"I should "
I should…
Be happier…
Be further ahead by now…
Have better relationships…
Be less reactive…
Have better boundaries…
You’re usually the one who people can count on. You get things done. You keep going.
And yet, under all that capability, things can feel much messier.
You find yourselve repeating patterns you thought you would have outgrown. Getting overwhelmed by things that seem like they shouldn’t affect you this much. Feeling stuck when you know there could be more to life.
Maybe you’ve spent so much time being who other people need you to be that when it comes to yourself, it’s surprisingly hard to know what you want, how you feel, or what would actually help.
Sometimes the issues feel like one big, tangled mess and you don’t even know where to start.
You may have tried therapy before and put off trying again because the thought of being asked “where do you feel that in your body?,“ or handed another worksheet has the opposite of a calming effect.
Here, you won’t get cookie-cutter quick fixes.
Instead, you’ll say what’s on your mind and be heard by someone who notices the patterns underneath so you can stop repeating them.
Maybe you’re struggling with…
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Anxiety is often the tip of the iceberg.
Underneath the overthinking, tension, perfectionism or constant need to stay on top of things, there may be feelings that are harder to name.
Fear of disappointing people. Anger you don’t feel entitled to have. Shame. Grief. Loneliness. A relentless inner critic. Or the sense that no matter how much you accomplish, you should somehow be doing better.
You may have learned plenty of coping skills already.
And they may help — until they don’t.
Sometimes meaningful change requires more than figuring out how to make an uncomfortable feeling go away. It means becoming curious about why it keeps showing up in the first place.
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Relationships have a way of showing us where we’re stuck.
Maybe it’s your partner. Your parent. Your mother-in-law. Your teenager. A friendship that leaves you depleted.
Or maybe it’s the relationship you have with yourself.
You might find yourself overgiving, avoiding conflict, feeling responsible for everyone else’s emotions, struggling to set boundaries or becoming deeply affected by other people’s approval.
You may feel caught between what you want and what your family, culture or community expects of you.
These patterns didn’t come from nowhere.
The roles you learned to play, the messages you absorbed about who you should be, and the ways you learned to stay connected or protect yourself often continue long after they’ve stopped being useful.
Sometimes the question isn’t simply How do I fix this relationship?
It’s:
Why does this keep happening?
Why does it affect me so much?
Why is it so much easier to know what everyone else needs than what I need?
And perhaps most importantly: Who am I allowed to be in the relationships that matter to me?
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Change can be strangely difficult — even when it’s something you want.
Part of you may be ready to move forward while another part remains hesitant, frightened or stuck.
Maybe your career no longer fits. A relationship is changing. You’ve become a parent and barely recognize the person you were before. Your children need you differently. Your family roles are shifting.
Or perhaps you’ve reached something you spent years working toward and find yourself wondering:
Is this it?
Is this actually what I want?
Shouldn’t I be happier than this?
Therapy gives us somewhere to stay with those questions long enough to hear what they might actually be asking of you.
Hi. I’m Myra.
Therapy with me isn’t about sugarcoating things or agreeing with everything you say.
You can bring the contradictory thoughts. The petty ones. The things you’re embarrassed to admit matter to you. The “I can’t believe I’m saying this out loud” thoughts.
I’ll listen without judgment but I won’t just nod along. If I notice you minimizing something, avoiding what matters, or falling into a familiar pattern, I may draw your attention to it.
Not because there’s something wrong with you.
Because being able to see what you’re doing while you’re doing it gives you the possibility of doing something different.
What to expect
01. Schedule a free initial consultation
02. Start where you are
03. Notice the patterns
We can discuss what’s bringing you to therapy and decide whether we’re a good fit to work together. If so, we’ll schedule our first session. I offer in-person sessions at Yonge and Sheppard in Toronto and virtual sessions across Ontario .
04. Do things differently
You don’t need to show up with an agenda. Therapy isn’t another work meeting you need to prepare for or perform well in. Start with whatever is on your mind. A fight you had yesterday. Something your mother said ten years ago. A dream. Something you almost texted your ex. Or the fact that you have no idea what to talk about.
We start to notice the threads connecting your experiences. I listen closely for patterns, contradictions and things that may be happening beneath the surface.
I’ll ask questions. I’ll make observations. Sometimes I’ll offer an interpretation or point out a connection you may not have considered.
Not as a pronouncement about who you are, but as something for us to get curious about together.
The aim isn’t endless insight for insight’s sake.
It’s to help you understand yourself well enough that you have more choice.
Instead of automatically repeating a familiar pattern, you begin to notice it. Instead of immediately judging yourself for how you feel, you become interested in why you feel that way. Instead of organizing your life entirely around what you should want, you become better able to recognize what you actually do.
Change can be gradual and difficult to measure while it’s happening. Until one day you realize you responded differently.
Things about me you might 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 recently completed a three year advanced training program in psychoanalytic psychotherapy through the Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis/University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine to deepen my work with clients,
I am a clinical supervisor to practicum students and Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying).
Approaches I use include:
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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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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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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.
Questions folks almost always ask me:
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Sometimes, because early experiences shape us. But we're equally interested in the present: current relationships, how you feel in the therapy room, what's happening in your life now. The past informs the present; we explore both.
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That's common, and often meaningful. We work with what you do remember, what you feel, and what shows up in current patterns. You don't need perfect recall.
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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, 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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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 are $195 per session.
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Yes, I do offer a few sliding scale slots for clients.
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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"It's a joy to be hidden, and a disaster not to be found."
D.W Winnicott
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.