Brenda Simon

• Abuse (childhood/familial)
• Abuse (intimate partner violence)
• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Body Image
• Career Dissatisfaction or Transition
• Children and Teens
• Creative Blocks
• Depression
• Dreamwork and Dream Interpretation
• Existential Concerns
• Intergenerational Trauma
• Life Crisis and Transitions
• Loneliness and Isolation
• Loss and Grief
• Masochism and Self-Defeating Behaviours
• Obsessive and Compulsive Thoughts and Behaviours
• Parenting and Co-Parenting
• Relationships
• Self-Destructive Patterns
• Self-Esteem
• Sleep Difficulties
• Stress
• Trauma
• Underemployment

• Mindfulness
• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

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 began my career in law and environmental studies.  For my Master’s degree, I researched and wrote about the intersection of child development, human potential and urban planning.  I wanted to understand how the built environment impacts our psyches. I had already begun my own therapeutic journey; then, I discovered the intellectual world of “object relations” and that led to my studies in psychodynamic psychotherapy.

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 pursued this training, I raised my family and worked in various aspects of social justice, including affordable housing, employment and human rights, and environmental education.

My experience in social justice advocacy 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.