"I should "
I should…
Be happier…
Be further ahead by now…
Have better relationships…
Be less reactive…
Have better boundaries…
Our ‘shoulds’ can limit us.
Let’s do something about it.
Hi. I’m Myra Batalvi, parent to twins, Pakistani-Torontonian and a Registered Psychotherapist who can guide you past your ‘shoulds’ to the heart of what you want, and help you get there.
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64dd2abaac2aaa24219a932d/e49c7f99-ada9-4c63-82be-df7e835f3273/myra-profile-photo+copy-long.jpg)
Things about me that you probably want to know
I started my journey as a market researcher and consultant for Fortune 500 companies. As I advanced the career ladder, traveling and working in Brazil, Japan, France and Germany, I started to realize I wanted to help people truly overcome their issues.
I switched gears, completed a double Masters in Psychology at Columbia University and trained as a psychotherapist in New York.
My expertise includes working with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, familial conflict, childhood traumas, building resilience, and learning how to better manage life transitions (including career, academic and relational).
I work with individuals - adults and adolescents - as well as with couples.
I continue to invest in professional development and I’m currently enrolled in an advanced training program in psychoanalytic psychotherapy to deepen my work with clients.
Ok, I think I’m ready to do this. What happens next?
I get that the “getting started” part of therapy can feel uncomfortable. Talk to a stranger about personal things? Weird.
And the process that follows? Will it be heavy? Messy? Challenging? Yes, it can be, but you will not be doing this work alone.
STEP ONE:
Book a 15-Minute Consult Call
We’ll introduce ourselves, answer any questions you have about working together, and you can see if you feel like “yes, this is what I’ve been looking for in a therapist.”
STEP TWO:
Schedule your first session
If we’re a match, we’ll get our first session on the calendar and start getting clarity on your needs for our work together.
STEP THREE:
Collaborate on a treatment plan
After our first couple of sessions, we’ll re-connect on your goals, create a plan for how to reach them and align on the therapy approach(es) that best serve you and where you want to go.
We’ll continue to meet at a frequency that works for you until you’re feeling 10/10 about the progress you’ve made.
Real Challenges. Real Changes.
Real Challenges. Real Changes.
In my experience as a therapist, I find that people who seek therapy have something fundamentally right with them rather than something “wrong with them”. As my clients navigate the challenges that bring them to therapy, they also hold an inner sense that life can and will improve.
I agree with my clients who consider psychotherapy an adventure in personal growth, an exploration of who they are, and a process to seek answers to what they want to do in life.
What I do not believe is that doing the “deeper work” takes forever, or alternatively can be accomplished in a session or two, because a Band-Aid solution isn’t going to cut it. Trained in a wide range of therapeutic approaches, I collaborate with my clients to use short-term/solution-focused work alongside depth-oriented processes. (More info on the approaches I use here!)
In my practice, I’ve worked with clients to…
Go from here… |
To here: |
I don't know how I feel |
I clearly know and articulate what I feel |
I pretzel myself around others’ demands |
I set healthy boundaries that protect my energy |
I numb out when life feels overwhelming |
I have tools to move through my emotions and stay present |
I burn out when work and life get stressful |
I lean into new ways to take the pressure off |
I avoid conflict and hard conversations |
I navigate difficult conversations with more ease |
I pretend to be someone I'm not |
I feel true to myself (and am rediscovering who I always was) |
I feel like nothing matters |
Life feels more vibrant and purposeful |
I'm having strong reactions to things in the present that makes me wonder ‘what was that really about’? |
I recognize that my ‘over-reactions’ stem from a response to something rooted in my past |
I have unhelpful patterns in the way I relate |
I'm changing old patterns to give myself more choice in the present |
I'm feeling unfulfilled in my relationships |
I have a greater sense of safety and meaning in my relationships |
Approaches I use include:
* It is important to note that you need not select a particular form of therapy. As a licensed clinician, I can help guide you to the therapy approach best suited to your needs. Many of these techniques can be drawn on when needed.
Approaches I use include:
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ACT is a behavioural therapy that helps individuals accept—or reduce the influence of—their painful thoughts and feelings, while simultaneously committing to actions that will help them build a meaningful and expansive life. ACT is like learning to surf the waves of life. Instead of trying to control or fight against challenging thoughts and emotions, you learn to accept them as natural parts of your experience. You also identify your core values and commit to actions that align with these values, like paddling in the direction you want to go. ACT is an empirically proven treatment for anxiety, panic attacks, chronic pain, OCD, and depression.
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AEDP is an interdisciplinary model focused on creating neuroplasticity in the brain through corrective emotional and relational experiences in therapy. AEDP is particularly indicated for the treatment of trauma and PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, grief/loss, and self-esteem and self-identity issues.
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Integrating attachment theory in therapy is like understanding the love language between you and your past caregivers. It's about exploring how your early relationships shaped your emotional patterns and how they affect your current connections. This therapeutic approach helps you make sense of why you react to others the way you do while identifying strategies to support you in developing healthier ways of relating. It's like learning your ‘hidden blueprint’ for relationships so you can build stronger, more fulfilling connections and feel more secure and supported in the world.
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Couples Therapy employs an integrated approach to treatment depending on the needs of the couple. Ranging from Emotionally Focused Therapies to Behavioural Therapies, Couples Therapy can help you understand yourself and your partner better so that you can change unhealthy dynamics and learn to communicate better. Couples Therapy is not exclusive to romantic partnerships but does have the treatment goal of stronger emotional connections and an overall healthier relationship.
