Book an Appointment
Our lovely therapists, Jennie Benjamins, Laura Gongora, Samantha Woolven, Katherine Lough, Amy Appelle, Loretta Mui, Ailidh Carpendale and Veronika Brylinska, are currently accepting new clients.
Our student therapists, Apitha Rathakrishnan and Bella Shulman, are currently accepting new clients.
Our dietitian, Brittany Allison, is currently accepting new clients.
Welcome
Psychotherapy
Registered Psychotherapists (RP) are masters level trained therapists who offer therapy/counselling to individuals, couples and families. They are governed by the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario. We are proud of our excellent RPs at our centre.
Student Therapist
All of our students at our centre are studying their masters. They are either pursuing a designation in the field of social work or psychotherapy. We choose our students with care so you are in good hands with one of them. Working with a student is a good way to find more affordable therapy and contribute to the advancement of the field.
Registered Dietitian
Many clients in our centre are working on their relationships with food, body image, and are learning to eat in a way that supports their bodies and mental health. So it just makes good sense to have a Registered Dietitian (RD) on our team so you can get all the help you need in one place. RDs are regulated by the College of Dietitians of Ontario.
Sarah Baum
(She/Her/Hers)
MSW, RSW
Sarah comes to us from Northern Ontario, where she worked in an Indigenous context providing therapy for kids, teens and families. She has broad experience counselling teens and families experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, relationship difficulties, distressful emotions, and addictions. She also has experience working with youth in school and community settings. Sarah is passionate about helping teens and families to experience hope, change, and transformational healing.
Sarah brings a sense of warmth and humor to her counselling sessions. She believes it is essential to create a safe, and non-judgmental space in order to build trust in the therapeutic process. Her approach is collaborative, valuing the wisdom that teens and families have into their own journey.
Sarah works from a humanistic, trauma-informed, and culturally-competent framework. She draws on evidence-based therapeutic approaches including, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Family-Based Therapy (FBT) for Eating Disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-based intervention.
When Sarah is not in session, she passionate about spending time in nature and is always up for an outdoor adventure. She’s an avid cyclist and loves paddle boarding. Sarah values spending time connecting with family and friends, and loves reading a good book.
In addition to being amazing with teens, Sarah is also wonderful with younger kids. She is happy to work with anyone 5 years old and older.
Sarah comes to us from Northern Ontario, where she worked in an Indigenous context providing ther... Read More
Loretta Mui MSW, RSW
Loretta has worked with youth as a social worker and community arts facilitator for over 10 years. Loretta has shared her passion for using the arts as a healing practice in groups and individual sessions with youth addressing themes such as grief, loss, coping with anxiety and understanding the self in the context of broader systems.
Loretta’s passion for supporting youth comes from a client-centred, strengths-based and social justice framework. Her approach is collaborative and honours the strengths and wisdom that the individual brings to their own healing journey. In counselling, Loretta works with the individual to self-determine their own goals and strategies, whilst holding a non-judgemental and safe space to explore their feelings. She draws from modalities including Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, trauma- informed and Mindfulness strategies.
Loretta has provided counselling to youth experiencing substance use challenges, low-mood, anxiety and distressful emotions. She welcomes working with youth who identify as part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. She is committed to building therapeutic relationships which are grounded in curiosity and respect. In her down time, Loretta draws comics, paints, and loves to learn about plants.
Loretta has worked with youth as a social worker and community arts facilitator for over 10 years... Read More
Bjorn Kwok RP
Bjorn comes to us from an agency in Peel Region where he supported a variety of youth and families going through a wide variety of experiences. He has journeyed alongside youth and families during times of crisis helping families stabilize while working to improve communication and family dynamics. He gets inspired when he sees teens and families going through their journey of healing and change.
In session, Bjorn provides space for each teen and family to explore feelings of anxiety, depression, low motivation, grief, loss and life transitions. He values the therapeutic relationship and will spend time to listen deeply to each teen’s story.
