Registered Psychotherapist
RP, CTP Dipl
Do you feel stuck, but you’re not sure why? Do you long for change, but find yourself having the same experiences over and over again? Do you have the sense that your life could feel richer, fuller, more meaningful? Do you want to take your inner life more seriously? Less seriously? Do you suffer from anxiety, depression, unresolved grief, trauma?
These are some of the reasons that people come to therapy, but you needn’t be in crisis to benefit from having a time and space to be really curious about your own life, with someone who is deeply interested in understanding with you. When we are able to pay close attention to ourselves, we may uncover deeply held beliefs, ways of relating, and other patterns in our lives that limit us in getting what we really want. This can lead to growth, and to a sense of real freedom to create the lives we desire.
“It is a joy to be hidden but a disaster not to be found.” ~ D.W. Winnicott
Many of us don’t have the experience of being truly ourselves in the presence of another person. Even the thought of sharing our inner lives can feel scary, overwhelming, or just impossible. How to even begin?
Typically I see individuals once or twice a week for 50 minutes. We start by talking about your history in order to have some context. From there, we simply talk about whatever’s on your mind. There will be sessions where we focus entirely on the present, but there will also be times when we talk about the past, and how it may be affecting you today.
We listen carefully to the stories that shape your life. We pay attention to your thoughts and feelings and get curious about the ways that you relate to others and how you experience yourself in the world. We might discover recurring patterns that no longer serve you, or explore your dreams and unconscious fantasies. Together, we try to connect with what you feel inside, and find a way for you to say that openly, in the presence of another person who is attuned, empathetic and non-judgmental. It’s not complicated, but the experience can be profound, and you may find greater freedom to love, work, and play in a way that feels like truly yourself.
For many years, I was an employment and human rights lawyer. While I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of the practice, I was much more interested in my clients’ personal experiences. I found it rewarding to help them navigate what were often very painful times in their lives, and so I decided to change careers and undertook in-depth academic and experiential training at the Centre for Training in Psychotherapy (CTP).
Having undergone my own psychoanalysis, I know that while it can sometimes be difficult and requires commitment and hard work, it can be transformative to have a person with whom to think and feel freely and without judgment. In the end, the gift of therapy is that it can lead to both greater self-knowledge and self-acceptance.
If you are interested in taking the next step, please contact me by email at allison@allisongreene.ca to set up a session. For those seeking individual therapy, I offer an introductory no-fee consultation.
245 Coxwell Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4L 3B4