Find a Therapist in Hamilton, Ontario.

Psychotherapy can be life-changing; you may need a few sessions or more in-depth work, but we will collaborate to meet your needs. There are many types of psychotherapy, all of which involve talking to someone you can confide in and trust to have your best interests at heart. I offer a person-centred approach to meet your unique needs and work with you on your best strategy for meeting life’s challenges.

In all of the work that I do with clients, there are some primary goals: Promote understanding and eliminate ambiguity. It is only through understanding that we can create comprehensive and meaningful change. I also focus quite heavily on exploring tools and treatment methods with my clients so that they can find their desired change. I incorporate elements of cognitive and behavioural interventions along with a myriad of psychological principles into my psychotherapeutic work.

I offer a unique form of Psychotherapy that uses therapeutic art making combined with talking therapy. I use these techniques to guide my clients through a process of self-discovery and help them achieve a stronger sense of well-being. Creating art is an extension of self onto a canvas, which allows my clients to have a means of observing their emotions and inner thoughts, as well as a non-threatening way to express them. Through this, my clients can learn to understand their own behaviours, thought patterns, emotions, and moods. With this technique, my clients can learn to take control of their lives and manage their emotions.

Beginning with a warm and trusting relationship, an environment is built in which we can set realistic, measurable goals in order to work toward your health. I use an integrated approach to therapy which means that which includes family systems, cognitive-behavioural and psychodynamic therapy as well as spirituality. I attempt to be flexible enough to accommodate your needs while creating enough structure to help you consistently move toward your goals. I am a relational person and am not afraid to be myself in therapy.

My approach includes using strength-based, client centred therapies in practice and recognizing that clients are resilient and have the ability to connect with themselves to find answers to any of life’s problems. Other modalities which are helpful include solution focused brief therapy and narrative therapy, whereby clients are able to recognize and build on their hopes. Clients will benefit from psychotherapy, as their negative thoughts will be challenged, resulting in decreased self-blame.

Psychotherapy allows for personal challenges to be addressed. Through a warm, therapeutic relationship in which individuals, couples, and families are permitted to discuss these issues, my aim is to assist in resolving them. Although many forms of therapy exist to do so, sensitivity will be provided to ensure the client ultimately dictates which ones are to be used. Whether it is amending destructive thoughts, accepting thoughts and feelings that are beyond our control, or utilizing strengths within to formulate new solutions, therapy will be structured to facilitate therapeutic goals in the manner most beneficial to the client.

Although often used interchangeably there are some subtle differences between counselling and psychotherapy. Counselling can be thought of as relatively short term with an individual seeking out solutions to a particular issue they are dealing with. It is often concerned with an individual’s behaviour, targeting a particular symptom or problem situation, and is supportive. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is usually longer term, focusing more on physical and/or emotional problems which either persist for some time or keep recurring. Rather than dealing with a specific problem, psychotherapy challenges an individual’s belief systems and core values.

My approach involves drawing on various modalities (e.g., dialogic, narrative, solution-focused, emotion-focused) that fit the unique needs of clients. I hope to create an environment for clients where they feel a sense of safety to express their reflections, thoughts, and concerns. I take on a non-judgmental, non-expert stance and firmly believe that clients have everything that they need already within them- my role is to simply remind you of who you are or to help you discover who you would like to be through supportive, therapeutic conversations. If you are interested in learning more about my approach and to see if we would be a good fit, please contact me for a free consultation.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of how to move forward? I’m Simona Ilieva, a Registered Psychotherapist, and I’m here to help. Whether you're facing anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, or life transitions, I offer individualized therapy to help you navigate these challenges. Together, we’ll explore your concerns, identify strengths, and develop strategies to create meaningful change. You deserve a life that feels fulfilling and balanced. Therapy is a powerful tool for self-discovery and healing. Let’s take the first step toward a more empowered, peaceful future together. Book a free consultation today.

Sometimes we don't feel connected. Not only to our partners and family but to life in general. We feel like we are searching for some elusive ideal which we can neither explain or label, leaving us feeling like we are wandering in circles. Using a Jungian and Adlerian approach and dream analysis, I have found that people have been able to break free from the role of the nomad. This approach can require a much longer commitment from clients who are seeking a deeper epiphany about themselves and their lives.

As a gestalt psychotherapist, who pairs gestalt training with somatic experiencing I can help support you in healing from your trauma. No one in the Niagara Region utilizes the combination of these therapies and applies them to working with couples in crisis. I am sorry to say but popular approaches to healing trauma like CBT will provide only temporary relief at best. If you want to get to the root of your trauma and heal somatic experiencing (SE) is what you need and when supported with the power of relational gestalt therapy you will shift your shit! SE focuses on regulating your nervous system. Gestalt focuses on awareness, contact and authenticity, it will help being relational.

Psychotherapy is a talk-based therapy in which folks can explore their concerns related to life challenges, stressors, mental health and well-being in a non-judgemental space. I believe that “individual” concerns go beyond the individual and are deeply connected to the way we interact with the world and others. As such, my approach to psychotherapy draws on systemic therapies that focus on broader sociocultural influences, intersections of identity and relational patterns. I value collaboration, authenticity and anti-oppressive practice in the therapeutic space. Contact me for a free consultation to determine if we would be a good fit.

Psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods to help a person change behavior and overcome problems in a positive manner. Its aim is to help people understand the thoughts behind feeling anxious or depressed and addressing these thinking patterns. Psychotherapy will help you change behaviors and habits that are limiting you, to experiencing your fullest potential.