Anastasia completed her bachelor's degree in Psychology at York University and is currently working on her master's degree in Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. In addition, Anastasia is working on acquiring a certificate in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy at the University of Toronto. Anastasia identifies as a white, cis-gender female of East-European descent. She can relate to the often uncertain and overwhelming process of settling into a new country and finding her place within the Canadian context. During this immigration process, Anastasia learned the importance of having support navigating various systems within a new land. Anastasia has over 14 years of experience in the helping profession in employment and career services, supporting individuals going through difficult times. She has also been actively involved in vocational rehabilitation and case management, providing individual counselling and coaching to various populations. Over the years, Anastasia has worked in multiple capacities. She served with newcomers to Canada, people with physical and mental health disabilities, and youth in transition. Anastasia's experience working with diverse, racialized people has helped her to understand the importance of doing the ongoing work of exploring her unconscious biases around privilege, what it means to be white in the world and how this might manifest itself in the counselling relationship. Anastasia is self-reflective and strives to minimize the power imbalance between "service provider" and "service user." Compassionate by nature, Anastasia provides a non-judgemental and strengths-based environment through focused inquiry that promotes a feeling of safety, spontaneity, uncensored expression, self-acceptance, and internal resource activation. Anastasia believes that her clients are the experts in their lives. Her work as a therapist entails a combination of delivering support and insight, providing perspective, teaching coping skills, and asking thought-provoking questions to help her clients live more meaningful lives. Anastasia's counselling approach is client-centred, anti-oppressive, strengths-based, and trauma-informed, grounded in deep love and respect for all humanity, and an understanding of the healing power of nurturing relationships where we feel fully seen and accepted for who we are. Anastasia believes that there is no one-size-fits-all model. To best meet her client's unique needs, she employs an eclectic, down-to-earth approach by integrating various therapy techniques based on the client's presenting needs.
