Barbara Garside

“Life is tough” - reading that phrase might really resonate with you, but it might also seem like the understatement of the year because in fact, life feels impossible and unbearable. Or maybe, you feel that the word “tough” is too strong and life is actually going ok, but there are some rough spots you could use help with. No matter where you are in life, what’s happening, or how challenging you may find it, you deserve to be supported through it and reaching out is a great step. Remember, you are never “too broken” to be helped and your problems are never “too small” to be worth asking for help.

I work from a person-centered approach, believing that you are the expert on your life. Some approaches that I often draw from include humanistic theories, EMDR, CBT, attachment-based approaches, strength-based, solution-focused, and play therapy (yes, even adults can play if they want!). Together, we will develop a plan based on your goals for therapy and how you want to get there. From there, we will find what works best for you and adjust our plan and goals accordingly, and nothing is ever set in stone. My ultimate goal is to create a safe place for you to be your authentic self, no matter who that might be.

I enjoy working with individuals of all ages and walks of life, including children (0-11), youth (12-17), adults (18+), and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. With a background in teaching, I have additional experience working with children and youth from preschool to grade 12 and do my best to keep up with the ever-changing trends and lingo in their world. I also plan on soon being able to offer psychoeducational assessments, so stay tuned! I look forward to learning more about you, so feel free to reach out to see if I’m the right fit for you.