consultation and see if we’re a fit.
Khysandra Lee
Registered Psychotherapist
Charmaine McIntosh
Psy.D., R.P.
Hello and Welcome to Sojourn Wellness, a virtual practice. Charmaine is a Registered Psychotherapist and Certified Health and Life Coach. Our approach is holistic, collaborative and person-centred. We provide coaching, psychotherapy, and assessments such as psychoeducational, immigration, psychological for mental health, motor-vehicle accidents (MVA), long-term disability (LTD), and workplace…
Chantelle Vaz
Registered Psychotherapist
I offer a warm and collaborative space where you can explore your experiences with curiosity and care. My approach is rooted in empathy and authenticity, supporting you in understanding your story, building self-compassion, and creating meaningful change. I draw from narrative, attachment, and emotion-focused therapies to meet your unique needs.
Denise Smith
Registered Social Worker, BSW, MSW, RSW
Are you feeling overwhelmed and anxious with balancing work, relationships and/or parenting? Maybe you’re feeling unmotivated, disconnected from yourself and your loved ones and find your mood up and down. You might be struggling with a big life decision or change. It can be difficult to know how to move forward. I’ve been there and I understand how stressful it can be.
Lylla Goheen
Registered Psychotherapist RP (Qualifying), Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC)
Do you and your partner speak different languages? Whether it’s the silence of a "roommate phase," sexual dysfunction, or the weight of chronic illness, you don't have to navigate it alone. I provide inclusive Sex Therapy, Gottman Couples Counselling, and Chronic Pain support in Etobicoke & Toronto. My practice is judgment-free and not "one-size-fits-all." Let's start your new era.
Janalyn Dodds MSW, BSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker/ Psychotherapist
I am a Registered Social Worker and psychotherapist with The Support Station, a Canadian-based, woman-owned organization that believes cost shouldn't be a barrier to accessing quality mental health and wellness support. Each client's session fees are adjusted according to not only their monthly income, but also any bills and debts paid out regularly get considered as well.
Johanna Benoit
Registered Psychotherapist
NIHB provider, specializing in CPTSD and trauma, perinatal grief and loss, PTSD, anxiety, depression and borderline personality disorder.
Jillian Ivany
Registered Psychotherapist
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.
Rae Jardine
MA, RSSW, CC-PMH
I'm currently accepting new virtual clients in Ontario as well as in-person clients in Toronto with immediate availability and no waitlist, including limited sliding scale spaces. Trauma, Perinatal, 2SLGBTQQIA+, Neurodivergence
Sharise Sealy-McCallum
Registered Social Worker (RSW)
I am a Registered Social Worker with over 10 years of experience providing compassionate, virtual therapy for youth and adults across Ontario. Specializing in CBT, Narrative Therapy, and School Navigation Counselling, I provide a safe, trauma-informed space to help you navigate anxiety, stress, and life transitions, moving toward the clarity and peace you deserve.
Lisa O’Donovan
Registered Psychotherapist
I offer Psychodynamic, trauma-informed therapy for adults and couples in-person in Burlington and virtually. I support clients navigating complex trauma, relationship difficulties, addiction and recovery, family dysfunction, and life transitions helping to uncover and understand emotional and relational patterns, process experiences, build greater self-awareness in a safe, compassionate space.
Carla Barbosa
Registered Social Worker
I’m a bilingual psychotherapist (English | Portuguese) offering LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent-affirming therapy for adults navigating autism, ADHD, burnout, and identity exploration. I integrate compassion, cultural awareness, and evidence-based care to help clients feel seen and empowered across life’s transitions.
Daniel Cooper
Registered Psychotherapist
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.
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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.
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