(905) 553-9507
PTSD & trauma therapy · Vaughan, Woodbridge, Barrie & online across Ontario

PTSD & trauma therapy in Vaughan

Whatever you went through, the way your mind and body still react is not a weakness. It is survival. We help you feel safe again and heal from trauma at a pace you control, without having to relive every detail.

Takes 2 minutes. No credit card. No referral needed.

photo of a man with their psychotherapist
Trauma-informed · at your pace
24+Registered
Psychotherapists
MonthlyClinical
supervision
EMDR+ trauma-informed
approaches
$0First consultation
20 minutes

Clinically reviewed by Svetlana Antonyshyn, Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #001652). Last reviewed June 2026.

Your reactions make sense

Trauma is a normal response to something abnormal

When something overwhelming or terrifying happens, the brain and body do exactly what they are built to do: they go into survival mode. Sometimes they stay there long after the danger has passed. The flashbacks, the hypervigilance, the numbness, the jumpiness, these are not character flaws. They are signs you survived.

Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) describes trauma as a deeply distressing experience that can have lasting effects. The good news is that trauma is treatable, and with the right support, the nervous system can learn that the threat is over.

Trauma therapy helps you feel safe in your body again, process what happened so it loses its grip, and slowly reclaim the life that trauma narrowed. You stay in control the whole way, and you never have to retell more than you are ready to.

Line illustration representing trauma and the nervous system
In plain words

Trauma therapy is evidence-based, trauma-informed talk therapy that helps you calm a nervous system stuck in survival mode, process painful memories safely, and rebuild a sense of safety and control. It works in phases, always at a pace you set.

✓You set the pace, and stay in control throughout
✓EMDR and other evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches
✓Judgment-free, with online sessions anywhere in Ontario
Your guides

Meet our trauma therapists

Every therapist below is a Registered Psychotherapist with trauma-informed training and real experience helping people heal. Watch a short intro, read their profile, or let us match you in your free consultation.

Carol McDowell, Registered Psychotherapist in Barrie

Carol McDowell

Registered Psychotherapist
TraumaNarrative
Book appointment
Cristian Renzi, Registered Psychotherapist in Maple and Vaughan

Cristian Renzi

Registered Psychotherapist
Trauma-informedMen's mental health
Book appointment
Valeria Matei, Registered Psychotherapist in Woodbridge

Valeria Matei

Registered Psychotherapist
TraumaIndividual
Book appointment

Not sure who fits? Browse all 24+ therapists or let us match you. You can switch anytime, and your file moves with you.

Try it yourself

When the past floods back, come back to now

Grounding tells a triggered nervous system that the danger is over and you are safe in the present. It is the first skill in trauma work, and a taste of what you would build in sessions. Pick a moment that sounds familiar.

1 · What is happening

“Something set me off and suddenly I am right back there.”

↓
2 · Name it

This is a trauma response, not present danger.

A sound, smell or moment can trip the alarm and your body reacts as if the past is happening now. It is not. The danger is a memory.

↓
3 · Ground and orient

Name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear. Say today's date out loud. Feel your feet on the floor and remind yourself where you are right now.

↓
4 · The steadier thought

“That was then. Right now, in this room, I am safe. This feeling will pass.”

Grounding is where trauma therapy begins. From there, your therapist helps you process the memory itself, safely. Start with a free 20-minute consult.

What we work with

Trauma takes many forms

Whether it was one terrible event or years of it, recent or long ago, your experience deserves care. These are the kinds of trauma we work with most.

Single-incident traumaA car accident, assault, medical emergency or other one-time event that left a mark.
Childhood & complex traumaThings that happened early or repeatedly, and still shape how you feel today.
Abuse & betrayalEmotional, physical or sexual abuse, in a private and non-judgmental space.
First responders & frontlineCumulative exposure on the job, with care that understands what you carry.
Traumatic lossWhen grief is tangled with shock or trauma and the two need tending together. Trauma with depressionWhen the weight of what happened has pulled you into a lasting low. Trauma with anxietyConstant alertness, panic or dread that traces back to something painful. Trauma with addictionWhen substances or behaviours became the way to cope. We also run a group for this.
The bigger picture

Most people go through something hard, and support helps

Living through something difficult is far more common than it feels, and needing help afterward is a normal response, not a weakness.

64.4% of Canadian adults report experiencing at least one potentially traumatic event in their lifetime Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events, 2023
7.7% of Canadians report having received a PTSD diagnosis from a health professional at some point in their life Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events, 2023
Safety first, always

What your first session actually looks like

Reaching out about trauma takes real courage. Your first appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment, and here is exactly how it tends to go, so nothing is a mystery, and nothing is pushed.

1
Minutes 0 to 10

Settling in

Your therapist welcomes you, explains confidentiality in plain language, and makes clear you are in charge. You will not be asked to dive into the trauma. You decide what to share and when.

