OCP Blog
The Ontario Counselling & Psychotherapy Centre offers flexible daytime, evening and Saturday appointments. Please contact us and we will match you with a psychotherapist that can best meet your counselling needs.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma By Bessel van der Kolk What if the anxiety you can’t shake, the sleep you can’t find, or the relationships you can’t quite sustain aren’t signs of weakness – but signs that your body is still trying to protect you from…
Recognizing the Signs & Addressing the Symptoms What is Burnout? Burnout has become a hot topic over the last several years as many of us struggle to find a balance between work, school, family, friends, and all the other demands and responsibilities of life. This lack of balance can result in prolonged stress that eventually…
Why This 1946 Book Still Speaks to Your Struggles Today You might wonder why you should read lectures from 1946 by someone who survived the horrors of concentration camps. What could that possibly have to do with your life now? Viktor Frankl delivered these lectures in Vienna just eleven months after his liberation, when his…
Why “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone” Might Be the Book You Need Right Now If you’ve ever been curious about what therapy is really like, Lori Gottlieb’s “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone” gives a clear and honest look. Gottlieb, who is both a therapist and a client, shares the therapy experience in a…
Neuroplasticity and our Ever-Changing Brains Our brains contain approximately 86 billion neurons, with each neuron being capable of connecting with thousands of other neurons, creating an astounding 100 trillion connections (Caruso, 2023)! These connections create neural pathways, which transmit information in the form of electrical impulses across our brains and nervous systems. Neural pathways are…
The Unique Needs of Toronto Residents Toronto is a fast-paced, diverse city with many cultural pockets intertwined with its social fabric. While this makes Toronto a culturally rich city, some Toronto residents may find themselves experiencing stress, anxiety, and a sense of disconnection due to high workplace expectations and possibly living far from family and…
When looking for a therapist, there are a few factors to consider, like the therapist’s age, gender, and/or ethnicity, whether the therapist will attend online or in person, and availability for scheduling. But perhaps one of the most daunting, mysterious, or influential questions is: What kind of approach are you looking for? Like many things,…
Accessibility and Affirmation in Therapy Therapy should be for everyone. That means it needs to be accessible, affirming, and shaped around your unique needs. Toronto is a diverse city, and mental health care and wellness should reflect those who live here. Whether you’re thinking about therapy for the first time or returning after some time…
Working with anxiety in private practice with clients as a therapist and in the acute setting as a nurse can be a challenging process. It is uncomfortable and often scary; clients and patients want it gone. Anxiety can feel like a relentless force, a tightening in your chest, a fast heartbeat, and a clouding of…
Why Consider Therapy? If you are considering seeking therapy in Toronto but aren’t sure if you have a “good enough” reason for going, it’s important to know that therapy isn’t just for times of crisis but can also be a space for self-discovery and personal growth. Living in a fast-paced, diverse city like Toronto can…
Are you looking for mental health support in Toronto but are not sure where to begin your search? Whether you’re feeling stuck, curious about therapy, or in need of more specialized care, the city has a wide range of resources to explore. We understand that it can feel overwhelming to begin narrowing down your options,…
We often hear about the inner child– a younger version of ourselves that resides in the deepest parts of our minds, waiting for the love and validation we may not have received from our caregivers. But what about our inner parent? This often-overlooked part of ourselves is responsible for how we care for our own…
Play Therapist Taylor Nelson, MSW, RSW, and I are excited to be running two 2-hour workshops this February and March. Each workshop is $50 or attend both workshops for $80. Please share the information below and the attached fliers with anyone you think may be interested, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!…
Growth rarely happens when we are comfortable. Growth calls us to face challenges, stretch beyond our limits, and sometimes break down before building back up. Without struggle, growth remains an idea rather than an experience. The Anatomy of Growth or Building Strength Through Resistance Consider how muscles are built. The weight, the resistance that feels…
Setting boundaries is one of those buzzworthy topics that’s become nearly impossible to ignore. But let’s be honest: learning how to set them, when to set them, and how to stick to them can feel like trying to master a foreign language. Many of us didn’t grow up with healthy boundaries modelled to us, so…
What if waking up didn’t just mean starting your day but stepping into a life with greater ease, clarity, and wisdom? Join meditation instructors Brayden Jones and Leo Lobbestael, trained under Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach (MMTCP), for this year-long, trauma-informed workshop. Through meditation, grounded teachings, and the facilitators’ personal insights gained from sacred medicines…
Join us for an 8-week Supportive Group Therapy program designed for adult women who have experienced childhood, complex, or sexual trauma.* Deep your understanding of the impacts of interpersonal trauma Practice yoga to empower yourself and foster a positive body connection Build new coping skills Develop greater self-compassion The Details: Start Date: February 6th, 2025 Time: Thursdays,…
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is a challenging mental health condition resulting from prolonged or repeated exposure to trauma, especially by trusted others such as parents or caregivers. It includes but is not limited to symptoms like emotional numbness, anxiety, trust issues, and difficulties in relationships. For partners or spouses of those with CPTSD, it…
A Personalized Approach to Mental Health As a therapist, I’ve found that one of the most powerful ways to support clients is by offering Cultural Responsive Therapy. It’s about understanding and respecting each person’s cultural background, which plays a big role in shaping their experiences and mental health. Every person brings their own set of…
Becoming Home is an immersive healing journey for women offering a nurturing community space where participants can explore their inner worlds and reconnect with their authentic selves. This experience is designed to cultivate: Deeper connection to oneself Emotional processing Greater self-esteem Meaningful relationships Through a blend of art, movement, and reflective writing, participants will embark…