(905) 553-9507
Therapy approaches · Vaughan, Woodbridge, Barrie & online

Types of therapy in Vaughan, matched to you

There is no single right way to do therapy. Most of the approaches below are well-established methods with a strong research base, and a few are gentler lenses we weave into that work. You do not need to know which one you want. We match the approach that fits what you are working through, and the therapist you click with.

Prefer to talk first? Call (905) 553-9507. Phones answered weekdays 9 am to 5 pm, Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm.

Insurance coverage No referral needed Evenings & weekends In-person & online
Matched to a therapist who fits
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24+Registered
Psychotherapists
MonthlyClinical
supervision
18Evidence-based
approaches
$0First consult
20 minutes
The short version

A modality is simply a method of therapy

CBT, DBT, EFT, IFS, IPT, SFBT. The acronyms can feel like alphabet soup, but each one is just a different, well-researched way of helping you feel better. Some are practical and skills-based. Others work more with emotions, relationships, or the patterns running quietly underneath.

No single approach is best for everyone. The right one depends on you, what you are working through, and what feels comfortable. That is why our therapists train across many of them, and often blend a few over the course of your work together.

Think of this page as your map to the approaches we use. For what a session actually feels like, see our individual therapy page, and for the thinking behind how we work, our approach.

Which kind of approach sounds like you?

  • ✓Practical and skills-based? CBT, DBT and SFBT focus on tools and change you can practice.
  • ✓Emotion and relationship focused? EFT and IPT work with feelings and connection.
  • ✓Drawn to deeper, gentler exploration? IFS gets to know the different parts of you.
  • ✓Not sure? That is exactly what the free consultation is for.
Our therapy approaches

Eighteen therapy approaches, one matched to you

These are the approaches our therapists draw on most. You do not need to choose between them. Explore any that speak to you, and we will help you find the right fit in your free consultation.

CBT

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Best for anxiety, depression, stress and self-criticism

Notice the automatic thoughts that fuel worry and low mood, test them against the evidence, and practice more balanced ones. Structured, practical, and one of the most researched forms of therapy.

Usually 5 to 20 sessionsExplore CBT →
DBT

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Best for intense emotions and overwhelm

Build concrete skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and relationships, so big feelings stop running the show. Practical tools you can reach for in the hardest moments.

Skills-based, weeklyExplore DBT →
IPT

Interpersonal Therapy

Best for relationships, transitions and grief

A structured, time-limited approach that focuses on the relationships and life changes connected to how you feel. Ease conflict, navigate change, and strengthen the connections that matter.

Time-limitedExplore IPT →
IFS

Internal Family Systems

Best for inner conflict, self-criticism and trauma

Get to know the different parts of you, the inner critic, the protector, the part that feels hurt, and lead them from a calmer, compassionate core. A gentle way to heal long-standing patterns.

Depth-orientedExplore IFS →
SFBT

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Best for clear goals and focused change

A concise, goal-directed approach that builds on what already works in your life and maps small, doable steps toward the future you want. Forward-looking and often short-term.

Brief and focusedExplore SFBT →
EFT

Emotionally Focused Therapy

Best for emotions, attachment and connection

Deepen emotional awareness and reshape the patterns that drive disconnection, building more secure bonds with the people you love and a kinder relationship with yourself.

Emotion-focusedExplore EFT →
EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing

Best for trauma, PTSD and painful memories

Gentle, rhythmic left-right stimulation helps the brain reprocess stuck traumatic memories so they lose their charge. A structured, well-researched approach for trauma.

Structured, 6 to 12+ sessionsExplore EMDR →
PVT

Polyvagal-Informed Therapy

Best for trauma, anxiety and feeling unsafe

Understand your nervous system's survival states and learn to guide your body back toward calm and safety. A gentle lens your therapist brings into therapy, rather than a treatment on its own.

Body-aware, flexibleExplore polyvagal →
SE

Somatic Therapy

Best for trauma, stress and tension held in the body

Work with body sensations, not just thoughts, to ease the physical residue of stress and trauma and widen your window of tolerance. Gently paced, and usually blended with other therapies.

Body-based, pacedExplore somatic →
PDT

Psychodynamic Therapy

Best for recurring patterns and their roots

Look beneath your symptoms to the patterns you repeat without knowing why, tracing them to their roots so you are no longer run by them. Insight-focused and lasting.

Depth-orientedExplore psychodynamic →
MBCT

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Best for depression relapse, anxiety and stress

Learn to notice thoughts as passing events rather than facts, easing anxiety and helping prevent depression from returning. Practical, secular and skill-based.

Skills you keepExplore mindfulness →
PCT

Person-Centred Therapy

Best for being truly heard, self-worth and growth

A warm, non-judgmental space led by you, where genuine empathy and acceptance help you understand yourself and find your own way forward. Foundational to good therapy.

