I’m so glad

you’re here.

HI, I’M Julia.

I help people who look like they have it all together, actually feel that way. Working with individuals, couples, and families, my clients are often navigating infertility, miscarriage, postpartum depression and anxiety, adjusting to parenthood, and other major life transitions (eg, career change, separation/divorce, job loss, moving). For many, they may also be trying to manage strong emotions, stress and overwhelm, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, burnout and tolerating uncertainty.

If you are struggling, your mind is busy with worry, your mood is low, and you just can’t seem to get unstuck and achieve balance, I can help. Together we will mobilize your strengths, regulate emotions, enhance self-esteem, and overcome obstacles. We will explore new and more helpful ways of thinking, being, and communicating.

My approach.

With a warm, open, and approachable style, I leave behind professional pre-tense and bring my whole self into sessions. I work to quickly establish trust, confidence, and the strong rapport that is essential to the therapeutic process, so we can get down to business.

My therapeutic approach is holistic, trauma-informed, and strengths-based. It is grounded in evidence-based best practices and flexibly applied to meet the unique needs of individuals, couples, and families. I appreciate the importance of active listening to truly understand you – not just a situation, but what it means for you in the context of your life, relationships, and experiences. Our work together will lead to deepening self-awareness while developing a toolbox of concrete skills you can rely on to make effective changes and maintain optimal wellness.

Non-therapist me.

I am a wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, therapist and advocate. I began practicing nearly 20 years ago and I am as passionate about the work today as I was at the start. I love NPR podcasts, musical theatre, and (in non-COVID times) adventure travel. I thrive in city life as well as in the silence of rural trails and camping.

I am extraordinarily privileged to be the mother of two children after recurrent miscarriages. I know firsthand the challenges of infertility and those blurry days of early parenthood. I also know the feeling of helplessness when our children are struggling. That is why I have expanded my practice to working with adolescents, individuals, couples, and families. My focus is on providing wrap around, holistic assessment, treatment, and support.

Qualifications.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of New York, as well as a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). I received an Honours Bachelor of Arts (HBA) from McGill University and a Master’s of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Windsor. I am also a certified life coach working with high achieving professionals who wish to excel in their careers while holistically balancing relationships, parenting, family, and friends.

I worked in outpatient programs at a mental health and addictions teaching hospital for over 15 years. I hold Adjunct Lecturer Status in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, and supervises graduate students completing clinical social work internships at universities across Ontario. I have extensive training with adolescents, adults, couples, and families and works from an evidenced-based, best practice framework. Please see below for complete list of qualifications and training.

Specialties.

  • Highly-Driven People, aka Type A Personalities

  • Effective Communication

  • Perfectionism and Imposter Syndrome

  • Anxiety, Stress, and Overwhelm

  • Burnout

  • Couples Coaching and Counselling

  • Interpersonal Relationships

  • Life Transitions (e.g., Graduation, Career Change, Marriage, Parenthood, Loss, Promotion)

  • Avoidance and Procrastination

Licenses & affiliations.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW - provisional) - Florida

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers; Registered Social Worker (RSW)

Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)

Level 3 Gottman Method Couples Therapist

Training & certifications.

Psychological First Aid Certification (Johns Hopkins University)

Anchor in the Storm: A harm reduction and trauma-informed approach to working with women with complex trauma (SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health)

Cognitive Therapy Summer Institute Workshop (University of Toronto Continuing Medical Education)

Best Practices: CBT for Depression (Dr. Christine Padesky)

Advanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Course: Supervised Applications (CAMH Professional Practice Program)

Interpersonal Psychotherapy Certificate (SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health)

Interpersonal Psychotherapy Training Workshop (Dr. Carolina McBride)

IPT Basics 2.0 Workshop (Dr. Paula Ravitz)

Interpersonal Psychotherapy Supervised Practice (CAMH Professional Development Program)

IPT for PTSD: Treating Trauma Without Exposure (International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy)

Advanced Mindfulness: Building Resilience (Centre for Mindfulness Studies)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workshop (CAMH Professional Practice Program)

Borderline Personality Disorder & Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills Certificate (SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health)

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy - Assessment and Case Conceptualization (CAMH BPD Clinic)

Adapting Dialectical Behavioural Therapy - 10 week training series (CAMH IDT Program)

Trauma-informed Care: Treating Anxiety and Depression After Trauma (CAMH)

Understanding the Trauma Response (Dr. Ash Bender and Dr. Barbara Dorian)

PTSD, Suicide Assessment & Prevention (Dr. Isaac Sakinofsky)

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (CAMH)

Best Practice Specialty Champion - Mental Health and Addictions (RNAO)

Emergent Leader Certificate (CAMH)

Affirmative Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for LGBTQ+ Populations Certificate (Project Youth AFFIRM and University of Toronto)

Problem Technology Use in Transitional Aged Youth (Problem Gambling Institute of Ontario)

The Relational Context of Supervision: Educational Practices to Enhance Learning (FIFSW University of Toronto)