The conversational and relational space that therapy offers is like no other. It won’t be like talking to a friend or partner. There are no restrictions on what you can talk about, nor are there any expectations or prescribed ways of speaking. You may want to bring thoughts, feelings, dreams, or free associations into therapy that you haven’t been able to share with anyone else. You may have kept these emotions and thoughts from others, and even from yourself. Uttering something aloud in the presence of another person who is trained to help you is how healing and change can happen.
Typically we meet once a week for a 50 or 75-minute session. During that time I listen very carefully to what you are saying. In a timely way I offer guidance, insight, and support. While therapy involves talking about what is troubling you, it is also about the relationship that develops between therapist and client. Noticing how you feel in the room can be very helpful in better understanding your relationships with the people in your life. Everything that transpires in the therapy sessions is in the service of your personal growth and development.
I also work with dreams—daydreams or night dreams—and I encourage you to bring those into our sessions. Dream work can be very helpful in offering understanding when you are stuck or feeling ambivalent about something in your life.
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French literature from Tufts University in Massachusetts. I am a graduate of the Centre for Training in Psychotherapy (CTP) program and I have 16 years of clinical experience. I am a member of the Canadian Association for Psychodynamic Therapy (CAPT).
I have always been interested in deepening my understanding of what it means to be human. I have done this through my own therapy, through my daily practice of yoga for the past 20 years, through raising a family, and through writing. I consider it a privilege to sit with fellow human beings as they attempt to bring meaning and insight into their lives.
It is often hard to take that first step of reaching out to contact a therapist. I invite you to take that step by either calling me at 416-528-2181 or emailing me at
sarby@bell.net to set up a 40-minute, no-fee, initial consultation.
We will meet in my comfortable, centrally located office and I will listen carefully as you tell me what is going on in your life. I will take some time to explain the therapy process and how I work. Beginning therapy can be a big step, so at the end of the 40 minutes you might want to take some time to decide if you’d like to schedule another session. If you would, we can begin to meet for weekly 50-minute sessions with the understanding that therapy is a process that requires commitment and regularity in order to be beneficial.
