Rough Draft Counselling

Hi, I'm Maya! A social worker by training, I spent 7 years on the frontlines of public healthcare in mental health and substance use. My passion lies in creating a space where everyone is seen and affirmed for all their beauty and messiness.

Having spent the better part of the past twelve years in and out of therapy, I understand how tricky it can feel to choose a counsellor that aligns with your values and goals. Before we dive into your story, here's a little about mine:

I am an only child and have been told I have only-child syndrome. I don’t really know what that is, but no one says it as though it’s a compliment. I have a massive sweet tooth and have been known to have cake for breakfast on more than one occasion. As an introvert, I probably won’t attend anything that starts after 7pm. Most importantly, though, I never grew out of the “why?” phase of being a kid. I became a counsellor because it felt like a natural fit for my innate curiosity to know what motivates people, and how we can use our past to craft our future. 

It is important to me to acknowledge that my own rough draft has been shaped by intersecting identities and experiences that may look very different from yours. My commitment is to ensure my draft never becomes the 'template' you are expected to fit. I constantly check my lens and privileges to fill in gaps in my understanding. My values are rooted in anti-oppressive practice and understanding that complex systems of violence impact our sense of self, community, wellbeing, and safety. I believe in an approach that identifies and names systemic violence while responding with critical hope. My core values are critical self-reflection, collaboration, community building, critical hope, naming and challenging systems, consent, playfulness, and curiosity. 

I support individuals and partnerships of all types regardless of gender, sexuality, or the duration and style of their relationship. If your draft includes more people and you'd like to involve them in our collaboration, please reach out. We can discuss what that looks like and find an option that meets your individual and collective needs. 

While I draw from a variety of models of care, it is most important that you feel I am engaged and present with you in the moment. I utilize several approaches, including: 

- Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) 

- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy 

- Narrative therapy and Motivational Interviewing 

- Various frameworks for sex therapy including sex-positive and kink-affirming care 

- Relationship therapy models such as Emotion-Focused Therapy and the Gottman method 

- Harm Reduction Frameworks 

- Trauma-informed and Strengths-Based care