Pamela Gilbert Psychotherapy

About my practice

I am a Registered Psychotherapist in private practice, based in Toronto. I offer online sessions to clients living anywhere in Ontario.

MY PRACTICE

My work is inspired by my background in spiritual psychotherapy and addiction counselling, my life experience and previous career. My areas of interest include Relationships for individuals or couples, Addiction, Life Transitions, and Trauma. Often these areas come together as couples work through an addiction issue, or individuals realize their relationships are being impacted by childhood trauma, or a breakup prompts a life transition.

I help individuals and couples create healthier, more fulfilling relationships, starting with the one they have with themselves.

A Window Into My Story

10 years ago, my teenage son took his first steps to recover from a mental health and addiction crisis. To find support for him, I consulted doctors, therapists, addiction counsellors and treatment centres. Holding hands with my family, we surrounded our son on the ups and downs of his recovery journey. The whole experience was an education in itself and it inspired me to go back to school for professional training. I decided to change careers and return to my roots of helping people.

EXPERIENCE & CREDENTIALS

ADDICtion COUNSELLING EXPERIENCE

My background in addiction goes beyond the handful of classes provided by most schools for therapists. I completed a full-time program in addiction studies prior to training in psychotherapy. Along my son’s recovery journey, I participated in family programs at treatment facilities in the U.S. and Canada. As a certified Addiction Counsellor, I ran my own practice, worked with residential treatment centers, and facilitated a SMART Recovery support group for 3 years. I’ve spent hundreds of hours listening and working with individuals grappling with addiction and the family members trying to support them.

Life experience & PREVIOUS CAREEr

Perhaps my greatest strength as a therapist is my life experience. It has given me great insight and empathy for the struggles of the human journey, as well as optimism for what can be overcome. I had a previous career in advertising in senior leadership roles. It was a surprisingly valuable background for psychotherapy as the work all started with understanding human psychology and behaviour. I stepped out of advertising to attend Le Cordon Bleu overseas and briefly ran my own cooking school in Toronto. Following university, I spent several years as an employment counsellor helping students.

Education

* Post-Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Psychotherapy – Transformational Arts College

* Certificates in Addiction Studies and Counselling Skills – Centennial College

* Honours Bachelor of Arts – University of Toronto, Victoria College

ADDITIONAL Training

Relationships & Couples Therapy:

*Gottman Method Couples Therapy – The Gottman Institute

*Narcissism, Infidelity & Trauma in Couples Therapy – Terry Real and Esther Perel

*Solutions-Focused Brief Therapy: Couples & Family – Dina Bednar, OISE, U of T

Trauma & Anxiety:

*Brainspotting Phase 1 – Martha Jacobi

*Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)

Personal Growth & Spiritual:

*Discovering the Total Self: Balancing Mind, Body & Spirit – Transformational Arts

*Seven Windows to the Soul Chakra Workshop – Anodea Judith

Mindfulness:

*Mindfulness Training for Professionals – Jeffrey Brantley, Duke University

Professional Memberships

* College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)

* Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists (OSRP)

* Brainspotting Canada Association

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