Bjorn’s approach to counselling is highly relational, trauma-informed, strength-based and anti-racist and anti-oppressive. Bjorn will be there to encourage and uplift your teen and family. Modalities that inform Bjorn’s therapeutic approach are Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Family-Based Therapy (FBT) for Eating Disorders, Narrative Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Outside of counselling, Bjorn enjoys spending his time playing tennis, golf and has a passion for video games. He came to Canada when he was 6 years old and enjoys learning and experiencing different cultures.
If requested, Bjorn is able to provide therapy in Cantonese.
Bjorn comes to us from an agency in Peel Region where he supported a variety of youth and familie... Read More
Patricia Tuff CYC, MSW, RSW
Patricia has been working directly with young folks, kids, teens and families for over 15 years. She works from an anti-oppressive framework and social justice context to build supportive, therapeutic relationships.
Patricia’s approach to working with individuals is all about highlighting and fostering strengths along with areas of success, resiliency and collaboration.
She has extensive experience with complex family conflicts, as well as with assisting clients to navigate the impacts of trauma, loss, grief, self-criticism, self-esteem, parenting, and self-harming behaviours/suicidal ideation.
She draws from multiple evidence-based modalities, including cognitive-based interventions, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused and Emotion-Focused Therapy.
Clients often remark on her warmth, dry sense of humour and insight. She is also a new mom with a rambunctious and adorable toddler.
Patricia has been working directly with young folks, kids, teens and families for over 15 years. ... Read More
Marlie Standen MSW, RSW
Marlie considers adolescence an essential time to cultivate a compassionate relationship with one’s self, nurturing and healthy connections with others, and to develop resiliency that promotes greater wellbeing throughout the lifespan. Marlie works part-time with our team and full time with a Toronto Family Health Team. She’s experienced in working with youth, adolescents, young adults and adults and their families. Marlie has had diverse work experience, including youth with disabilities and their families, general mental health for adolescents and adults, and addictions and concurrent disorders.
Therapeutically, Marlie takes an attachment- and trauma-informed and strengths-based approach to working with her clients. Marlie uses an integrated approach uniquely fitted to each client’s needs which draws on various evidence-based approaches, including: Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness-based therapies, Emotionally-focused Family Therapy (EFFT), body-based interventions, and some Cognitive-behavioural therapies. Marlie has completed additional training in IFS, EFFT, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Marlie considers adolescence an essential time to cultivate a compassionate relationship with one... Read More
Jenni Axelson
(She/Her/Hers)
Jenni is a student therapist from Yorkville University. In her roles as a pool manager and lifeguard instructor, she has found great fulfillment in working with young people, serving as both a mentor and teacher. Jenni values the individuality of each person and is passionate about supporting adolescents to develop self-awareness and self-compassion as they navigate this exciting and challenging stage of life.
Jenni is a student therapist from Yorkville University. In her roles as a pool manager and lifegu... Read More
Brittany Cory Registered Dietitian
Brittany Allison is an experienced Registered Dietician who specializes in eating disorder recovery and intuitive eating for individuals who are ready to break free from the grips of food and body obsession so they can reclaim their life, time, and mental energy.
In session, Brittany brings warmth and empathy into her sessions and maintains a client centred approach. Brittany strives to provide a space where the client is comfortable and heard. Brittany uses her lived experience and professional education in nutrition to support teens and families in a safe space where all bodies are welcome.
Brittany approach to sessions are informed by her education at Toronto Metropolitan University, motivational interviewing and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
In her free time Brittany loves crafts, crocheting, drawing, painting and nail art. She enjoys spending free time with her Bernese mountain dog, Archer.
Brittany Allison is an experienced Registered Dietician who specializes in eating disorder recove... Read More
Bella Shulman
(She/They)
Bella is currently a graduate student pursuing her Master’s of Social Work degree at York University. Bella has over three years of experience providing emotional support and coping strategies to diverse youth in an acute healthcare setting. Bella has supported youth through experiences with mental health challenges, issues with substance use, bullying, social exclusion, navigating family relationships and more.As a member of the 2SLGBT+ community, Bella is deeply committed to providing an anti-oppressive and safe space.
