P. Anne Winter
RelPsych(Dip), Clinical Member OSP

We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving. And we all have some power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing. - Louisa May Alcott

Finding the best way for you to help yourself with your dreams and desires can be a very brave and complex journey. While you start your search for the therapist that feels right for you take your time and breathe. Then notice your body sensations and whether they match your mood. Then notice the changes as you decide what are the important questions for you to ask a therapist and imagine how you want to feel about starting therapy.

It is ok to not know exactly what is troubling you at first. That is part of what I can help you with. Perhaps you might want to explore self-fulfillment through psychotherapy or understand repeated painful feelings that seem to be stopping you from reaching your potential.

Sometimes people want to use psychotherapy when they have long term feelings of emotional discord, such as watching oneself behave one way while knowing that is not how they feel inside. It can be hard to find out why this is on your own and help yourself feel more in harmony with yourself.

Others may find psychotherapy will give insights as to why they feel very alone and different from others, almost like watching the world go by and not being sure how to get on the merry-go-round.

Life-changing trauma such as loss of a loved one, a sudden change in life style, or loss of a physical ability can leave one feeling helpless. At times it is only when one is feeling stronger as an adult that it feels safe to grapple with the effects of early childhood physical sexual and emotional trauma and neglect.

Trauma can affect a person's core relationship to their self, while breaking down meaningful relationships with those around them. A sense of despair and helplessness may block hope for a productive future. Life changes can stimulate some of these old fears and struggles, which can feel difficult to harness in the present.

The thought of psychotherapy can feel pretty frightening with the possibility of challenging your current ideals, beliefs, and understandings. Fear of the unknown is understandable.

There is hope for change. Recent research has proven that brains constantly change as long as we live and we can consciously help our brain to take the direction that is most helpful for us.

My aim as a psychotherapist is to provide a respectful, confidential and safe environment where you may talk through issues that are troublesome to you. Although everyone who comes for therapy is unique, some common reasons why people see me include a lack of confidence, work related problems, or relationship concerns.

Central to my work is the belief that it is vital to be in touch with the deep seated coping strategies of a person that have helped them endure difficulties. As well I find it important to honor that persons self-wisdom how those coping mechanisms were formed. They may not be useful in the present however they provided an important role in the past.

I aim to be inclusive and non-discriminatory in my work, valuing and welcoming difference and diversity. I try to be as transparent as is professionally appropriate and encourage weathering of misconceptions through open-ended dialogue. It is within this relationship that the foundation for trust encouraging insights and change has the potential to occur.

Therapy can be serious because we often talk about painful things but it can also be experienced as playful and exciting as you have an opportunity to explore different ways of being and express yourself in new ways.

Your priorities and hopes are my priorities and together we can work to clarify what you would like from psychotherapy. Whatever it is that is troubling you I aim to help you to find greater peace of mind, wellbeing and a better state of emotional health. You will have support with facing up to, processing and adjusting to change and loss. Through our collaboration you have the opportunity to build a more compassionate and loving relationship within yourself. There is every chance that you will build confidence and self esteem. Results will usually improve many areas of your life. After all whatever impacts you as a person will affect everything you do and those you meet. As we work towards these outcomes it won't always be easy but you will discover that fears are usually worse than actuality and as you move through different phases with the support of our working alliance you will be able to find a way through and achieve the goals that you hope for.

Our work together relies on a collaboration between us, so the more you bring in terms of readiness to change the more prepared you will be for progress. However, whatever stage you are at in terms of motivation there can be benefits. For example the first step might be to clarify what the problem is and what you might be doing to perpetuate it. Whatever strengths and self- knowledge you already have will also emerge in our work together.

I work to provide you with a warm authentic relationship where you have the space to really express yourself, to make discoveries and to grow. The relationship is very important as by building a sense of trust we can then work together and from this safe space you will be enabled to take on challenges and develop in new ways.

As a relational attachment based therapist I aim to work within your way of thinking and working towards your chosen goals to enable you to develop your ability to cope with difficulties by having the opportunity to express your thoughts and feelings. Thus you can build your own skills so that you are able to improve your quality of life and feel a freedom to be yourself. My intention is that you will experience a level of authenticity and insight that helps you to heal or feel empowered, and additionally learn strategies for altering your responses to life, some of these will be practical day to day mood changing techniques; others will involve confidence and relationship building skills. Overall I hope that our time together will enable you to feel more in tune with how you want to be in your life.

