Psychotherapy
psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is primarily a talk-based form of therapy designed to help individuals experiencing a wide array of psychological challenges and emotional difficulties, to improve and maintain their mental health and well-being
What is Psychotherapy?
At The Clara Clinic, we understand that your mental health is just as important as your physical health. That’s why we’re happy to begin offering in-person psychotherapy services to Toronto’s East End, Riverdale, Leslieville, Danforth, and Beaches communities, as well as virtual psychotherapy services for all of Ontario.
Psychotherapy is primarily a talk-based form of therapy designed to help individuals experiencing a wide array of psychological challenges and emotional difficulties, to improve and maintain their mental health and well-being.
Psychotherapy can also help us move through difficult life transitions with more grace, uncover the psychological root cause(s) of negative thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviours that may be preventing us from functioning optimally, heal from past traumas, and improve our overall quality of life.
The Clara Clinic offers a safe, respectful, and non-judgmental space for you to begin this process.
Who Benefits?
We strongly believe that anyone can benefit from psychotherapy. None of us are perfect, and there is always room to heal and grow. If you are struggling with your mental health, are going through a difficult life transition or phase, wish to gain a deeper understanding of yourself or others, or just don’t feel you are operating at your fullest potential, psychotherapy may be helpful.
some areas where psychotherapy may be helpful:
Anxiety & Depression
Disordered eating
Body image concerns
Self-esteem & self-development
Trauma & recovery
Managing difficult life transitions such as infertility, becoming a new parent, menopause, loss, a new health diagnosis, or a career change
Managing difficult emotions
Supporting your ability to make changes & understanding any resistance to these changes
Our Approach
We recognize that psychotherapy can be a unique process for each person as well as for each psychotherapist. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you feel completely supported, on track, and that you understand what comes next in the therapy process with us. Here is our general approach to psychotherapy at The Clara Clinic:
Sessions 1-3: In your initial sessions the focus of your support is really on getting acquainted with you, your personal background, biggest concerns and challenges, and working together to clearly identify your goals for the therapy process so we have a clear sense of how you want to move forward with therapy. We’re able to get started with addressing your needs as you discover what might work best for you.
Sessions 4-6: This is where the bulk of the work takes place as we start to see some breakthroughs, and as such these sessions might be more free flowing. During this phase, we are completing regular check-ins and client self-reports to gauge progress, ensure we’re on the same page, and make any necessary adjustments to our approach.
As such during these sessions, we find it extremely important to regularly complete progress check-ins and circle back to your initial goals to see how you are feeling about your progress, as well as to evaluate if your goals and priorities have shifted through the therapy process.
Session 7 & Beyond: Now that we’ve been able to see progress and have been checking in regularly on your goals and intentions for therapy, we’re able to ensure you feel more empowered in your daily life and have the freedom to reevaluate where you’d like to go in therapy and how you want to move forward overall.
At this point, we may extend the length of time between sessions so you are able to practice skills you’ve developed through the therapy process.
Types of Therapy Offered
We offer two different types of therapy at The Clara Clinic and will be adding more soon. Our current offerings include Individual Therapy and Family Therapy.
individual therapy
Work one-on-one with a trained psychotherapist in a safe and confidential environment to move through any issue(s) you are facing.
family therapy
You and your family members work with a trained psychotherapist in a safe and confidential environment to resolve conflict, support one another, and nurture deeper understanding.
what to expect & FAQS
Complimentary 15 Minute Consult
Complimentary consults are available to ensure you feel as comfortable as possible before moving forward with psychotherapy treatment. It allows you to meet with the psychotherapist of your choosing to ensure you are a good fit, and that their style of practice resonates with you. During the 15-minute call, we encourage you to ask any and all questions you may have, so you completely understand our process and approach to psychotherapy before booking an initial appointment.
Your First Appointment
Psychotherapy is a process. In the beginning stages (usually 1-3 sessions), the focus is on gathering information, building rapport, and establishing trust between you and your therapist. During this time, your therapist’s aim is to get to know you better and learn more about your unique story, personal and family history, cultural context, presenting concerns, and goals for the therapy process. Bearing all this in mind, your therapist will then develop a customized treatment plan designed to help you achieve your therapeutic goals. You will have an opportunity to review your treatment plan and consent to treatment prior to getting started.
what do i bring?
We ask that prior to your first appointment, you take the time to complete our initial intake forms in order to more efficiently use our time together.
Follow Up Appointments
As the therapy process unfolds, your therapist will check in with you regularly to ensure that you still feel aligned with the treatment direction, gauge your feelings about your progress, and make any necessary adjustments to ensure you are getting the most out of your sessions and receiving the kind of support you want and need.
Is psychotherapy covered by insurance?
Certain extended benefits plans do cover psychotherapy. We offer direct billing at the clinic, so check with your insurance provider to find out if you qualify.
How do I know if therapy will be helpful for me?
We highly encourage anyone interested in psychotherapy to first book a complimentary 15-minute call. That way you fully understand the process, the goals of therapy, and our psychotherapists’ approach. This call will allow you to get a sense of whether or not this type of treatment would be helpful for you before even getting started.
How long can I expect to be in therapy for?
Length of time in therapy is unique to the individual and influenced by several factors. At the onset of therapy, you and your therapist will discuss your history, presenting concerns, as well as goals and expectations for the therapy process. If you are seeking solutions for an isolated concern, short-term therapy may be appropriate. If you are seeking the space and time to uncover underlying root issues, a more regular, long-term therapeutic approach may be required. Our psychotherapists can also offer sessions on an as needed and ongoing basis as things come up in your life.
Looking for Support?
nikki bianchi, rp (qualifying)
Nikki’s practice is focused on nurturing the mental health and well-being of women and girls through the lifecycle. She is passionate about empowering her clients to show up for themselves and as themselves in the world. To learn more about her practice, contact us, or book a complimentary meet-and-greet with Nikki.
meaghan george, rp (qualifying)
Meaghan’s priority is creating a safe and non-judgemental space for clients to freely express themselves. She cares deeply about working respectfully with clients to access their inner resources, helping them to find ways to heal and thrive. To learn more about her practice, contact us, or book a complimentary meet-and-greet with Meaghan.
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