As a part of her practice, Bella informs her approach to therapy from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness Strategies. She also recognizes that some teenagers experience heightened emotions that impact their well-being and create challenges in relationships. Therefore, she draws on emotion-regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Bella’s ultimate aim is to create a therapeutic relationship that feels authentic, relaxed and tailored to each person’s unique needs. Bella is committed to providing counseling that focuses on the desires and goals of patients.
In her free time Bella loves to garden, make pottery, rock climb and make visual art. For youth that may be interested, Bella is happy to incorporate art-based mindfulness practices into session.
Bella is currently a graduate student pursuing her Master’s of Social Work degree at York Univers... Read More
Molly Read Registered Psychotherapist
Molly’s background is in music and education. She worked as a cellist for several years in Montreal before moving to Toronto and prioritizing teaching. Over time, she came to realize that the relationships she enjoyed with her cello students and their families had become the most meaningful part of her work, which led her to a second career in psychotherapy. Molly’s years of volunteer work as a crisis responder at Kids Help Phone and her life at home with her husband and teenage kids fuel her love and appreciation for this age group, and her respect for all that today’s teens are carrying.
In sessions, Molly uses humour and empathy to connect with teens and their families as they struggle with the stressors that accompany peer connection, academic responsibilities, and change or loss in families and friend groups. Molly prioritizes the therapeutic relationship and is responsive to the unique presentation of each individual client and family.
Molly’s approach to counselling is relational, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and non-judgemental. Her therapeutic approach is informed by psychodynamic theory, Structural Family Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Outside of counselling, Molly enjoys spending time with her family, attending concerts, and writing heated letter to the editors of various newspapers which she very rarely sends.
Molly’s background is in music and education. She worked as a cellist for several years in Montre... Read More
Katherine Lough Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Katherine strives to make it easier for adolescents and their families to find safety, support, and strength in difficult life circumstances. She finds genuine joy in helping others and guiding them towards their greatest potential. Katherine has worked directly with individuals for almost a decade and has extensive training working with young adults, adolescents, children and their families helping manage challenging behaviours, mental health concerns, and every-day struggles. Katherine also has comprehensive experience working directly with neurodivergence and specializes working with ASD and ADHD. Katherine approaches psychotherapy from a personalized perspective and tailors her practice according to her clients best needs. She has regularly consulted as part of a multi-disciplinary team to develop and implement well-considered client action plans and her pleasant, humorous personality brings calm and ease into her psychotherapeutic sessions.
Katherine has an MA in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy and previously completed an Honours BSc in Neuroscience and Psychology. Her practice includes using a neuropsychologically-informed perspective, family systems-based perspective, cognitive and, solution and emotionally focused therapies.
Outside of work, Katherine has a passion for making and decorating cakes, travelling, nature walks, and spending time with her dogs, friends, and family.
Katherine strives to make it easier for adolescents and their families to find safety, support, ... Read More
Arllene Williams
(She/Her/Hers)
MSW, RSW # 849517
Arllene has worked with children, youth and families in a community development and mental health setting for over 10 years. She also has experience working with children and youth in the Toronto District School Board. Arllene is deeply drawn to working with children and youth because they embody the essence of constant growth and boundless potential. Their ever-changing nature and multifaceted personalities inspire Arllene to foster an environment where youth can explore, learn, and flourish, contributing to a future where their diverse perspectives shape a better world. Arllene takes pride in being an empath, helping others to discover their skills, joys and advocating when they don’t feel heard. Arllene brings a lot of warmth and humor in her counselling sessions.
Arllene is a registered social worker who graduated from the Master of Social Work at the University of Windsor. Therapeutically, Arllene takes an attachment, trauma informed, and strength based approach to working with her clients. She draws from multiple evidence based models including cognitive based interventions, and narrative therapy.