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Family of Origin work starts by looking at the family you grew up in as a source for where people typically learn to become who they are. One’s upbringing is where a person learns how to communicate and process emotions. One’s family is where beliefs and values are transmitted and attachment style is formed, so Family of Origin is a helpful therapeutic approach to unpacking emotional concerns, identifying unhealthy patterns, building self-awareness, and improving parenting skills.
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A central framework in trauma therapy that provides a nervous-system-based lens for therapists and clients to understand human behavior in response to traumatic experiences. Incorporating polyvagal principles in therapy helps to create a safe and supportive environment for healing, promote resilience, and enhance the effectiveness of trauma-informed interventions, including techniques to regulate the nervous system and manage overwhelming emotions.
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Psychodynamic therapy recognizes the role of unconscious processes in shaping behavior. It focuses on helping individuals become aware of and understand their unconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires that may be contributing to their difficulties. By bringing these unconscious processes to conscious awareness, individuals can gain insight and make conscious choices. More than other approaches, psychodynamic psychotherapy places the emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as a catalyst for change.
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Trauma-informed care seeks to minimize harm and re-traumatization by providing support services that are appropriate and accessible to individuals who have experienced trauma. It involves understanding the effects of trauma on physical, emotional, and psychological well-being and integrating this understanding into the therapeutic process. Some key elements of trauma-informed care in psychotherapy include prioritizing trust and safety, empowerment of clients in the treatment process, awareness and management of triggers, and integrating traumatic memories, thereby enabling healing and growth.
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Multiculturally informed psychotherapy integrates cultural considerations into therapy.
It recognizes intersectionality and the influence of multiple social factors. Therapeutic approaches are adapted to align with cultural values and communication styles. Collaboration and empowerment are emphasized, valuing clients' expertise. Cultural disparities and social justice are addressed.
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Imagine your mind as a big family with different family members or "parts." Each part has its own personality and job. Some parts are protective and want to keep you safe, while others might be hurt or scared from past experiences. Sometimes, these parts can clash and cause inner conflicts or strong emotions. IFS therapy is like having a family meeting with a therapist as the mediator. By doing this, you can build better relationships with these parts and help them work together harmoniously. This way, you can achieve more balance and healing within yourself, like having a happier and healthier inner family.
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The "inner child" represents vulnerable aspects of the psyche formed during early years. Through emotional expression, reparenting, and challenging limiting beliefs, individuals address past traumas and negative experiences. Inner child work helps individuals develop healthier boundaries and self-protective mechanisms to prevent re-traumatization and emotional harm. Guided visualizations may aid in this process. This approach is valuable for those with emotional difficulties, self-esteem issues, and unresolved trauma.
* It is important to note that you need not select a particular form of therapy. As a licensed clinician, I can help guide you to the therapy approaches best suited to your needs. Many of these techniques can be drawn on when needed.
Questions folks almost always ask me:
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This article has some helpful things to keep in mind when searching for a therapist.
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Services provided by psychotherapists are typically reimbursed partially, or in full, by extended health care providers. Because every plan can be different, I suggest ensuring that ‘Registered Psychotherapists’ are covered under your particular plan. I provide all clients with a detailed invoice of their appointments, which they may submit to insurance companies for prompt reimbursement.
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My fees range between $150 and $200 plus HST.
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Yes, I do offer a few sliding scale slots for clients. As well, to do my small part in redistributing power and privilege, I offer reduced rates for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ folks. Please inquire if interested during our initial session/consult.
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I accept credit card payment via the secure Jane payments app or e-transfer upon request.
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Each session is 50-minutes in length.
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Generally, I schedule sessions on weekday mornings, afternoons and some evenings. I am not available for regular sessions on weekends.
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Yes, I have some daytime and afternoon availability for in-person appointments at my Yonge and Sheppard office location.
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Yes, I conduct sessions over Zoom or phone.
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I’m licensed to provide psychotherapy within the province of Ontario. As long as you reside in Ontario, we can meet for virtual sessions.
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For recent onset problems with a clear focus, like bereavement or a problem at work, people come for once-weekly counselling for a short period. For issues that are more complex, people tend to opt for longer-term psychotherapy. This is generally weekly, every two weeks or two times a week to help us work on issues more intensively. We can discuss the best approach for you and your schedule in our first meeting.
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While some therapeutic approaches are based heavily on worksheets and homework, most of the time I don’t prescribe homework. However, I often make recommendations for YouTube videos, podcast episodes or particular books to clients where it might be helpful.
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In Ontario, a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) is a regulated mental health professional who has met specific educational and clinical training requirements and is registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
The title "Registered Psychotherapist" is protected by law in the province of Ontario, and only individuals who have met the necessary qualifications and are registered with CRPO can legally use this title. To become a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, individuals must complete graduate-level education in psychotherapy, meet supervised clinical experience requirements, and pass a comprehensive examination.
Once registered, RPs are authorized to practice psychotherapy independently, providing mental health services to clients. Psychotherapists cannot diagnose or communicate diagnosis of mental health conditions. Most psychotherapy does not require a mental health diagnosis.
Psychologists attend graduate school in psychology and have typically completed a Master’s degree and PhD in the area of clinical psychology. Part of graduate school training for psychologists includes conducting research as well as completing clinical hours. Psychologists are legally able to communicate diagnoses for mental health conditions. Psychologists may use evidence-based psychometric or psychoeducational testing tools to assess clients, determine diagnoses and a treatment plan.
Social workers hold a degree in social work (B.S.W. or M.S.W.) and are trained to address social and emotional issues affecting individuals and communities. They offer counseling, psychotherapy, case management, advocacy, and community resources to support clients' well-being, particularly vulnerable populations facing poverty, homelessness, or family issues.
Don’t spot your questions here?
No problem — just book in your free consult and we can chat through them together.
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"What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversations."
Glenn Close