East End Therapy

04/06/2020

This is a challenging time and we acknowledge the various emotions that COVID-19 brings up for people. Many of us are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, scared, isolated, traumatized, distracted or numb. We are here for our clients, and can provide phone and video therapy. Please see our website for more information and reach out if you need support.

03/17/2020

Over the past week we have been considering the best way to support clients while also navigating social distancing to slow the rate of COVID-19. As of today, in line with Public Health Recommendations we have made some changes to the services we provide. Please contact Alexia and Elizabeth individually to inquire about their protocols, and reach out if you need support or have any questions. Let’s be in community together as we figure our way through this difficult time.

03/14/2020

In response to the current situation regarding the spread of Covid-19 East End Therapy has instituted a few new procedures to keep everyone safe and healthy.

We are requesting that any clients who have recently travelled outside of Canada not attend their appointments for at least 14 days following their return. We also encourage clients to cancel their in-person appointment if they are experiencing cough accompanied by fever or shortness of breath. We are relaxing our cancellation policy for cancellations due to illness. If you are sick and would still like an appointment, or if you would prefer not to travel, we will offer sessions by video chat or phone call. Please let us know if you are interested in this option. We will continue to keep taking appointments as usual otherwise, because we are symptom-free.

We ask that clients head to the washroom and wash their hands with soap for 20 seconds upon arrival. We have established sterilization procedures and we are using compostable water glasses.

This is a time of uncertainty that can be anxiety-provoking. We hope that we can explore together how to support you in feeling safe and connected to community and loved ones. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Alexia and Elizabeth

12/15/2019

12/15/2019

11/21/2019

This week marked both the 20th anniversary of the Trans Day of Remembrance, and the Trans Day of Resilience. It's so important to hold both.

https://tdor.co/

Share art & poetry celebrating trans resilience by trans people of color.

11/17/2019

We are excited to attend the Ontario Association for Marriage & Family Therapy’s conference to hear Stan Tatkin’s Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy. His book Wired for Love offers an accessible, non-pathologizing approach to attachment patterns. Are you an island 🌴 anchor ⚓️or wave 🌊?

Tatkin’s integration of neuroscience with attachment theory has informed the way we support people to create safety and security in their relationships even when they are highly activated in the midst of conflict. In Tatkin’s TED Talk he describes our brain’s activated “primitives” and how our “ambassadors” can help partners who are “in the fox-hole together protecting each other from the dangers out there.”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2xKXLPuju8U

Relationships are hard. But what if it's not you or them or s*x, money or even who picks up the socks. What if there is a far more primitive reason? In this ...

12/18/2018

Sometimes the holidays can bring more stress than joy. It can be surprisingly difficult to be gentle with ourselves or to accept that what we've done is enough. When the holidays are touched by grief, loss or loneliness, staying connected can also be challenging.

How best to take care of yourself over the holidays depends on you and your situation. It might mean taking some time for yourself, or reaching out to friends and family. Connecting by volunteering, or giving yourself permission to take some down time. Remembering those who have passed, or staying rooted in the present. Maybe all of these at different times. A good place to start is checking in with yourself about what you need now.

12/06/2018

East End Therapy is excited to attend Sue Johnson’s training tomorrow. Johnson is one of Canada’s leading thinkers on intimate relationships and developed the Emotionally-Focused approach to Couples Therapy. If you’re interested in learning the importance of attachment patterns in your own relationships, you can check out her public lecture tonight at the ROM.
https://leadingedgeseminars.org/event/what-every-couple-needs-to-know-the-science-and-sense-of-love/

Enter at the School Group Entrance only, on the southeast corner of the ROM, just steps from the TTC subway Museum Station exit (on the west side of Queens Park). There is no admission to the theatre from the main Bloor Street or Weston entrances.

11/11/2018

This year is the first time soldiers who killed themselves after returning from Afghanistan will be honoured at the National War Museum in Ottawa. Soldiers and veterans who experience PTSD have been ignored or shunned, and emotional trauma is a weapon of war that is not often acknowledged. More than 80 Canadian soldiers have killed themselves after returning from Afghanistan.

PTSD is a mental health condition that may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, avoidance of places or people that trigger bad memories, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

We need to go beyond honouring soldiers, and increase federal funding for veterans whose battles often continue in the form of depression, addiction, relationship difficulties, insomnia, and su***de. Let’s continue to support those whose injuries may not be visible, while we redefine what it means to be brave.

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2018/11/11/on-this-remembrance-day-its-time-to-recognize-the-invisible-wounds-of-war.html

This year’s Remembrance Day service at the National War Memorial will symbolically honour those who took their own lives after experiencing the trauma of war, alongside those who died on the battlefield.

10/22/2018

Voting is good for your mental health! Participation can help us feel more connected to our communities and increase our sense of agency and control, even if the results are not as we may have wished. That's on top of voting in policies that strengthen mental health. --Factsheet thanks to Nonprofit VOTE.

10/11/2018

07/28/2018

In response to the Danforth shooting, Acupuncturists Without Borders is offering free acupuncture for trauma at The Carrot Common (348 Danforth, Room 212) July 30, July 31, Aug 2. Unresolved trauma affects not only the health of individuals, but the well-being of families, communities and entire nations.

AWB provides disaster relief, recovery and support for building resiliency to communities affected by disasters, human conflict, environmental devastation, poverty and social injustice.

07/23/2018

We are shocked and saddened by last night's shooting in our neighbourhood. Those directly impacted by this unexpected and devastating violence, their loved ones, and those who witnessed the events are in our thoughts, as is the broader community.

We can all be profoundly impacted by this kind of violence in our beloved and familiar spaces.

For immediate, free and confidential support you can contact the Toronto Distress Centre, https://www.torontodistresscentre.com,
416-408-4357.

Victim Services provides support and resources to people in crisis and can be reached at 416-808-7066.

Children and youth can find free and confidential support at Kids Help Phone, https://kidshelpphone.ca, 1-800-668-6868.

For 50 years, Distress Centres has provided 24-hour support, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to individuals in our community at risk and their most vulnerable. We are Canada’s oldest volunteer delivered crisis, emotional support and su***de prevention + intervention + postvention service agency. Ou...

07/20/2018

East End Therapy is excited to facilitate 3 workshops on Healthy Relationships & Creating Boundaries to youth who have been in care. This is a topic close to our heart - Elizabeth has expertise in the area of attachment and family separation. Alexia has worked closely with crown wards on advisory committees and workshop development on ways to support youth in care. There are over 8000 youth in care in Ontario. Please see the attached report to learn more about the resilience of crown wards, and how you can support them with the challenges they face as they transition into adulthood.
https://www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/reports/advocacy-reports/english-reports/YLC_REPORT_ENG.pdf

04/14/2018

We are offering emotional support to campers at Rock Camp for Adults this weekend. So many difficult feelings can come up when we move out of our comfort zones and express creativity - with strangers. These campers are bold and brave!

01/10/2018

East End Therapy will be available for counselling Wednesday and Thursday nights during talk-back sessions for the play Jonno.
http://www.rabbitinahatproductions.com