PTSD & trauma therapy in Vaughan
Feel safe again, at your own pace.
Whatever you went through, the way your mind and body still react isn’t a weakness. It’s survival. We help you feel safe again and work through trauma at a pace you control, without having to relive every detail. In Vaughan and online across Ontario.
Takes 2 minutes. No credit card. No referral needed.
- 24+ Registered PsychotherapistsLook any of us up on the CRPO register
- Direct billing availableSun Life, Beneva, Green Shield
- Evenings and weekendsIn person or online
Trauma is a normal response to something abnormal.
When something overwhelming or frightening happens, the brain and body do exactly what they’re built to do: they go into survival mode. Sometimes they stay there long after the danger has passed. The flashbacks, the jumpiness, the numbness, the constant watchfulness: these aren’t character flaws. They’re signs you survived.
Trauma therapy helps you feel safe in your body again, process what happened so it loses some of its grip, and slowly reclaim the parts of life that trauma narrowed. You stay in control the whole way, and you never have to retell more than you’re ready to.
Trauma therapy is evidence-based, trauma-informed talk therapy that helps calm a nervous system stuck in survival mode, process painful memories safely, and rebuild a sense of safety and control. It works in phases, at a pace you set.
- You set the pace, and stay in control throughout
- EMDR and other evidence-based approaches
- Judgment-free, in person or online across Ontario
What’s been happening for you lately?
Tap anything that sounds familiar. None of these means something is wrong with you. They’re common responses to hard experiences, and very workable.
You don’t have to wait for an appointment.
If you’re having thoughts of suicide, or of not wanting to be here, please reach out now. You can call or text 988 any time, day or night, and talk with someone trained to help. When you’re ready, therapy can be part of what comes next.
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline, call or text any time988In an emergency, call 911.
Book a free consult when you’re readyStart with what you’re noticing.
Tap what sounds like you lately, and we’ll suggest a gentle next step.
You’ve noticed 1 thing.
That’s common after hard experiences, and very workable. A free 20-minute consult is a calm way to talk it through, and you won’t be asked to go into details.
You’ve noticed 3 things.
That’s a lot to carry. You don’t need to tell the whole story to start, and the work can begin with simply feeling steadier day to day.
Frontline or first-responder work? Cumulative exposure on the job is real, and so is care that understands what you carry.
Book a free 20-minute consultThis isn’t a diagnosis.
When the past floods back, come back to now.
Grounding tells a triggered nervous system that the danger is over and you’re safe in the present. It’s often the first skill in trauma work. Step through the alarm many people get caught in, and what therapy does with it.
- 1On the surface
“Something set me off, and suddenly I’m right back there.”
- 2UnderneathThis is a trauma response, not present danger.A sound, a smell or a moment can trip the alarm, and your body reacts as if the past is happening now. Grounding helps: name five things you can see, feel your feet on the floor, say today’s date out loud.
- 3The shift
“That was then. Right now, in this room, I’m safe. This feeling will pass.”
- 1On the surface
“I’m always scanning for danger, even when nothing is wrong.”
- 2UnderneathThis is your alarm, stuck on.After trauma, the nervous system can keep watch long after the threat is gone. Being on guard kept you safe once, and now it’s exhausting you. A slow breath with a longer exhale tells your body it can stand down for a moment.
- 3The shift
“My body is trying to protect me. I can thank it, and gently remind it that we’re safe now.”
- 1On the surface
“Flashbacks and nightmares are wrecking my sleep.”
- 2UnderneathThis is the mind still trying to make sense of what happened.Memories that haven’t been processed can intrude because part of you is still working on them. It’s a common response to overwhelming events, and it can be worked with, carefully and at your pace.
- 3The shift
“This is a memory surfacing, not the event returning. I can ground, and I can get help with this.”
- 1On the surface
“What does therapy actually do with all this?”
- 2UnderneathSafety first, then the memory, then your life.Your therapist helps you build grounding and regulation skills first. Then, only when you’re ready, you work on the memory itself, with approaches like EMDR or trauma-focused CBT, so it can lose some of its charge.
- 3The shift
“I don’t have to relive it all to work through it. We go one safe step at a time.”
An illustration of a common pattern, not a real client’s words. Grounding is often where trauma therapy begins, and your therapist paces everything with you.
Start with a free 20-minute consultMeet 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.
Watch introCarol McDowell
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #10937Barrie · Online
A space to tell your story, find the meaning beneath it and discover a new ending, including when you’re carrying trauma.
Watch introCristian Renzi
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #12088Maple (Vaughan) · Online
A judgment-free space to work through trauma, with a special interest in men who’ve spent years handling everything alone.
Watch introValeria Matei
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #14052Woodbridge · Online
Works with adults living with trauma, drawing on EMDR, for the things that feel stuck and for getting your footing back.
Not sure who fits?
Let us match you in your free consultation. If the fit isn’t right, we’ll help you switch to another therapist on the team.
On your own, or with others who understand.
Most trauma work happens one-to-one. If substance use has become tangled up with trauma, there’s also a therapist-led group for people who carry both.
One-to-one, at your pace
Trauma-informed therapy with one Registered Psychotherapist, building safety first and moving into the memories only when you’re ready. Individual work starts with a 70-minute initial assessment.
About trauma-focused therapyWhen trauma and addiction overlap
A warm, therapist-led group for people living with both post-traumatic stress and substance use, where you learn how the two feed each other and practise safety and grounding skills. Group fees are discussed in your free consult.
About the PTSD and addiction groupWhat your first session actually looks like
Reaching out about trauma takes real courage. Your first appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment, and here’s how it tends to go, so nothing is a mystery and nothing is pushed.