Led by youExplore person-centred →
ACT

Acceptance & Commitment

Best for anxiety, low mood and feeling stuck

Stop wrestling every difficult thought into submission and start moving toward what actually matters to you, with the discomfort allowed to come along.

Values-ledExplore ACT →
GM

The Gottman Method

Best for couples: conflict, distance and repair

A structured, research-based way of working on a relationship. Map the pattern your arguments follow, then build the repair skills that interrupt it.

StructuredExplore Gottman →
ABT

Attachment-Based Therapy

Best for closeness, trust and repeating relationship patterns

Look at how early bonds shaped the way you seek or avoid closeness now, so the pattern stops quietly running your adult relationships.

Pattern-focusedExplore attachment work →
PT

Play Therapy

Best for children roughly 3 to 11

Children show what they cannot yet put into words. Play becomes the language, with parent coaching so the change carries into life at home.

For childrenExplore play therapy →
TF

Trauma-Focused Therapy

Best for trauma, PTSD and a body still on alert

Steadying work first, then processing at a pace you set, drawing on EMDR, Internal Family Systems or somatic approaches depending on what suits you.

You set the paceExplore trauma work →
NT

Narrative Therapy

Best for shame, identity and a story that feels fixed

Separate the problem from the person, then build up the version of your story that includes what you have survived and what you value.

CollaborativeExplore narrative therapy →
These are the eighteen approaches our therapists draw on most. Most are well-established therapies with a strong research base. A few, such as polyvagal-informed and somatic work, rest on a smaller and still-growing evidence base, so we weave them into that established work rather than offer them on their own. Your therapist will often blend several as your work together unfolds. The goal is always the same: the approach follows you, not the other way around.
How matching works

Getting matched, step by step

It is easy to get lost in the sea of acronyms. So we take care of that part for you, in three simple steps.

01

Start with a free consult

Book a free 20-minute call by phone or video. Tell us what is going on and what you would like to feel different. No pressure, no commitment.

02

We match you to a therapist and approach

Based on your goals, we suggest a Registered Psychotherapist whose style fits, and the approach most likely to help. You never have to pick a modality yourself.

03

We adapt as you grow

Most therapists blend approaches and adjust as therapy unfolds. If the fit is not quite right, switching therapists is easy and your progress carries over.

Not sure where to start? Start with a conversation.

A free 20-minute consultation is the easiest way to find your approach. We will listen, answer your questions, and suggest a therapist who fits, with no obligation to continue.

Compare the approaches

Which approach does what

A quick side by side of the eighteen approaches our therapists use most. There is no wrong choice here, and we will help you weigh the options.

ApproachOften helpful forStyleTypical length
CBT Anxiety, depression, stress Practical, structured, present-focused 5 to 20 sessions
DBT Intense emotions, overwhelm, anger Skills-based and structured Ongoing, weekly
IPT Relationships, life transitions, grief Structured and time-limited 12 to 16 sessions
IFS Inner conflict, self-criticism, trauma Reflective and depth-oriented Flexible
SFBT Clear goals, motivation, personal growth Brief and future-focused A few to several sessions
EFT Emotions, attachment, couples and connection Experiential and emotion-focused Varies
EMDR Trauma, PTSD, painful memories Structured and reprocessing-based 6 to 12+ sessions
Polyvagal Trauma, anxiety, feeling unsafe Gentle and body-aware, used within therapy Flexible
Somatic Trauma, stress, tension held in the body Body-based and paced Flexible
Psychodynamic Recurring patterns, depression, relationships Reflective and insight-focused Flexible
Mindfulness Depression relapse, anxiety, stress Practical and skills-based Ongoing practice
Person-centred Self-worth, life transitions, growth Warm and non-directive Flexible
ACT Anxiety, depression, chronic pain Experiential and values-led 8 to 16 sessions
Gottman Couples, conflict, rebuilding trust Structured and skills-based Varies
Attachment-based Relationship patterns, closeness, self-worth Reflective and relational Flexible
Play therapy Children 3 to 11, big feelings, worry Child-led and play-based Varies
Trauma-focused PTSD, flashbacks, feeling unsafe Paced, stability before processing Varies
Narrative Identity, shame, life transitions Collaborative and curious Flexible

These approaches also support social anxiety, OCD, addiction and many other concerns. Not sure which fits? Take the 2-minute matching quiz and we will point you in the right direction.

Your therapists

The right person matters more than the method

Registered Psychotherapists trained across these approaches, who pair evidence-based methods with the kind of listening you can feel. Here are a few of the team. Tap a photo to watch a short intro.

