Joan Smith, MSW, RSW

Joan Smith View Specialties



About Me
 
I am a Registered Social Worker with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field, committed to supporting individuals through a wide range of life challenges. My approach is grounded in creating a sincere, warm, non-judgmental, and safe environment where you feel supported and empowered to make meaningful changes at your own pace.
 
My mission is to help you discover your strengths, recognize your inherent value, and navigate the difficulties you are facing. Taking this step is an act of courage—one that leads to greater understanding, personal growth, and lasting positive change.
 
Throughout my career in the mental health field, I have had the privilege of working in diverse settings, including women’s shelters, crisis centres, and hospital emergency departments. In these roles, I provided crisis intervention, trauma support, mental health and suicide risk assessments, grief and loss counselling, and psychotherapy.
 
As mentioned, much of my professional journey has centered around working with crisis, trauma, and grief. My experience working with people during their most vulnerable moments has profoundly shaped my development as a therapist. Supporting people in crisis has taught me how to hold space with empathy, remain grounded under pressure, and respond with both compassion and clinical insight. These moments have strengthened my ability to build trust, provide stability, and help clients feel truly seen, heard, and supported when they need it most.
 
Areas of Focus of Therapy 
In my practice, I support individuals facing a wide range of concerns, including but not limited to;
  • Anxiety 
  • Social Anxiety 
  • Depression
  • Panic Attacks 
  • Phobias 
  • Sleep Disturbances 
  • Low Self-Esteem 
  • Stress 
  • Life Transitions Codependency 
  • Trauma 
  • Grief and Loss

Therapy Approach
My therapeutic approach is guided by your unique needs and goals. I draw from a variety of evidence-based modalities, including client-centred therapy, solution-focused therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and mindfulness-based practices. This integrative approach allows me to tailor our work in a way that best supports your healing and personal growth.
 
I strongly believe that every individual has the capacity to be empowered—to discover their strengths, recognize their values, and navigate pain in ways that foster resilience and growth. It would be an honour to support you as you move towards the changes you seek, so you can experience a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
 
Availability & Services
I offer both in-person and virtual sessions, providing individual therapy to adults (ages 18 and up).
 Consultation:

To help you determine if we're a good fit, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation.
 

Session Fees
Individual Therapy (60 minutes): $180 - A sliding scale may be available on a case-by-case basis. Please feel free to inquire if cost is a concern.
 Insurance

My services are covered by most extended health insurance plans. However, coverage varies, so I recommend checking with your provider to confirm your individual plan details. I will provide you with an official receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
 Location
My office is located at: 17665 Leslie Street, Newmarket, Ontario
The space is wheelchair accessible and conveniently located close to public transportation, making it easy to access for all clients.


Joan Smith Reaches

Newmarket ON