In her spare time, Arllene enjoys baking, travelling and spending time with her family, friends, and dog Benji. One fun fact about Arllene is that she used to wrestle and played varsity in university for four years of her undergrad at University of Western Ontario.
Arllene has worked with children, youth and families in a community development and mental health... Read More
Amy Del Monte
(She/Her/Hers)
Amy joins us from over a decade of work in a hospital-based treatment program for teens. Amy recognizes that adolescence is a unique life stage where young people are discovering their identity and forming habits, friendships, and experiences that will launch them into adulthood. She strives to empower youth to find their security through self-compassion, self-awareness, and healthy coping.
Amy takes a strengths-based approach and believes in providing anti-oppressive and trauma-informed care. Through compassion and warmth, Amy helps teens navigate the complexities of eating disorders, anxiety, depression, self-harm, self-esteem, loss, grief, and life transitions. She draws from multiple evidence-based modalities, including cognitive-based interventions, Narrative Therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions. She hopes to help teens and families find their strength, wisdom, and connection through the therapeutic process.
You can regularly find Amy on a hiking trail through a local forest, in the kitchen cooking up yummy meals, or sitting at the piano making music. Amy believes in healing the mind body connection through creative outlets and spending time in nature.
Amy has completed a Masters degree at Toronto Metropolitan University in the field of Child and Youth Care. Amy and her husband have three young sons who are the delight of their lives.
Amy joins us from over a decade of work in a hospital-based treatment program for teens. Amy reco... Read More
Amy Appelle RP
Amy is a Registered Psychotherapist and has worked in community mental health and the non-profit sector for the last 20 years. Amy started her career counselling youth and families in Scarborough and Toronto and then worked in program management in mental health and education.
Amy has always been drawn to the energy and determination that young people bring to navigating their life choices and relationships. Amy’s approach to working with youth and families is rooted in exploration and collaboration. She works with warmth and humour to support youth in developing their understanding of their strengths, emotions and goals. Amy works in partnership with youth and families to enhance communication and connection. She is a parent to three children and appreciates the daily joys and challenges that come with parenting.
Amy uses an integrative approach to therapy drawing on various evidence-based therapies, including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, as well as applications of attachment theory and mindfulness strategies.
Amy is a Registered Psychotherapist and has worked in community mental health and the non-profit ... Read More
Apitha Rathakrishnan
(She/Her/Hers)
Apitha is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who joins us as a student therapist from Yorkville University. She understands the significance of creating a welcoming atmosphere for clients, so they feel safe and comfortable to explore and process. She is dedicated to supporting teens during a time in their life where so many changes are occurring. Her enthusiasm lies in supporting teens as they build coping skills to help navigate challenges.
Apitha utilizes various modalities, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT). She recognizes the importance of ensuring that clients feel heard and understood and approaches each of her sessions with a client-centered approach.
Apitha enjoys spending time with family and friends. She enjoys sightseeing, going for walks, and watching the sun set and rise; there’s something so calming and beautiful about those moments.
Apitha is also able to offer therapy in Tamil.
Apitha is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who joins us as a student therapist from York... Read More
Ailidh Carpendale
(She/Her/Hers)
Registered Psychotherapist # 10611
Ailidh has been working with families and young people for nearly 20 years, both as a parent coach and as a peer counsellor at the Distress Centre of Greater Toronto. She has worked with teens and families in hospital settings at Baycrest and CAMH, addressing themes such as loss, meaning-making (and meaninglessness), identity, addiction, psychosis, and mood disorders. In addition to all of that professional experience, she is also parenting her own teen (and tweens)!
Ailidh is warmly compassionate and relational. She has tremendous respect for the challenges of been a teen in a world which is often unfriendly to young people, and understands that teens are striving towards their own growth and fulfillment. Ailidh is honoured to offer support to young people and their families at this vital, vibrant time in their lives.
