Mental Health
Support
Life isn’t always as easy as we wish it would be.
The stress of the day-to-day – and of the unusual and unexpected – can really cause a lot of wear-and-tear on not only our own mental health, but can also cause problems with our relationships. Oona in Toronto & Newmarket recognizes that these life transitions are hard – harder than anyone ever could have prepared us for – and we are here to help. Our team of mental health professionals is available to help you through the ups and downs involved with getting pregnant, being pregnant and being a parent.
If you’ve never been to see a therapist before, there is no better time than the present. If you’ve seen one before: welcome back! We can’t wait to help give you the help you need to manage life’s ups and downs.
Psychotherapy appointments are available online and by phone. Please contact our therapists directly to book.
Cher can be reached at oonapsychotherapy@bigheartstudio.com or 416-888-8852
Yzobela can be reached at oona@yzobelahyett.com or 647-933-5515
Kate can be reached at kate@katebailey.ca
Michelle can be reached at oona@michellevittitherapy.com
Connie can be reached at connie@oonacares.com or 416-885-9709. She’s available virtually and in-person.
Therapy can mean something different for everyone
Prenatal and Postpartum Mental Health Support in Toronto and Newmarket
Therapy can mean something different for everyone.
Psychotherapy is “talk therapy”, to help you work your way through anything in your life that you might find stressful or difficult. The term psychotherapy covers the many forms of talk therapies available.
The aim of psychotherapy is to help clients overcome a wide scope of concerns. Things like relationship issues, to fear about having a baby, to stress from being a new mom, to basically anything in between.
Oona’s psychotherapists in Newmarket and Toronto can choose from a wealth of approaches to help you understand and explore how you feel. They can also give you skills to help you manage difficult emotions more effectively. This stuff is hard. We can help.
Our therapists are trauma-informed, experienced in the specific challenges that come with being pregnant or postpartum, and practice online in a safe, non-judgemental way.
Pediatric Mental Health Support in Newmarket & Toronto
Kids have big emotions that can sometimes be challenging for their families to work through.
We know how to love and care for our kids, and as much as we want to help our kiddos through those feelings, sometimes we just don’t have the tools to do so.
Oona’s experienced team of Pediatric Mental Health practitioners care about your family’s mental well-being and offer a variety of effective approaches to help your child /teen overcome difficult situations, build resilience and thrive.
Common Questions about Pediatric Mental Health
You do not need a referral for your child to see a pediatric mental health professional. If you have concerns about your child’s mental health or resilience, an assessment would be a great idea.
Please check with your insurance provider to see if you have coverage – we offer services under “psychotherapy” and “occupational health”.
We work with kiddos from the toddler years right up until they’re in high school.
Working with Cher Curshen, Registered Psychotherapist:
Your child would have to be able to sit independently on a video-chat, so usually I’ll see children 8 years old and up but even as young as 6 if the parent thinks they could manage it. If your child is under 8, Cher is also able to do a consultation with you to brainstorm issues or concerns for your child.
Working with Teddie Buchner or Patricia Ocampo, Registered Occupational Therapists:
Teddie and Patty are able to work across the whole lifespan and generally include parents and the whole family in the development of a plan and creation of routines and habits.
Our Registered Psychotherapist, Cher, uses Creative Arts Therapies, among other tools, to enhance your child’s life as they work through difficult experiences and learn ways to express and validate feelings, learn and grow, heal and thrive to start them on a journey of healing.
Our Pediatric Occupational Therapists, Teddie and Patty, focus on the family as a whole and works with you in creating practical routines to achieve your goals.
For Psychotherapy:
When working with Cher, if your child is younger than age 12, the first session is for the parents/guardians on their own. We have provided a 30 minute appointment for this purpose! This enables Cher to answer any questions and concerns you may have and begin to get an idea of why you have reached out for therapy for your child. It also gives an understanding of next steps for your child.
If your child is older or communicates that they want to meet the therapist on their own, then it’s up to the child and what they want. Some children prefer to meet and talk to the therapist themselves.
The best interests of your child are always in the forefront with Cher and we want the best for your child! She seeks to collaborate with parents as much as possible within the bounds of confidentiality, and balances the building of trust in the therapeutic relationship and your child’s comfort level.
Once the child’s wishes have been established, your child’s first session will be with Cher on their own unless they have requested a parent be present for some of the session. The focus in this first session is on helping your child begin to develop trust and a sense of safety and begin to feel comfortable in this newly developing validating relationship.
Cher will also be getting to know your child in this initial and ongoing sessions. As children often do not have the ability to express their thoughts and feelings in words, they’ll get to do this in a way that’s comfortable for them, through play, art or talking if they wish.
In follow up sessions your child will continue to have an opportunity to express themselves and learn appropriate coping skills while resolving challenges they may be facing. Cher will continue to validate, support and help your child at this time when they need a little extra help. Your child will experience both a directive and non-directive approach with Cher.
Each session will provide an opportunity for your child to express themselves, and work through challenges they may be experiencing as they grow and learn in Cher’s child-led, strength based approach.
