While I’m a psychotherapist based in Wasaga Beach, Ontario, I also service surrounding communities including the greater Collingwood and Barrie areas. With virtual psychotherapy (via a secure, online, video-calling platform), I can fortunately offer my services anywhere across the province of Ontario as well as other jurisdictions where it is safe, legal, and ethical to do so. Some people prefer in-person psychotherapy over virtual sessions, however, particularly at the outset of establishing a new therapeutic relationship.

If you’re seeking an in-person therapist in the Collingwood area, my Wasaga Beach office (940 Mosley Street) is only a 20-minute drive from downtown Collingwood. If you’re seeking a therapist in the Barrie area, the drive is approximately 30-40 minutes, depending where in Barrie you’re coming from. As noted above, for those who prefer to avoid the commute and attend psychotherapy sessions from the comfort of their own homes, I also offer virtual psychotherapy to people in Collingwood, Barrie, and surrounding areas.

Finding the right psychotherapist to help you address your concerns is important, whether you live in Wasaga Beach, Barrie, Collingwood, Stayner, or anywhere else on the map. Research on psychotherapy effectiveness has shown that the quality of the therapeutic relationship between the psychotherapist and client (the “working alliance”) is a key factor in determining psychotherapy outcomes. In fact, the quality of the therapeutic relationship itself (as well as some other “common factors” in therapy) affect therapeutic outcomes more than the specific modalities, techniques, or approaches employed by the therapist. Given these findings, it’s usually worth the time and effort to make sure that you get connected with a therapist that you feel is a good fit for you personally.

Experiences of depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, addictions, and relationship difficulties don’t have any geographical limitations. Having previously lived and worked in Toronto, Burlington, and the Niagara Region, I’m grateful to now be situated in beautiful Wasaga Beach. Not only do I have the opportunity to help people in my new local community, but I’m also close enough to be accessible in-person to people in Collingwood, Barrie, Stayner, Tiny, and other towns in the South Georgian region. While there may be certain cultural differences and specific regional concerns depending on the area, I have found that as human beings we have much more in common with one another than we have differences.

Being able to tap into our common humanity, our collective strengths and resilience as well as acknowledging our common sources of suffering, allows us to connect with one another in meaningful ways. A meaningful therapeutic connection with another human being is the cornerstone of all effective psychotherapy and the significant changes and healing that can occur as a result. This is a big part of the reason why self-help books, psychoeducational programs, and self-directed online tools can only get us so far if our goal is to achieve meaningful personal growth and lasting transformation.

Our very personalities, our sense of self (or lack thereof) are formed and developed within the context of relational experiences. Our early attachment relationships (usually to our parents/primary caregivers) are usually the most influential in shaping the foundations of who we are likely to become in the world. It makes sense, then, that if our goal is to change the aspects of who we are that contribute to unhelpful patterns or ways of being in our lives, then such change must occur within the context of relational experiences. That is the great opportunity that effective psychotherapy presents to us: a space in which we can have emotionally activating experiences within the context of a relationship that feels safe enough to allow us to make sense of ourselves, others, and the world in new and empowering ways.