- 1Minutes 0 to 15
Settling in
Your therapist welcomes you, explains confidentiality in plain language, and makes clear you’re in charge. You won’t be asked to dive into the trauma. You decide what to share and when.
- 2Minutes 15 to 60
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. You may also learn a first grounding skill.
- 3Throughout
Nothing is pushed
Your therapist checks in with how you’re feeling as you go, and slows down or pauses whenever you need. Feeling safe in the room comes before anything else.
- 4The last 10 minutes
A plan that feels safe
You agree on a way forward, whether that’s EMDR, somatic work or talk therapy, and a pace that never outruns your sense of safety.
When trauma comes with a lasting low
The weight of what happened can pull you into depression, constant worry, or grief tangled with shock. Your therapist works with the whole picture, not one piece at a time.
Depression therapyTrauma-informed, phased, and paced by you.
Good trauma therapy builds safety first, then works on 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.
EMDR
Helps the brain reprocess stuck traumatic memories so they lose some of their charge.
More on EMDRSomatic and nervous-system work
Polyvagal-informed tools to settle a body stuck in fight, flight or freeze.
More on somatic therapyIFS and parts work
Meet and care for the protective parts that trauma left behind.
More on IFSTrauma-focused CBT
Gently reshape the beliefs trauma can leave behind, like guilt, shame or a sense of constant danger.
More on CBTInnerSight was founded by Svetlana Antonyshyn, RP, on the belief that healing should treat the person, not a label. More about our approach.
What the research says
We’ll always be honest about evidence. Trauma therapy is well studied, and the strongest evidence is for trauma-focused approaches, though no ethical therapist can promise how it will go for any one person.
In a 2023 national survey, 64.4% of adults in Canada reported at least one potentially traumatic event in their lifetime, and 7.7% said a health professional had diagnosed them with PTSD at some point.
A review of 114 trials with 8,171 people found robust evidence that trauma-focused CBT and EMDR have a clinically important effect on PTSD, and the authors recommend them as first-line treatments.
A Cochrane review of 70 studies found trauma-focused CBT and EMDR did better than a waitlist or usual care. The authors rated the evidence as very low quality, so the findings call for caution.
Across trials of PTSD therapies, about 16% of people stopped early, more often in therapies with a trauma focus. It’s one reason we build safety first and let you set the pace.
Our Registered Psychotherapists do not diagnose or prescribe. If medication is part of your care, we’re glad to work alongside your physician or psychiatrist.
Clinically reviewed by Svetlana Antonyshyn, Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #001652). Last reviewed October 2026.
What PTSD therapy costs
No hidden fees and no pressure. Most private insurance plans cover a portion of psychotherapy fees. We can bill Sun Life, Beneva (formerly SSQ) and Green Shield directly when your plan is with one of them, and we provide receipts for claims with other insurers.
- $0
- Free consultation · 20 minMeet a therapist, ask anything, and see if it feels right. No credit card and no obligation.
- $245
- First appointment · 70 minA longer first conversation to understand what’s going on and set goals together.
- $180
- Ongoing sessions · 55 minEvery session after your first, in person or online.
- $125
- Reduced-fee sessionWith select supervised therapists in training. Reduced-fee couples and family sessions are $175.
Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice may be charged a cancellation fee. Sessions aren’t covered by OHIP, but psychotherapy from a Registered Psychotherapist may qualify as a medical expense at tax time. Worried about cost? See our reduced-fee program, or call us. We’re happy to walk you through it.
How far could your benefits go?
Pick your plan’s yearly maximum for a Registered Psychotherapist.
An estimate, not a quote or a promise of coverage. Plans differ on the percentage reimbursed, per-visit limits, deductibles and which providers they recognize, so check your benefits booklet or ask your insurer about “Registered Psychotherapist” and “Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).”
Book a free 20-minute consultDon’t take our word for it. Check.
Anyone can say they’re good at this. Here’s what you can verify about us in about two minutes, without speaking to anyone.
Regulated, not self-declared
“Psychotherapist” is a protected title in Ontario. Our team are Registered Psychotherapists, accountable to a College with a public complaints process.
See every therapist’s registrationSupervised every month
Our therapists meet for clinical supervision every month, so the work stays accountable to someone other than the person doing it.
How we workWe show our sources
Where we describe what therapy can help with, we name the source and link it, from Statistics Canada and CAMH to peer-reviewed trials.
What we help withNothing 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 isn’t right, tell us and we’ll help you switch to another therapist on the team.
Fees and coveragePTSD therapy: your questions, answered
Still wondering about something? Ask us in a free consult, or call (905) 553-9507. Phones are answered weekdays 9 am to 5 pm, Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm.
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.
PTSD therapy near you
In-person sessions in Woodbridge, Maple and Barrie, plus secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario. Evenings and weekends available.
Online across Ontario
Secure video sessions from anywhere in the province. Many people find online sessions feel safer and more private for trauma work.
Book an online consultAppointment hoursMonday to Friday, 9:30 am to 8:00 pmSaturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Recent thinking on trauma and PTSD
“Nothing Bad Enough Happened to Me”: Why Small-t Trauma Still Counts
There is a sentence that comes up in first sessions more often than almost any other. Someone describes fifteen years of something,…
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How EMDR Therapy Helps Your Brain Heal From Trauma
June is PTSD Awareness Month, and it's a good time to talk about something that doesn't get discussed enough: what actually works…
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Understanding Trauma: How It Shows Up in the Body and Mind
Trauma is one of those words that's become both more common and more misunderstood at the same time. Some people hear "trauma"…
Read article →What happened doesn’t 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.
Phones answered Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 2 pm.
