Psychodynamic & Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in Toronto
I offer individual psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy for adults in Toronto. My practice has a particular focus on depth-oriented and psychoanalytic work, including psychotherapy offered more than once per week when appropriate. Sessions are held primarily in person at my midtown Toronto office near Yonge and St. Clair.
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy offer an opportunity not only to address immediate difficulties, but also to understand the emotional, relational, and behavioural patterns that may underlie them. The work is particularly suited to people who are interested in developing a deeper understanding of themselves and in making changes that extend beyond managing symptoms in the short term.
What is psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy?
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches are based on the understanding that our present experiences are shaped in part by patterns that may operate outside our immediate awareness.
These patterns can influence how we relate to other people, respond to conflict, manage difficult feelings, make decisions, and experience ourselves. They may become especially noticeable when the same difficulties seem to recur despite considerable thought, insight, effort, or previous attempts to change them.
Therapy provides a setting in which these patterns can gradually become more understandable. Rather than following a predetermined program, the work develops through ongoing attention to your experiences, relationships, thoughts, feelings, conflicts, and ways of responding—including what emerges within the therapeutic relationship itself.
The aim is not simply greater intellectual understanding. Over time, a deeper therapeutic process can create greater freedom to experience, relate, and respond differently.
What might bring someone to therapy?
People seek psychotherapy for many different reasons. You may be experiencing a clear difficulty, or you may have a less easily defined sense that something in your life is not working as you would like.
Areas we might explore include:
anxiety, worry, or persistent self-doubt
depression, low mood, or a sense of emptiness
recurring difficulties in relationships
avoidance, withdrawal, or difficulty following through
feeling stuck despite knowing what you would like to change
difficulties involving alcohol, substance use, gaming, or other ways of coping
family conflict and longstanding relational patterns
major life changes or transitions
questions about identity, direction, meaning, or how you want to live
You do not need to arrive with a clear diagnosis or a fully formed explanation of what is wrong. Part of the work can involve understanding the nature of the difficulty together.
How I work
My approach is psychodynamic and psychoanalytic, with an emphasis on careful listening, curiosity, and developing a fuller understanding of the patterns shaping your experience.
Therapy is collaborative, but it is not primarily structured around exercises, worksheets, or a prescribed sequence of techniques. Sessions provide space to speak as openly as possible about what is on your mind and to explore connections that may not initially be obvious.
We may pay attention to recurring themes, emotional responses, relationships, internal conflicts, expectations of yourself and others, and ways of protecting yourself that may once have been necessary but have become limiting.
The therapeutic relationship can itself become an important source of understanding. The ways in which familiar expectations and patterns emerge within therapy may offer an opportunity to experience and understand them differently.
How often do we meet?
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy can take place once or more than once per week.
I often recommend more frequent treatment when appropriate. Meeting two to four times weekly can provide greater continuity and depth, allowing thoughts, feelings, and relational patterns to be explored more fully than may be possible when sessions are spaced further apart.
Frequency is considered individually and discussed as part of determining the most appropriate treatment arrangement. More frequent therapy is not necessary for everyone, but it may be particularly valuable for people who want to engage in deeper or more intensive psychodynamic or psychoanalytic work.
Sessions are 45 minutes.
In-person and online psychotherapy
Sessions are primarily held in person in Toronto, near Yonge and St. Clair. I generally recommend in-person psychotherapy because the shared physical setting can contribute meaningfully to the continuity and depth of the therapeutic process.
Online appointments may also be available when appropriate or required by circumstance. Whether in-person, online, or occasionally a combination of the two makes sense can be discussed during the introductory consultation.
About my training
I am a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) in Ontario and hold a Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from the Centre for Training in Psychotherapy.
I am also a candidate at the Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis, where I am undertaking ongoing psychoanalytic training.
My additional professional education includes training related to addictions and substance use, family work, and solution-focused coaching. These areas inform my understanding while my psychotherapy practice remains grounded primarily in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic thinking.
Fees and insurance
The standard fee for a 45-minute individual psychotherapy session is CAD $200. No HST is added.
Many extended health insurance plans provide coverage for psychotherapy with a Registered Psychotherapist. Because plans vary, please confirm your individual coverage directly with your insurance provider.
Appointments may be cancelled or rescheduled with at least 48 hours’ notice. Late cancellations and missed appointments are charged at the full session fee. Rescheduling is subject to availability.
Beginning psychotherapy
I currently have very limited availability for new psychotherapy clients.
Before beginning treatment, I offer a complimentary introductory conversation of up to 30 minutes. This provides an opportunity to briefly discuss what brings you to therapy, ask questions about my approach, consider the practical arrangements for treatment, and determine whether working together may be a good fit.
If you are interested in psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapy in Toronto, you are welcome to make contact to inquire about current or upcoming availability.