Therapy can be a space to pause, take a breath, and sort through the messiness of life — especially when things feel overwhelming, confusing, or painful. My goal is to offer a warm, grounded space where all parts of you are welcome.
I know reaching out for support can feel vulnerable. That’s why I approach therapy with curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for your pace. I’m non-judgmental and transparent, and I aim to be both gentle and direct, depending on what you need.
Rather than using a one-size-fits-all method, I tailor therapy to you — your needs, goals, and lived experience. I draw on a variety of evidence-based approaches that support different kinds of healing and growth. You don’t need to know what any of these terms mean — that’s my job to guide you through — but here’s a bit about what might shape our work together:
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
We all have emotions that feel stuck — ones we’ve carried for years, or that show up more intensely than we want. EFT helps us understand what those emotions are trying to tell us. Together, we gently explore those feelings so they can shift, transform, and no longer take up so much space. This approach can help you connect more deeply to yourself and feel more emotionally balanced.
Narrative Therapy
We all carry stories about who we are — stories shaped by past experiences, relationships, and culture. Sometimes, those stories tell us we’re not good enough, broken, or unlovable. Narrative therapy helps you step back and look at those stories with curiosity. Together, we explore where they came from and whether they’re still serving you — and start to shape new ones that feel more true, empowering, and aligned with who you really are.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Often, we respond to situations based on the way we think about them — not just what’s actually happening. In therapy, we’ll explore how certain thought patterns may be contributing to your distress, and learn how to shift them so you can feel more in control and less stuck.
Somatic Work & Nervous System Regulation
Emotions don’t just live in the mind — they live in the body. You might notice this when anxiety shows up as tightness in your chest, or when grief feels like a weight in your stomach. Somatic work involves tuning into those physical sensations and helping your nervous system feel safer and more regulated. This can be especially helpful if talk therapy alone hasn’t felt like enough.
Psychoeducation
Sometimes, understanding why you feel the way you do can be incredibly powerful. I share information about things like trauma, anxiety, attachment, boundaries, and the nervous system to help you better understand your experience. Not everything will resonate — and that’s okay. You get to decide what feels useful.
Mindfulness & Self-Compassion
When life feels chaotic, mindfulness helps us slow down and reconnect with the present moment. You’ll learn simple practices that can bring more awareness, calm, and clarity to your day-to-day life.
Self-compassion is about treating yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a loved one going through something hard. Many of us are great at being there for others — but much harder on ourselves. In therapy, we’ll work on softening that inner critic and finding a gentler way to relate to yourself.
What About EMDR?
I also offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a trauma therapy that helps people process distressing memories in a way that reduces their intensity. If you’re interested, you can learn more about it on my EMDR Page.
Clare Karasik, MSW, RSW 