Our Values

Private Matters Psychotherapy is a place for healing and safety, for growth, transformation, and moving forward into a life you value.

Our therapists are all Registered Psychotherapists in good standing with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). They are carefully chosen for their expertise, experience and professionalism.

Taking the step to reach out for help is courageous and requires an acknowledgement that you might need some guidance with whatever you are struggling with. We do not take this lightly and understand that it can be stressful to open up to a stranger.

We strive to make your therapy experience as easy and stress-free as possible, and are therefore guided by the following values:

Non-Judgemental

In therapy there is no right or wrong, it is recognizing what is helpful vs non-helpful, productive vs non-productive, and healthy vs unhealthy. Your therapist is not here to judge you or shame you. We are here to observe and verbalize what we see. The role of a competent therapist is to listen, observe, guide, and model. Your therapist will not see your actions as good or bad, as positive or negative. Instead, your therapist will notice and acknowledge, and help you to move into a place of acceptance and insight.

Confidential

Therapy is confidential, meaning that whatever you talk about stays between yourself and your therapist. We have had instances when an insurance company audits the therapy receipt, or when a parent wants to know what was discussed in therapy with their teen. Your therapist will always consult with you first on what the right plan of action is. There are a few exceptions to confidentiality, such as:

• If you have the intent to physically harm yourself or someone else
• If you have the intent to end your own life
• If your therapist receives a court order to release your file
• Informing the Children’s Aid Society if there is suspicion of a child being at risk or in need of protection due to neglect, or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
• Reporting a health professional who has sexually abused a client
• If your therapist receives a notice from the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario for an audit.

Presence

The therapeutic relationship is an interesting phenomenon. It implies a conversation between two individuals where the focus of both participants lies on one individual. As opposed to a regular conversation between friends where the focus shifts between the individuals. This is an important distinction to make as this allows for a scenario where change happens for the client, whereas the therapist becomes the grounding factor.

Cultural Awareness

Our therapists are aware of different cultural norms and standards, as well as ethnicity and religious beliefs that may impact the therapeutic process. Both through personal experiences and participating as well as through academic routes, our therapists have intensive understanding in how one’s culture shapes our behaviour, thoughts and feelings.

Reliability And Respect

A fruitful therapeutic relationship is founded on reliability and respect, both forming the foundations of trust. A therapeutic relationship gets formed when the client and therapist meet for the first time. First impressions are always important. For some clients, it might be the first time that they open up about their stressors and inner demons. For our therapists, it is a privilege to be invited into your world and to be a part of your road to rebuilding and discovery.

Authentic And Relatable

No one person is a like, and the same goes for therapists. Each therapist brings their own quirks and original personalities to their therapy appointments. Therapy is a serious business, but there are times where laughter and humor really are the best medicine. Have a look at our therapist bios the learn a little more about them.