Yael offers a warm and non-judgmental space in her therapy work with individuals, couples and families. Bringing together modalities that focus on mindfulness and gentle curiosity, she collaborates with clients to explore where and how they are feeling stuck, helping them find a sustainable path forward. She has experience working with depression, anxiety, life transitions, grief, family trauma, perfectionism, self esteem and relationship challenges.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Masters in Integral Counselling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Masters in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria and a Bachelors in Developmental Psychology from the University of Sussex. I have worked with individuals, families and children in multicultural community settings for over ten years and I offer therapy in English, Hebrew, German and Spanish.

As an immigrant with a multicultural background, I have been sensitized to attend to feelings of not belonging, of being different or misunderstood. I have worked with people who feel marginalized or out-of-synch for various reasons, including culture, neurodivergence, family dynamics, health conditions and existential questions/crises. Striving to name and normalize these experiences to help clients feel heard and less alone, we look at ways to make adjustments that are empowering and liberating.

I use psychodynamic, Gestalt, somatic, narrative and anti-oppressive approaches to therapy and work in a relational, strength-based and trauma-informed way. While I am trained in these various modalities, I consider you to be the expert on your own life, so when we meet you can expect an informal, conversation-style interaction that allows you to find your voice.

It can be challenging to find your own voice and speak your truth: Our lifestyles today place great focus on being happy and accomplished, but the reality is that these norms and expectations leave many people walking through life with feelings of shame, guilt, grief, disappointment, anger and loneliness. Many often ask themselves “what is wrong with me?” when in fact those human emotions can be wise guides to inner truths which want to be heard.

Working together, I can support you in addressing painful, frustrating or dissatisfying aspects of your life by:

• Understanding the ways your past connects to and influences your present
• Identifying the personal, familial, and societal beliefs that shape your experience
• Exploring which ways of thinking and behaving are and aren’t helpful to you today
• Learning how to work with your strengths and challenges to break free from old patterns and feel better about yourself
• Gaining a sense of choice about how you show up in your relationships and your life more authentically and in line with what you need and want