What we help with
Signs of trauma and PTSD
How to recognise what you may be living with.
Trauma is what happens inside us when an experience overwhelms our capacity to cope. PTSD is one of the ways that can settle in afterwards, leaving the past feeling ever-present through flashbacks, hypervigilance, avoidance, and a body that stays braced for danger. This page is here to help you recognise it — and if it sounds like what you are living with, our trauma therapy page explains how we work with it.
Not sure who to bring this to? Tell us a little about what you're carrying, and we'll walk you through your options and match you with the right therapist.
Get connected with us within the day
Available therapists
If you know what you are looking for, go directly to our therapist schedules for a free introduction or book a session.
Magdhi Shah
Registered Psychotherapist
See profile$170 · 60 min
EMDR trainedImmigrant & BIPOC experienceCouples Therapy
Angelica Rao
Registered Social Worker & Psychotherapist
See profile$190 · 60 min
Nervous-system regulationBody OrientedAddictions
Freshte Javid
Registered Psychotherapist
See profile$180 · 60 min
Couples TherapyReligious TraumaBrainspotting trained
Megan Kuo
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
See profile$160 · 60 min
Immigrant & BIPOC experiencePsychodynamicWorks with IFS
Lesley Nightingale
Registered Psychotherapist
See profile$180 · 60 min
EMDR trainedTrauma-informedMind-body approach
Ashley Miller
Co-Founder · Registered Psychotherapist & Clinical Supervisor
See profile$200 · 60 min
EMDR certifiedComplex Trauma Levels 1 & 2Body-oriented practice
Emma Stafford-Coyte
Co-Founder · Registered Social Worker & Clinical Supervisor
See profile$200 · 60 min
Women’s College Hospital trainedEMDR Advanced CertificationTrauma-informed practice
What it can look like
- Flashbacks, intrusive memories, or nightmares
- Feeling constantly on guard or easily startled
- Avoiding reminders of what happened
- Emotional numbness or disconnection
- Difficulty trusting, or feeling unsafe in your body
How therapy helps
Recognising it is enough to begin. You do not need a diagnosis, and you do not need to have decided what to call it. Every clinician here is trauma-informed, with additional training in trauma, and we will help you find the therapist and the approach that fit.
Approaches we may draw on
Matched thoughtfully to you.
Good to know
Trauma & PTSD, in brief.
How do I know if it is PTSD, or just stress?
Stress tends to ease once the pressure lifts. PTSD keeps the past active in the present — intrusive memories, nightmares, feeling constantly on guard, avoiding reminders, or feeling numb and cut off, weeks or months after the event. Only an assessment can tell you for certain, but if those signs are shaping your daily life, it is worth talking to someone.
Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy?
No. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral, or the right words for what happened. Many people start with the effects they are noticing — sleep, anger, anxiety, distance from people they love — and we make sense of it together.
Is EMDR effective for PTSD?
Yes — EMDR is one of the most well-researched and effective treatments for PTSD, and it is recommended by major health bodies. Several of our therapists are trained in it; you can read more on our EMDR page.
Before you book
The practical part.
- What does it cost?
- Sessions start at $160 for 60 minutes, and each therapist's own rate is on their card above. The first 15-minute consultation is free.
- Is it covered by insurance?
- Not by OHIP — the practice is private. Many workplace benefit plans do cover some or all of the cost of seeing a Registered Social Worker or Registered Psychotherapist, though coverage varies, so it is worth a quick check with your insurer. We provide receipts for reimbursement. More on fees and insurance.
- What happens in the free consultation?
- Fifteen minutes, by phone or video, with no obligation. You can ask questions, say as much or as little as you want about what you are carrying, and get a feel for whether this is someone you could talk to. If it is not the right fit, we will say so and help you find one.
- How many sessions will I need?
- There is no set number. Many people meet weekly at the start, because that is what builds trust and momentum, and settle into a slower rhythm later. We revisit how it is going together, and you decide how long it goes on.
- How do I choose between the therapists?
- Start with the reasons listed under each name above — they say what each person has trained in and who they tend to work with. If that does not settle it, book the free consultation with whoever you are drawn to, or ask us and we will suggest someone.
No cost, no obligation, and no need to know what to say yet.