This really depends on the child and what challenges they are facing. Some children respond to therapy very quickly in just a few sessions while others require longer term therapy at regular intervals.
Psychotherapy and creative arts therapies are beneficial to people of all ages. Younger children respond positively to creative arts therapies as they feel comfortable and can easily explore feelings in this playful arts based non verbal means of expression. Teens can learn more about themselves, their relationships, their thoughts, feelings and experiences and tap into their inner wisdom.
You and your child’s privacy is our priority. Confidentiality is respected at all times. Our Mental Health team does not coordinate care or maintain electronic charts documenting their appointments with you or your child.
Exceptions to confidentiality are limited to legal and ethical obligations of the therapist to disclose abuse or intention to cause harm, client’s files are released only with signed consent or a court order.
Please check with your insurance provider to see if you have coverage – we offer services under “psychotherapy” and “occupational health”.
Start your journey with Oona
Book your pediatric mental health appointment now
Commonly Asked Questions About Psychotherapy
The first several visits allow the therapist to get to know the client. Typically, appointments last around an hour to an hour and a half (this will be decided beforehand, so there won’t be any surprises!). All of our therapy sessions take place online; the therapist and client work together to create strategies and a solid plan to help the client overcome and deal with their issues.
Not at all. We offer individual and couples counselling in both our Newmarket and Toronto locations, and if you would like your partner to see the therapist on their own, they are more than welcome to.
The most common reasons that people come to therapy are feelings of anxiety, depression, feeling stuck, trouble in relationships, parenting stress, stress in the workplace and dealing with unresolved trauma and issues from the past.
Consider therapy if you have noticed any of the following:
- You are dealing with an issue in your life that is causing you significant distress.
- Nothing you have done seems to be helping.
- Your friends and family can’t seem to help you and are tired of listening to your problems.
- You start over using or abusing something or someone to help alleviate your problems.
- People have noticed that you’re having a hard time and said something to you.
With committed relationships, it takes two to tango. If you and your partner are experiencing difficulties and have decided to seek help, it is most effective to come to counselling together to properly establish some goals and strategies in order to help you both move forward in your relationship. We may or may not recommend individual counselling in addition to couples counselling.
Every person is different. Some clients feel much better after one or two sessions, others take months or even a year to gradually work through their issues and feel better. Usually it takes a few weeks to feel a noticeable difference, and in some cases, it is necessary to visit a psychiatrist in conjunction with the psychotherapist in order to explore medication options.
No. Our psychotherapists help individuals and couples of any gender through all of life’s ups and downs — from pregnancy anxiety (aka antenatal anxiety) to postpartum depression and beyond.
Pregnancy can bring major life changes — physically, emotionally and hormonally. It’s completely normal to feel anxiety or depression at some point during pregnancy — your body is growing a human, after all! Talking to a psychotherapist and/or finding a strong support network (like the incredible clients at Oona in Newmarket and Toronto) can help you through those tough times.
Absolutely. Calmer parents will result in a calmer birth and an easier adjustment to a new baby in the house. If you or you and your partner are experiencing stress or worry during your pregnancy, it is highly recommended that you come in for therapy to iron out some of your issues before your world gets turned upside down.
Commonly Asked Questions About Virtual Therapy
Yes! Research has shown that phone and/or online therapy can be an effective alternative to in-person therapy. As an added bonus, you save travel time and can benefit from our extended virtual therapy hours.
We recommend that you find a private space and give yourself a little time before and after the session to allow yourself to transition in and out of the experience. If meeting online, when possible, try to have your computer or phone on a table or solid surface rather than your lap (to reduce video shake and so you can be relaxed) and use headphones or earbuds if you have them. If you would be more comfortable going for a walk in nature while you do your phone session, feel free to do so.
For virtual online sessions, the psychotherapist will be using software that is PIPEDA and HIPAA-approved and encrypted for your privacy. We take every step to ensure that the electronic communication technology we use is secure, confidential and appropriate in the circumstances. Before we get started, we will review any potential risks that are inherent in the use of any technology.
For example, to reduce any risks, we highly recommend using a secure network (not public WIFI) with an internet connection that is stable. There are also other measures that you can use to protect your privacy (e.g. password protecting devices, refraining from sharing passwords or access to your email account).
Depending on the therapist, you will either simply log into your Janeapp account to have your appointment, or they will email you a link to download the platform for free, well in advance of your session.
At the time of your session, the therapist will send you an invite to enter the virtual therapy room. Then voila! You continue with the session as if you are in the same room.
Sessions are not recorded. If for any reason, the psychotherapist or client believes there is benefit in recording a session, this will only occur if the client expresses consent.
Yes! Simply contact us via phone or email. We will take a bit of information from you and then arrange a time for you to speak with the therapist.
Cancellation and Late Policies
Direct insurance billing
Oona works with insurance companies to do online billing for treatments, whenever possible. Simply ask if your insurance company is compliant when you book your appointment.
Complementary Services
We provide a holistic approach to treatment, and have a wide variety of services that compliment each other. Click on the links below for more information about how our other services can help you achieve your health and wellness goals.
