Services
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of focusing our attention on the present moment, accepting our experiences as they are. Mindfulness can help us navigate difficult experiences, alleviating the distress caused by painful memories and emotions, intrusive thoughts, cravings and urges, as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.
Being Mindful.
Being mindful means being able to focus our attention on the present moment. Why do we want or need to focus our attention on the present moment? Certain conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress relate to our tendency to live either in the future, wondering what to do next, or because we tend to live in the past hunted by regrets, grudges, pain or sadness.
Sometimes we do not like our present and long for what we had, what we could have had, or wish for a better future in which we could be happier. In reality, all that we have is the present moment and this is not a cliché!
We sometimes forget that each day and moment offers an opportunity to create the life we want. We might have been hurt; our situation might be complicated; our childhood might have been difficult; there are so many factors that may lead us to believe we can’t have what we want, but in reality, we can. How? By taking a proactive stance and making the decision to take control of our life.
OUR TEAM
Meet our Counsellor/ Psychotherapist
Marialuisa Elias
Registered Social Worker/ Psychotherapist
Marialuisa is an experienced Registered Social Worker with a master’s degree from the University of Toronto. She has extensive experience providing individual, family, group and couples counselling and psychotherapy. She specializes in the following areas:
She offers empathetic, gentle, yet empowering support, encouraging all individuals to go within to find their own answers, follow their own dreams and become their own agents of change. She uses evidence-based and scientific approaches with proven high efficacy in facilitating positive change such as: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Attachment Theory, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness.
Marialuisa offers services to individuals 16 years and older.
APPOINTMENT
Schedule a 15-minute Phone Consult
For individual sessions.
If interested in group sessions, please click here.
Mindfulness is a powerful tool to help alleviate the distress caused by painful memories and emotions, intrusive thoughts, cravings and urges, as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. You do not need any special skill or experience, just a willingness to try. In each session we will cover the attitudes of Mindfulness as taught by Jon Kabat-Zinn. These attitudes are: No judging, Patience, Beginners Mind, Trust, Not Striving, Acceptance, Letting Go, Gratitude and Generosity.
Fees and Insurance Coverage
Assessment sessions (90 minutes) –$218/ session
Individual sessions (60 minutes) –$145/ session
Most insurance companies cover Counselling/Psychotherapy by Registered Social Workers. Please contact your insurance company to find more information. Sessions are paid in full by cash, e-transfer or credit card. At the end of your session, an official receipt will be issued for reimbursement.
Book an Appointment
If I Need Immediate Support
Please be aware that as much as we try to accommodate your needs and respond in a timely manner, we do not offer crisis counselling. If you are going through a crisis that requires immediate attention please call 911, contact your family doctor, go to your nearest hospital, or to your nearest police station. Examples of a crisis include if your safety or life is at risk, if you are concerned about hurting yourself or others, or if a child is at risk.
Helpful Contact Information
The Assaulted Women’s Helpline Crisis Line
GTA: 416-863-0511
www.awhl.org
Distress Centres of Greater Toronto
416-408-4357
www.dcogt.com
ConnexOntario
1-866-531-2600
www.connexontario.ca
Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH)
Emergency Department
416-979-6885
www.camh.ca
Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
416-924-4640
www.torontocas.ca
Peel Children’s Aid
905-363-6131
www.peelcas.org
You can also call 211
Or visit 211ontario.ca to find other resources
Services we do not provide
Please note that we do not provide counselling/psychotherapy for substance addictions (drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.); anger management or PAR (Partner Assault Response); severe medically untreated mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
We are not able to provide psychological assessments; access visitation and/or custody assessments, reports or recommendations; assessments, reports or recommendations to present or to include as part of hearings, trials or any other legal-related process.
From time to time we receive calls from very caring and loving family members or friends who are worried about a loved one, but this loved one does not want to seek help. Counselling/Psychotherapy works best when the individual identifies a need and fully consents to participate.
If you find yourself in a situation in which you identify a need for services for a loved one, but this person doesn’t seem aware of such need, minimizes your concerns or denies any problem, you can take this as an opportunity to seek help for yourself. Sometimes we focus all our attention on trying to help others, but we forget about ourselves.