Svetlana Antonyshyn, Registered Psychotherapist and founder of InnerSight
Svetlana Antonyshyn RP · Founder
IntegrativeTrauma
Woodbridge · OnlineProfile →
Teresa Di Panfilo, Registered Psychotherapist
Teresa Di Panfilo RP · Individual
CBTPsychodynamic
Woodbridge · OnlineProfile →
Chantal Ruzsa, Registered Psychotherapist
Chantal Ruzsa RP (Qualifying) · Individual
DBTTrauma-Informed
Woodbridge · OnlineProfile →
Phil Azer, Registered Psychotherapist
Phil Azer RP · Individual
CBTSolution-Focused
Maple · OnlineProfile →
Not sure who fits? Take our 2-minute matching quiz and we will suggest a few therapists based on what you are working through.
Simple, transparent fees

Clear pricing, no surprises

Everything starts with a free consultation. From there, fees are straightforward and most extended health plans cover a portion.

Start here

Free Consultation

$0 / 20 min

A relaxed, no-pressure call by phone or video to share what is going on and find your fit. No referral, no commitment.

Most common

Individual Session

$180 / 55 min

Ongoing one-to-one therapy with your matched Registered Psychotherapist, in person or online across Ontario.

First full visit

Initial Assessment

$245 / 70 min

A longer first session to understand your history and goals together, and shape a plan and approach that fit you.

Insurance and accessibility. There is no OHIP coverage for psychotherapy, but most extended health benefit plans cover services from a Registered Psychotherapist. We offer direct billing to Sun Life, SSQ and Green Shield, and provide receipts for other insurers. Reduced-fee sessions from $125 are available with select supervised therapists in training if cost is a barrier, so support stays within reach.

Before you book

Don't take our word for it. Check.

Anyone can say they are good at this. Here is what you can verify about us in about two minutes, without speaking to a single person.

Every psychotherapist here is registered with the CRPO. We publish each registration number on their profile. Look any of us up by name in Ontario's public register.
Open the public register →

Regulated, not self-declared

"Psychotherapist" is a protected title in Ontario. Our team are Registered Psychotherapists, accountable to a College with a complaints process that has nothing to do with us.

See every therapist's registration →

Supervised every month

Our therapists meet for clinical supervision every month. It is how the work stays accountable to someone other than the person doing it.

How we work →

We show our sources

Where we describe what therapy can do for anxiety, ADHD or trauma, we name the source and link it: Statistics Canada, CAMH, NICE, peer-reviewed trials.

What we help with →

Nothing locks you in

No referral needed. No contract, no package to buy. Fees are published up front, $180 for a 55-minute session. If the fit is wrong, say so and we will move you to someone else without asking why.

Fees and coverage →

Start with a free 20-min call →

Common questions

Good questions, straight answers

If yours is not here, a free 20-minute call is the easiest way to get a clear answer.

Book a free consult →
What types of therapy do you offer in Vaughan?
We draw on eighteen therapy approaches. The ones our individual therapists use most are CBT, DBT, Interpersonal Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy. We also offer EMDR and mindfulness-based therapy, both backed by strong research, and we draw on somatic and polyvagal-informed work as supportive lenses within therapy rather than treatments on their own. Your therapist matches the approach to you, not the other way around.
Which type of therapy is right for me?
You do not have to figure that out on your own. In a free 20-minute consultation we learn what you are working through and recommend an approach and a therapist that fit. Most therapists blend methods and adjust as you go, so nothing is locked in.
Do I need to know which approach I want before booking?
No. Many people book without knowing the difference between CBT and IFS, and that is completely normal. Choosing the right method is our job, not yours. You just bring what is on your mind.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
The terms overlap a great deal. At InnerSight your sessions are provided by Registered Psychotherapists regulated by the CRPO, trained to support both everyday challenges and deeper, longer-standing patterns. We are happy to explain the distinction in your consultation.
How many sessions of individual therapy will I need?
It depends on your goals. Focused approaches like CBT and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy often run 5 to 20 sessions, while deeper work can take longer. You set the pace with your therapist and review progress together.
Is individual psychotherapy covered by insurance?
Most extended health benefit plans cover services from a Registered Psychotherapist, though OHIP does not. We bill Sun Life, SSQ and Green Shield directly and provide receipts for the rest. Your first full appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment at $245, and ongoing individual sessions are $180 for 55 minutes. Reduced-fee sessions from $125 are available with select supervised therapists in training if cost is a barrier.
Do you offer individual therapy online?
Yes. We offer secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario, plus in-person appointments in Woodbridge, Vaughan and Barrie. Online therapy works well for most concerns.
Do I need a referral to start individual therapy?
No referral is needed. You can book a free 20-minute consultation by phone or video and, if it feels right, continue with full sessions. There is no commitment to continue.

The hardest part is starting. We will walk the rest with you.

Begin with a free 20-minute consultation by phone or video. No referral, no commitment. We will match you with a therapist and an approach that fit what you are working through.