As a therapist, I support clients with a wide range of issues, including those who are experiencing a significant loss, change, or transition in their life. These difficult experiences may lead to complex feelings that are difficult to face alone. As it is often said, the only constant in life is change.

I excel with helping clients as they navigate significant shifts in themselves, their relationships, or lived circumstances. These moments can feel like a crisis, like a challenge too large to work through. But such crises are valuable opportunities to explore the underlying personal vulnerabilities they signal, and to encounter untapped personal resources and resilience. Clarifying the sense of crisis and the meanings behind it are powerful opportunities to learn more about the self, hone underused strengths, and forge new meaningful paths.

This work of transformation and change is an opportunity to cultivate novel patterns in the place of self-defeating ones. Therapy offers us a chance to refine unrealistic expectations into inspiring goals. It also provides a space in which to shift a self-critical or dismissive stance into a hopeful new orientation.

How I Work

My clients benefit from my compassionate, active, and engaging approach. I help people identify adaptive ways of coping with the residue of unhealthy early family experiences and powerful emotional insecurities that are contributing to difficult patterns in their personal and professional relationships.

My therapeutic approach includes a variety of evidence-based interventions for both individual and couples work, tailored to meet your unique needs and problem.

For individual therapy I use theories and interventions aimed at improving self-awareness and overall well-being. I draw on psychodynamic, existential-humanistic, trauma-focused, and social constructivist approaches to psychotherapy. For couple’s work, to support those who are struggling with destructive relational patterns and conflict, I work to create a safe and non-judgmental space where each feels welcome and supported to share their own experience and perspective. With couples, I primarily utilize Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I typically focus on medium-to longer-term therapy.

If you have been pushing yourself and feel you do not know how to approach this alone, I invite you to reach out. I offer a caring, confidential, judgement-free space where clients feel heard and supported. I look forward to hearing from you.

About Me

Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, I held a twenty-year career in financial services strategy positions. A change management role during a company acquisition catalyzed a personal desire to pursue more meaningful ways I could help others in tumultuous situations, which led me to pursue training in psychotherapy. During my training I had the privilege to volunteer at Kensington Hospice for several years. This rewarding experience, as well as my certification in Contemplative End of Life Care, deepened my interest in supporting those who are near their end of life, as well as those who are impacted by grief associated with the loss of a loved one.

My training is eclectic and integrative. I use a broad array of interventions to improve self-awareness, healthy relating, the capacity to work through change and overall well-being. I am committed to ongoing professional learning and development. I am a graduate of the University of Waterloo with a Bachelors of Arts in English literature. I hold a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, and graduated with distinction. I am a member of the CRPO (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario), a member of CAPT (Canadian Association for Psychodynamic Therapy) and OAMHP (Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals). I hold certifications in treatment of anxiety and depression, as well as treatment of trauma, grief and bereavement, and couples work.

The First Step

I am an ally to people from diverse backgrounds. I welcome both individuals and couples to my practice. If you are curious or have questions about my approach, please contact me via email at lakolesa@icloud.com to schedule a phone consultation at no charge so we can address any of your questions and determine if we are the right fit for each other. The therapeutic connection has a vital role in the overall impact of healing and change.

If you would like more information or to schedule an initial consultation, please contact me at lakolesa@icloud.com. I look forward to hearing from you.