Issues and treatment

I can help you:

Overcome fears and anxiety - This may include generalized anxiety (persistent worries and feelings of nervousness or tension that show up in various areas of your life) and specific fears/phobias, like social anxiety, fear of failure or anxiety about your relationships.
Move through depression - Emotional ups and downs and occasional sadness and anger are normal, but when they persist and lead to chronic low mood and feelings of negativity, irritability, emptiness and despair, you may be depressed and need help to shift your mood.
Recover from traumatizing events - Events that were threatening, inescapable or overwhelmed your ability to cope can have long-lasting effects that lead you to feel stuck in pain and fear. Examples include emotional abuse, violence, deaths, a diagnosis of cancer or other serious health issue, oppression, natural/human-made disasters, accidents, occupational stress and workplace injuries.
Work through shame and guilt - Maybe you've done something wrong or maybe you think there's something wrong with you. Sorting through these painful emotions can be difficult to do on your own. Therapy can provide a safe and supportive space to work toward restoring your sense of honour and integrity.
Improve self-care - This is foundational to recovery of all the issues listed here and to living well overall. Maybe you're struggling with sleep or depending on alcohol or other substances to cope; maybe you need more social connections or more time to yourself. Let's explore and discover what you can do to feel better and increase your joy in life.
Process grief and loss - Grief comes with the death of a loved one and with other kinds of losses, such as a life-changing illness or injury, a job termination, the end of a relationship, a traumatic childhood or the loss of an important role or identity. Therapy can help you process these experiences and find a way forward in your new reality.
Improve relationships - We are born to connect but our ability to do that suffers when we experience trauma or unknowingly repeat negative patterns from the past. Therapy can help you uncover and work through the blocks, such as issues with trust, intimacy, communications and boundaries.
Restore confidence and self-esteem - These take a hit when your sense of self-worth has been damaged by humiliation and criticism, unhealthy relationships, toxic work environments or difficult life experiences. Therapy can help reconnect you to your strengths, your truth, your dignity and spirit -- all the things that no one can take away.
Reduce stress and recover from burnout - Extended exposure to high stress, crises and losses depresses your immune system and your ability to cope. Therapy can help you process these experiences and support you in restoring balance and resilience.
Navigate life transitions - Changing careers, moving, becoming a parent, aging, ending relationships or starting new ones -- transitional times in our life can feel overwhelming. Therapy can support you in navigating the uncertainties, exploring options and making choices.

Trauma & EMDR

A big topic that deserves its own page! Learn more about what causes trauma, types of trauma and EMDR on this page. EMDR therapy has been proven to reduce or eliminate symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is recognized as an effective treatment by the World Health Organization, the American Psychiatric Association, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other international agencies.

Learn more

TYPES OF THERAPY

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

Research shows that CBT can be especially effective for anxiety and depression. CBT focuses on identifying, challenging and reframing negative thoughts; coping strategies; and gradual exposure to feared situations.

Solution-focused therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

SFT sees problems as separate from the person. It emphasizes what you are already doing well (or have done well in the past) and how you can do more of that. SFT's step-by-step approach to overcoming problems makes it practical and focused.

EMDR

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

EMDR

EMDR is focused on getting to the root of problems. It targets stressful or traumatizing events that continue to affect you in the present and uses bilateral stimulation, like eye movements or tapping, to reprocess these experiences. Learn more.

Mindfulness

This is a practice of becoming more present and aware of the thoughts, feelings and sensations you experience, without judgment. Becoming mindful helps you to have choice in how you respond to a situation instead of being reactive or impulsive.

Humanistic

Mindfulness

I see you as the expert on yourself, with the strengths and capacity to achieve your potential for growth. Therapy provides a supportive, nonjudgmental place for you to explore your thoughts and emotions and tap into your inner resources for growth and change.

Parts work

Mindfulness

Parts work

I use Internal Family Systems and Ego-State Therapy to explore the different "parts" or aspects that make up your personality. Parts work is useful for resolving inner conflicts, accessing strengths and self-compassion and in the treatment of dissociation.

Manuela Bizzotto, MSc RCC Counselling & EMDR Therapy

Manuela Bizzotto, MSc RCC Counselling & EMDR Therapy

Issues and treatment

I can help you:

Trauma & EMDR

TYPES OF THERAPY

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

Solution-focused therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

EMDR

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

EMDR

Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Humanistic

Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Parts work

Mindfulness

Parts work