Brenda Simon
- Availability:
- Accepting New Clients
- Session Format:
Online Therapy
Phone Sessions- Office Hours:
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- Clientele:
- Adults
Contact Information
Psychodynamic psychotherapy has been called “the talking cure”, but it could also be called the “listening cure”. When you put your thoughts and feelings into words, with a therapist who listens carefully and empathically, a special kind of space is created that amplifies your sense of self, mind, and body. Psychotherapy provides a sounding chamber for you to hear yourself more clearly, observe your conscious and unconscious patterns, and become curious about powerful feelings and assumptions.
Many people seek out therapy because they have been caught in a mental conflict that they cannot think, feel, or act their way out of. They realize that their own state of mind is holding them back and they need another person to help them understand themselves more clearly. In psychodynamic psychotherapy, we hold a space for you to get to know your own mind, your unique way of experiencing your “self” in the world. Some patterns have served you well, while others are holding you back.
Awareness is the first step towards change. It takes courage to observe ourselves honestly and talk about it. In a non-judgmental, compassionate space, we cultivate curiosity about your stories and their meaning to you. We discover previously unknown connections and insights and slowly, you find yourself reacting and coping in new ways. Choice seems once again possible, opportunities make themselves known to you, even small acts gain significance. Slowly, you are becoming the person you want to be, not perfect but better, and you feel capable of cultivating the life, work and relationships that fulfill you.
There is an ancient saying that we are both a speck of dust in the universe and the centre of it all. Many people enter therapy because they feel that they have lost or never achieved a lived experience of themselves at the centre. Psychotherapy is a journey of self-discovery that, paradoxically, takes you inward to help you find more authentic relationships in the world.
In therapy, we often feel a great sense of relief that we can finally speak openly and without fear of judgment, correction, or censorship. When we meet for our sessions, you may have urgent matters that you wish to discuss, but you are also encouraged to just follow your thoughts. There is no need to prepare, and I encourage you to speak as unfiltered as you can manage. In the psychodynamic aspect of psychotherapy, we respect the whole of your mind, the conscious parts that speak easily and the unconscious parts, that are felt, perhaps, but only dimly acknowledged. We always maintain a compassionate space to feel and think about what comes up in the moment. And to talk about it, openly. Our focus is on your life at the present: your real-world circumstances, relationships, your dreams, and aspirations. The past is important too because it helps us understand how it echoes into your present.
In my practice, we establish regular weekly sessions, for a 50-minute hour. We will look for an appointment time that you can honour consistently. I am currently available for evening sessions. My practice is exclusively online; however that may change in the near future, depending on demand for in-person sessions.
I trained at the Centre for Training in Psychotherapy (CTP) in Toronto for over 15 years. The school offers a rigorous program of part-time studies, that include intensive experiential learning, academic coursework, one-on-one mentorship, and group supervision.
While I was studying, I raised my family and worked in various aspects of social policy and justice, including affordable housing, employment and human rights, child welfare and environmental education. I hold a Master of Environmental Studies degree, where I researched the intersection of child development and urban planning. My experience in these fields only reinforced for me how central is the journey inward in order to make change in the world. Exploring our inner life, and interpersonal dynamics, in the company of a trusted therapist, can help us live authentically and self-responsibly, within ourselves and in relation to others. Real change begins with self-knowledge and in self-acceptance.
I am profoundly grateful to be a psychotherapist now. It is truly a privilege to sit with others as they undertake the difficult task of self-reflection.
If you are interested in taking the next step, I offer an introductory 40-minute free online consultation.
You can reach me at brendasimontherapy@gmail.com and I will respond within 24 hours. Please indicate at least 3 preferred times for our initial meeting. I will do my best to accommodate.
I look forward to meeting you.
If you would like more information or to schedule an initial consultation, please contact me at brendasimontherapy@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.