Ailidh has been working with families and young people for nearly 20 years, both as a parent coac... Read More
Laura Gongora Registered Psychotherapist
Laura’s Master of Education in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy is from the University of Toronto. She has a long history of working with teens and families. Prior to her Masters, she was at the Distress Centre in Calgary where she provided a wide range of emotional support and crisis intervention to teens experiencing a broad range of concerns including anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship difficulties, self-harm, and grief. Before that, she worked with youth and their families within the school and community setting.
Laura’s hope is to help teens make sense of their experiences, utilize their strengths to cope with challenges, and be their authentic selves. Her hope with families is to help improve communication, restore connection, and heal from generational patterns. You will experience Laura as warm, caring and compassionate, allowing teens and families to share their stories, be understood, and feel empowered.
Coming from Colombia at the age of 6, Laura knows first-hand the difficulties that may arise when adapting to a new culture. She welcomes the opportunity to work with teens and families from diverse backgrounds.
Laura is passionate about working from a humanistic, culturally-sensitive, and trauma-informed approach to best foster healing and growth. Her integrative approach draws on various evidence-based approaches such as Emotion-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Family-Based Therapy (FBT) for Eating Disorders, Narrative therapy, as well as Compassion and Mindfulness-based practices. Outside of therapy, Laura loves being creative through dance, embroidering, playing the ukulele, and reading.
If requested, Laura is able to provide therapy in Spanish.
Laura’s Master of Education in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy is from the University of... Read More
Samantha Woolven Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Sam has worked with undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo in a peer support role, where she helped fellow students to navigate mental health, academic, social, and transitional concerns they were experiencing. This experience highlighted the significant impact counselling has on individuals and the importance of creating a safe environment for clients – something Sam is committed to continuing in her current role.
Sam understands that adolescence is a time when we experience a lot of life changes and new experiences. She is passionate about helping teens develop coping skills and being there to support them during a time in life when they are finding themselves and navigating many new situations. Adolescence can be challenging, and Sam recognizes the importance of helping teenagers in the present so they can be successful in their future and feel confident they have the tools they need to succeed. The modalities that inform Sam’s therapeutic approach include Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness-based therapies, EFT, and cognitive- based therapies. She believes in finding the best fit for each individual client.
Sam believes in creating a non-judgemental space where teens feel comfortable being their genuine selves, and she utilizes humour and compassion to cultivate this space. She takes an anti-oppressive and trauma-informed approach to her practice and believes that individuals are the experts on themselves. She strives to utilize a collaborative approach in sessions to empower those she works with.
In her free time, Sam enjoys getting lost in a good book, spending time with her family pets, and exercising. A fun fact about Sam is she is a certified Pilates teacher!
Sam has worked with undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo in a peer support role, ... Read More
Jessica Zeyl
(She/Her/Hers)
RP
Jessica is our fearless leader, aka clinic director. She is known around here as a seasoned and wise therapist. The therapists who have had Jessica as a supervisor have felt known, validated and lovingly pushed to grow and excel.
Jessica is currently working with adults. She works with a lot of leaders from the business/corporate, non-profit and artistic communities. She’s been in leadership all of her life (starting from the beginning as an oldest child of four kids) and she has been developing leaders in an official capacity since her first career after her undergraduate degree. It’s not a surprise that those in leadership have really valued her as their psychotherapist.
Deeply creative, curious and innovative people have also enjoyed working with Jessica. If you are open and ready for big shifts in your life, you will find Jessica keen to help you get to where you want to go. She has helped people navigate evolving and growing, leadership roles with their ups and downs, being open to love in a new way, healing from difficult experiences, big transitions (both chosen and unexpected), career changes, spiritual shifts, and significant loss.
In session, Jessica is engaged, thoughtful, kind and insightful. She will help you be curious about yourself, your context, relationships and options.
Jessica is a skilled couples therapist. She is open to working with couples that are highly motivated to work hard and shift.
