(He/Him)
Registered Psychotherapist
RP, CTP Dipl
I’m interested in the inner dialogue that’s going on within us. If you listen closely, you can hear the stories we are always telling ourselves about who we are. These are powerful stories that shape the way we view ourselves and others. Psychotherapy has the potential to create a space where we can hear these stories more clearly. And when that happens, we become better acquainted with the villains and heroes of our tales.
Hearing ourselves tell these stories, sometimes for the first time, in the presence of another person, can free up parts of ourselves that might have been shut down for a very long time. When we are heard and understood, in the safety of a therapeutic setting, painful emotions can finally be released, giving way to new potentialities within us that we did not think were possible.
Therapy gives you the opportunity to reconnect with yourself. This is one of the most fundamental needs we have: to be able to make contact with ourselves. Maybe your upbringing taught you to hide or reject aspects of yourself, or maybe due to a traumatic event, you had to protect yourself by keeping out certain painful emotions. There are so many ways we become disconnected from our feelings, which are the building blocks of who we are. Through therapy, you can reclaim these disavowed feelings, and reconnect with aspects of yourself that have not been integrated. This is how we can feel alive again.
I have been trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy, which pays attention to our unconscious and implicit associations. These associations guide much of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Based on our history, strong associations begin to form in our minds, depending on how much they were reinforced. Some of the work we will be doing in therapy is to look at these deeply embedded associations that have been formed, so that they are no longer being activated automatically.
By creating a path to conscious awareness, we introduce choice into our system. We can then decide how we want to act rather than react. This focus illuminates what is unconscious to us, and lifts into consciousness associations that have dictated our actions without our awareness.
By exploring family history, past and present relationships, dreams, memories, and much more, we will begin to shed light on many of our deeply held beliefs and patterns.
I moved to Canada from Iran at the age of ten, fleeing the outbreak of war in my country. That experience left a lasting mark on me and shaped who I am today. Being separated from my home and family raised enduring questions about identity, loss, and belonging, and sparked a lifelong desire to understand the inner life.
I spent many years seeking answers through philosophy, religion, and the arts. Writers, filmmakers, musicians, and painters helped me make sense of my inner world. This search led me to study literature and psychology at York University and the University of Guelph, where I consistently gravitated toward the arts as a primary source of insight. I later extended this work through training at the Centre for Training in Psychotherapy. I am now a Registered Psychotherapist and a member of the Canadian Association of Psychodynamic Therapists.
I offer a free 30-minute consultation. This is so we can meet and get a sense of one another. This also helps me learn a little more about you, and what you are hoping to get from therapy.
I offer both in person and virtual sessions. My office is located at Dupont St., steps away from Dupont subway station in Toronto.
If you would like more information or to schedule an initial consultation, please contact me at barzinh@hotmail.com or call at (647) 894-3051.
I look forward to hearing from you.
244 Dupont St., Toronto, ON, M5R 1V7