Psychotherapy is talk therapy that creates self-awareness. Its goal is to make the unconscious conscious, to understand why we live reactively, repeating and being trapped in the same patterns of behaviour, instead of living with choice, balance, and awareness.

Many symptoms are unprocessed feelings that become hardened into defensive patterns that can narrow our life. The pain of the past is felt in symptoms such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, anger, and addiction, for example. Over time the tangle of unresolved symptoms intensifies, creating suffering and overwhelm.

Through the experience of psychotherapy, we can identify our triggers and change the way we respond to them. We learn what has happened to us, which helps us to become more compassionate and forgiving of ourselves.

How I Work

Psychotherapy provides a context for close examination of our relational life, which can help us uncover relational habits that contribute to suffering. The choice of therapist is paramount. In trust we explore ourselves.

Psychotherapy sessions are conversations, but for this to happen, it is important to have an environment that is safe and respectful. Too often, patients come with feelings of shame and fear of judgement. Patients need to know that the more they share with their therapist, the more they are really exploring themselves. This takes time, and as trust grows, so does the patient’s confidence, both with the therapist and within her/himself.

It is important to know that there is no planning or homework for the patient. The only expectation is to show up on time and notify the therapist when life intervenes. This happens. As a rule, the more spontaneous the sessions are, the more connected to the patient’s feelings the sessions will be. Feelings are the source of emotions, and together we wonder about them, what they are teaching us, when we should listen to them, why they are overwhelming us. They can get tangled and conflicted. Together, we sort through them, marvelling really at what needs are not being met.

With therapy we find a way to live with the pain of what has happened to us. Instead of trying to overcome, we seek to understand.

About Me

As a former guidance counsellor and now a graduate from the Centre for Training in Psychotherapy and a registered psychotherapist, I can offer years of experience and training to help you with your journey into the soul of yourself. It is a place of peace and knowing. It would be an honour to accompany you there. It takes time, but so has the length of time you have been bearing the pain that brought you to therapy.

The First Step

Please contact me by email at marionschell28@gmail.com or by phone at 905-995-0838.

I can be reached throughout the week. I offer a 20-minute free consultation on the Doxy telemedicine link: https://doxy.me/marionschell

I look forward to meeting with you in an initial consultation.