Emotions are developed early in childhood creating learned coping patterns to help a child handle extreme difficulties. When similar situations occur later in life the person may feel that they need to respond as if the same painful experience is occurring in the present. This response may continue hindering the way they wish to be in the present until it is recognized and put to rest.

The reasons for those feelings can be buried in the unconscious. Our most challenging behaviors are often not recognized to be able to be explored and modified until we are in a in a trusting environment such as psychotherapy.

Learning to name and express how you formed your emotions help you to create new pathways to be more fully you. I focus on a client's early attachment patterns to themselves and others. Then I focus on how they cope in their adult world recognizing similar old roadblocks causing repeated patterns of discontent. As well as a particular focus on our relationship I also bring in a number of techniques suggested when they become relevant and find out what works best for you.

Creativity is an important aspect of my approach. This comes about in many ways, partly through our conversation. I also work with pictures and objects, sometimes using drawing or writing to enable you to explain things that you may not have the words for or need to build a bridge to develop understanding. Alternatively we may use photographs or found images to see what messages present for you.

By encouraging you to have deep compassion for yourself, you may feel more confident to continue questioning that which affects your distress becoming more comfortable in your own skin. Thus you feel more vitality and curiosity to participate in the world around you.

Generally psychotherapy is believed to be long-term therapy, although this may vary dependent on type of previous emotional therapy and current considerations in the person life.

Learning new strategies for coping with life such as guided imagery, or relaxation techniques can be helpful during this process.

Some examples of modalities I may use are Expressive Creative Therapy seeking to reduce psychological problems by developing awareness of feelings or thoughts through drawing or gentle movement. At times it may be more helpful to focus on somatic sensations and learn how to be comfortable with physical sensations. Thus I often suggest asking someone to check in with the body to understand what the feelings are portraying.

Alternatively I may feel that it is appropriate to teach grounding and centering skills to feel more in the present and be able to focus on tasks at hand. This may be done through Energy psychology or talk therapy.

Being active in many art forms assisted my own journey of self-exploration, and I realized how important it was to my process to make my internal world spoken and palpable.

I have performed internationally as a ballet dancer, been active in the arts community as well as having a large massage therapy practice. During this time I also taught Yoga as a way of developing the intuitive side of myself to be more aware of my own needs as well as others. Through this journey, I realized that psychotherapy is what completed the circle of learning for my quest and this inspired me towards psychotherapy.

Sessions may be scheduled from one to three days per week, with greater frequency allowing for more in-depth treatment.

Some concerns where I have seen benefits:

• Not being sure of what is real/not real
• PTSD
• Suicidal thoughts
• Eating disorders
• Neglect
• Panic attacks
• Relationship problems
• Memory problems
• A sense of being frozen or stuckness
• Debilitating sense of shame
• Confused body image
• Loss
• Grief
• Addictions
• Self-identity and confidence issues
• Sexuality and intimacy difficulties
• Obsessive or compulsive behaviors
• Surviving abuse (sexual, physical, psychological, emotional or spiritual)
• Loss of meaning and purpose
• Incapacitating fear

For over fifteen years I have researched and worked with post-traumatic stress (PTSD), and dissociative disorders (DD, DID, DDNOS), the result of experiencing severe emotional trauma when very young.

Some of the types of work I may suggest are: Eye Movement Integration (EMI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Energy Psychologies, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Tapas Acupressure and Technique (TAT) as well as Expressive Therapy such as drawing and writing.

I am a graduate of the Toronto Institute in Relational Psychotherapy (DIP/TIRP), the Assaulted Women and Children's Advocacy and Counseling Program (Honors) George Brown College, and both the general and advanced program of the International Society For Studies in Trauma and Dissociation.

I have been a long-time member of the International Society of Studies in Trauma and Dissociation and am a founding member of their Special Interest Group on RA/MC.

I have published a number of articles for Journals such as Survivorship and S.M.A.R.T. trauma journals.

I am in private practice working with individuals and couples. I see clients from mid teens to the elderly.

Do feel free to come for an initial free consultation. The office is located at St Clair Avenue on the west side of Avenue Road and is accessible by TTC with easy parking near by. Here's a map to my office.