Family Counselling Services in Don Mills, ON.

Family dynamics are complicated. Each family has established patterns, such as how everyone communicates within the family system, how they deal with stressful situations and conflict, their roles in the family unit and how members seek support from one another. While I do not offer family therapy sessions, my clinic, Psychotherapy Collective has many child and family therapists availability to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ensure they are the proper fit for your journey. Visit our family therapy page to find a therapist https://www.psychotherapycollective.ca/services/child-and-family-therapy

Relationships in general are complex. We experience family in different ways depending on the relationship and connection we have. Family may be described as a family of origin, blended family, found family, or estranged. Regardless of what it means for you, we can work to address the concerns that are distressing you. If you are seeking support with understanding communication, hobbies, trauma, influence, or even ways to strengthen your family system, give us a call and we can help you out. We do not just focus on one relationship, we look at how roles, expectations and history influence all members of the family system.

I support families who are struggling to understand one another, which often leads to conflict and challenges. By helping them build healthy boundaries and develop communication skills rooted in compassion, understanding, and respect, I guide families toward healing and working together toward shared goals.

Families can be messy. But it doesn't have to be that way. Family therapy is a great option for those looking to overcome conflict, deepen connections, or learn more about each other's perspectives to better understand one another. By breaking down relationships, patterns, and communication habits, your family can build a stronger foundation rooted in your values and develop the tools to function effectively as a team.

Family therapy can be helpful for many types of family relationships including parents and their children or even an individual hoping to address internal issues related to their family. I use Family Systems Theory to be able to understand deeper patterns of communication and family dynamics. Our role within our family system can often dictate how we move within the world and our future relationships. This is why it becomes very important to address the emotions and patterns that originate from our family system and use these insights to enter into more fulfilling relationships. Call today and book a free consultation to discuss your unique needs!

Our team specializes in working with parents through parent coaching, and directly with children ages 6+. We practice from a family systems perspective in order to bring about long term, sustainable change for all members of the family. We have an approach that is sensitive and down-to-earth, allowing our clinicians to join with family members across generations and cultures.

Therapy can provide a safe environment for families that seek to repair their relationships. The problems generally stem from a much earlier time, when it was hard for family members to understand the nature of their conflict. Each person often has felt hurt and misunderstood, and these feelings have perpetuated over time. My approach is to encourage dialogue between them to help them understand the dynamics that have prevented a fulfilling relationship. I also try to establish the positive intentions of the work they are about to do. Therapy is intended to give them insight into what went wrong and how to repair the relationship while working through the difficult feelings and mistrust.

My overarching goal in family therapy is to help families overcome challenges, improve communication, and build stronger, more supportive relationships. Children and parents alike are heard and validated, in an environment that fosters honesty and safety. The specific approach used is eclectic and will depend on the unique needs and circumstances of each family.

When a family is facing serious illness, end-of-life decisions (including MAiD), or the aftermath of a loss, emotions and practical responsibilities can become overwhelming for everyone involved. In family sessions, I create a structured & respectful space where family members can speak openly about fears, hopes, and difficult decisions while remaining connected to one another. Drawing on narrative therapy, ACT, and my experience in hospice palliative care, I help families navigate communication challenges, honour different perspectives, and focus on what matters most during this time. These conversations reduce conflict, strengthen understanding, and support a more compassionate experience.

Sometimes the difficulties occurring in a family are systemic - which means that there is not really a 'problem person' but a family interaction malfunction. In family counselling, it is understood that everyone in the family impacts and affects everyone else and the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. It is also understood that the way to 'fix' a family problem is not by simply changing specific behaviours, but by changing the structure of the family. This can be a very important process for the many different types of families that we have in our society.

Dr. Van Blyderveen, Dr. Saliba, and Dr. Brunet each offer family therapy at New Leaf Psychology Centre. Through family therapy, you and your family will learn to communicate more effectively with one another, better understand each other, and experience more frequent moments of closeness. Attention will be given to balancing the relationship quality with the different roles of parents and children. Dr. Saliba has a special interest in working with blended families, and Dr. Brunet has a special interest in facilitating attachment between young children (ages 0 through 6) and their parents.

My interest in Family Therapy grew out of my work with patients in acute care hospitals. As I interacted with the patients and their families, I realized that if one family member is in pain, all the family members are somehow affected. This insight caused me to shift my focus away from the more traditional psychodynamic theories I was earlier taught in University and to focus instead on how family therapy and family systems brought healing. This growing body of literature, which started in the 1960s, has revolutionized my thinking, enabling me to find a more generous, holistic, and integrated approach to patient care and family healing. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today

My background in relational therapy allows me to understand individuals through the relationships they cohabit. Families come in various forms and sizes, and at times, navigating through these relational dynamics and understanding differing perspectives may be difficult. Throughout our time together, we will work to make each member’s voice heard, find ways of communication that feel helpful, and establish and restore connection. Please reach out for a free consultation to see if we are a good fit.