Jessica is well versed in many therapeutic approaches. You will find that she primarily works with Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally Focused Therapy/Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFT/EFFT) and borrows from Relational Psychotherapy and Narrative Therapy. She was supervised for years by two brilliant therapists in Sue Johnson’s inner circle.
Jessica is our fearless leader, aka clinic director. She is known around here as a seasoned and w... Read More
Jennie Benjamins Registered Psychotherapist
Jennie is a Registered Psychotherapist. She transitioned from a career in communications and association management to focus on her passion for working with people. Her past experience emphasized the power of words and its effects on a person, as well as the positive impacts a safe, nonjudgmental safe space can provide to an individual.
She recognizes life can be unpredictable and overwhelming, at any stage of life. Her approach in therapy is client-focused, guided by the values of compassion, curiosity, humor and gentleness. Jennie’s therapeutic approach draws upon Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Psychodynamic modality, combined with interventions from Art Based Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy.
Her goal in therapy is to understand the client’s story and narrative. To collaboratively work together, with the client and family, to gain insight, clarity or achieve a specific goal. She believes each person and family possesses the strengths and insights to positively move forward. Areas of focus are anxiety, depression, self-esteem, life transitions as well as building and maintaining relationships.
Outside of work Jennie can be found walking and listening to music. She loves all musical genres and is always open to a song or artist recommendation. She enjoys yoga, reading, tea and spending time with friends and family.
Jennie is a Registered Psychotherapist. She transitioned from a career in communications and ass... Read More
Veronika Brylinska
(She/Her/Hers)
Registered Psychotherapist
Veronika comes to us from a career in the arts where she grew to be a passionate, creative thinker. Her experience in theatre, photography, music, writing and local activism inspired her to travel, learn and be open.
As a psychotherapist you’ll find her to be nuanced, kind, attuned and deeply curious. She offers dedicated, safe, creative and non-judgmental psychotherapy that is rooted in compassion and humour. She helps a diverse clientele of teens, young adults, millennials and their families to understand, overcome, or learn to cope with a variety of issues such as anxiety, anger management, bullying, body image, self-esteem, self-harm and complex family dynamics.
She draws from many modalities, including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Act and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) to tailor-make an approach to help teens and families untangle from their concerns, struggles and pain while encouraging them to move in a direction that is important to them, utilizing their strengths and values.
Veronika comes to us from a career in the arts where she grew to be a passionate, creative thinke... Read More
Delaney Stewardson
(She/Her/Hers)
Delaney has supported the mental health of teens and young adults within postsecondary and community settings for several years. She loves working with teens because it’s an ideal age for building the tools we need to work through challenges like anxiety, depression, stress, interpersonal conflicts and trauma. It’s a passion of hers to walk with clients through some of life’s most difficult experiences.
For Delaney, an open-minded, down to earth attitude is a must. In the therapy room, Delaney shows up as her genuine self and loves when her clients do the same – there is nothing she enjoys more than hearing your unique story. With a healthy blend of compassion, humour and directness, she forms relationships with clients that are real and grounding. Her approach is non-judgmental and affirming of diverse sexual, gender, spiritual and cultural identities. She welcomes working with teens who identify as part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
With a master’s degree in social work and experience / training in trauma-informed care, mindfulness, emotionally focused therapy, internal family systems, cognitive behaviour therapy, and addiction treatment modalities, Delaney works with clients to choose the approach that fits best. Most importantly, she sees each client as the expert of their own life, following their lead in a collaborative way.
Outside of the therapy room, Delaney is a proud mom to a wild toddler. She loves spending time in nature, reading, writing and listening to nerdy metal music.
Delaney has supported the mental health of teens and young adults within postsecondary and commun... Read More
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Social Work
The Registered Social Workers (RSW) at our practice are all trained at a Masters level and are great therapists. They are also trained to work with individuals, couples and families. They are governed by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. We love our RSWs here!