2
Minutes 10 to 35

Understanding the impact

Together you look at how trauma is showing up now, the triggers, the sleep, the relationships, without going into the events themselves unless you want to.

3
Minutes 35 to 60

Your first grounding tool

You learn a grounding or regulation skill, like the one in the demo above, so you leave with a way to steady yourself when things feel like too much.

4
The last 10 minutes

A plan that feels safe

You agree on a way forward, whether that is EMDR, somatic work or talk therapy, and a pace that never outruns your sense of safety.

How we work

Trauma-informed, phased, and paced by you

Good trauma therapy builds safety first, then processes the memory, then helps you reconnect with life. Your therapist draws on evidence-based approaches and tailors them to you. Sessions follow a clear, phased structure so nothing feels rushed or unpredictable, and you always know what comes next.

InnerSight was founded by Svetlana Antonyshyn, RP, on the belief that healing should treat the person, not a label. More about our approach.

Transparent pricing

What trauma therapy costs in Vaughan

No hidden fees and no pressure. Most private insurance plans cover a portion of psychotherapy fees.

$0Free consultation · 20 min

Meet a therapist, ask anything, and see if it feels right. No credit card and no obligation.

$180Individual session · 55 min

Most private insurance plans cover a portion of services from a Registered Psychotherapist, and we bill Sun Life, SSQ and Green Shield directly. For other insurers, we provide receipts for your claim. Your first full appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment at $245.

$125Reduced-fee sessions · 55 min

Sessions with select supervised therapists in training, at a lower rate. Guided by experienced clinical supervisors.

Psychotherapy may also qualify for the medical expense tax credit in Canada. Questions about coverage? See our reduced-fee program or call us, we are happy to walk you through it.

Common questions

Your questions, answered

Do I need a referral for PTSD therapy in Vaughan?

No referral is needed. You can book a free 20-minute consultation online at psychotherapyclinic.janeapp.com or call (905) 553-9507. Most people have their first full session within a week.

Do I have to talk about the trauma in detail?

No. You are always in control of what you share and when. Good trauma therapy starts with safety and stabilization, and you never have to relive every detail to heal. Your therapist paces the work with you so it never becomes overwhelming.

What is EMDR and do you offer it?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a well-researched therapy that helps the brain reprocess stuck traumatic memories so they lose their charge. We offer EMDR alongside other trauma-informed approaches, and your therapist helps you choose what fits.

How long does trauma therapy take?

It depends on the kind of trauma and your goals. Single-incident trauma can resolve in a shorter course, while complex or childhood trauma often benefits from longer support. You and your therapist review progress together and move at a pace that feels safe.

Do I need medication for PTSD?

Not necessarily. Some people find therapy on its own is enough, and others do best with therapy and medication together. That is a decision for you and your physician. Our therapists are Registered Psychotherapists and do not prescribe medication, but we are glad to work alongside your physician or psychiatrist if medication is part of your care.

Can I do trauma therapy online?

Yes. We offer secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario, plus in-person sessions in Woodbridge, Vaughan and Barrie. Many people find online sessions feel safer and more private for trauma work. Evenings and weekends are available.

What if my PTSD comes with depression, anxiety or addiction?

That is very common, and we work with the whole picture. Trauma often sits underneath depression, anxiety or addiction, and your therapist tailors the approach so these are addressed together. We also run a PTSD and Addiction therapy group for when the two are intertwined.

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. Our therapists are Registered Psychotherapists regulated by the CRPO, and everything you share stays confidential within the standard legal limits, which your therapist explains clearly in your first session.

How is trauma therapy different from general talk therapy?

Trauma-informed approaches, like EMDR, somatic work and trauma-focused CBT, are built specifically to help the brain and body process stuck memories, not just talk about them. Your therapist paces this carefully, building safety and stabilization before any processing work begins.

Is this PTSD or a normal response to a hard event?

Most people who live through something difficult feel shaken afterward, and that is a normal, expected response that often eases with time and support. For some, the effects persist or intensify, which is where PTSD-focused therapy helps. A Registered Psychotherapist cannot formally diagnose PTSD, but we can help you understand what you are experiencing and find the right support either way.

Where to find us

Trauma therapy near you: Vaughan, Woodbridge, Barrie and online

In-person sessions at three locations, plus secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario. Evenings and weekends available.

Getting started

Three steps, at your pace

1

Book your free consult

Online in 2 minutes or by phone. No referral, no credit card.

2

Meet your therapist

Talk it through and get matched with a trauma-informed fit for you.

3

Heal, safely

Build safety, process the past, and reclaim your life, never faster than feels right.

What happened does not have to define what comes next

Healing from trauma is possible, and the first step is a free, no-pressure conversation. You set the pace from here.