you are too interesting, too capable, too worthy to live without change, transformation and renewal
About Therapy-
IFS, Somatic and Art Therapy
Do you feel a sense of yearning… for change, to understand yourself, to understand why certain challenges keep arising, and how to build a more meaningful and enjoyable life for yourself?
I know this yearning is a resource, and it shows your capacity and curiousity to learn and care for yourself. I offer space to connect to yourself in a meaningful way, to overcome challenging and traumatic experiences with compassion and support, and to realize your full capacity. I am here to offer a way through. You don’t have to do it on your own.
My role is to help guide you to find what works and what’s helpful. I can share my knowledge and experience with you, listen, offer support, and facilitate experiential practices. I offer individual therapy informed by a variety of approaches and practices including internal family systems, somatic/body-based practices, existential discussions, systems theory, feminist theory, neuroscience, polyvagal theory, and expressive arts therapy. I can facilitate mindfulness and expressive arts therapy when/if you are interested including working with visual arts, movement, voice, and writing practices to deepen healing and learning. I believe that a compassion-focused, cultural humility, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive approach is essential for safe and effective therapy.
Here are some ways I offer support:
Understanding parts of yourself and developing a deeper, more compassionate relationship with yourself and others. This can be helpful to deepen your understanding of why the same challenges/behaviours/emotions keep arising, why change can be difficult and how to understand your own guilt and shame in a less critical or scary way; and how to create change that feel right for you.
Working with emotions such as depression, stress, hopelessness, anxiety and anger. We can explore why these emotions are present; find safe and helpful ways to connect to them and express them; and find avenues that allow other emotions to be experienced, including how to embody acceptance and compassion for yourself.
Offering a nonjudgmental, open space where you can share, explore thoughts and ideas. I will listen and help you hold what is too difficult to hold on your own.
Healing from traumatic experiences. I focused my training and experience on trauma-informed care in order to ensure that working with traumatic experiences is done in a safe and evidence-based way to support healing and transformation.
Facilitating expressive arts therapy, mindfulness, body-based and self-reflective practices to deepen healing and learning (none of these you need to know, that’s why I am here).
Some reasons people come to me include:
Childhood experiences and traumas including abuse, neglect, developmental trauma, divorce, role in family, attachment challenges, poverty, racism, gender roles, religious trauma
Diagnoses such as PTSD, DID, OCD, depression, anxiety, bipolar, eating disorders
Behaviours such as self-harm, impulsive decisions, procrastination, perfectionism, avoidance, addiction
Current issues or challenges in relationships, career, life transitions, loneliness
Life meaning and purpose, life satisfaction, and spirituality
Systemic oppression and legacy burdens
About Emily Hostland
I am a cis-gender female, Canadian-born, with ancestral roots in Ireland, Norway and Czech. I have always been moved and inspired by anti-oppressive, social justice, and healing work. I worked in mental health and social justice research before becoming a therapist. I value being in relationship and connecting to others, and I believe that is where transformation and healing are rooted. I am gentle, compassionate, patient and open.
I am a Registered Psychotherapist and Expressive Arts Therapist. My training includes:
Diploma in Art Therapy at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute
Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy at the Create Institute
Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on trauma at York University
Bachelor in Public Affairs and Policy Administration with a focus on conflict studies at Carleton University
I have completed a number of non-diploma trainings, including IFS Level 1, Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems (IFS) with Frank Anderson and Integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) Across Clinical Applications with Frank Anderson and12 IFS trainers.
I am a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). I am a member of the Ontario Association for Mental Health Practitioners (OAMHP).
I believe that part of my responsibility is continued exploration and ongoing training. My approach is informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic/body-based practices, existentialism, systems theory, feminist theory, neuroscience, polyvagal theory, and expressive arts therapy.
I enjoy and have experience in offering individual and group work. In addition to my individual practice, I have facilitated groups at YWCA Toronto’s Breakthrough program, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, Toronto General Hospital, Ontario Corrections Institute and Sojourn House. I have also facilitated public and corporate events.
I appreciate learning from other people, places, and stories. A part of me loves to geek out over neuroscience and learning. A part of me loves creating abstractly and mystically. A part of me loves to isolate in nature and go hiking. A part of me loves to play team sports and be in community.
I feel that this work gives me a deep sense of connection and meaning in my life. Some of my values and beliefs are…
It is important for therapy to feel safe for everyone, especially important for those who have experienced discrimination, oppression and relational or intergenerational trauma.
I really appreciate client’s honesty and I value learning from them.
I try to bring fun and enjoyment into the process.
I feel honoured when people are open to share their vulnerability with me.
Location
Online sessions are offered via Doxy.me
In-person sessions are offered at the
Cedar Christie Wellness Centre
717 Bloor Street West (Christie and Bloor)
My office is located in the Coach House (wooden cabin) behind the Edwardian brick house (see photos above). The cabin offers a cozy private space that feels secluded from the busyness of Toronto, conveniently located across from Christie Subway Station & Christie Pits Park.
Availability
Appointments are currently available on:
online - Tuesdays mornings
online - Wednesdays afternoons
in-person - Thursdays afternoon and evenings
online - Fridays afternoons
Rates
$150 per 60 min session
Payment is due at the beginning of each session by eTransfer. I have a 24 hour cancellation policy.
Unfortunately, my services are not covered by OHIP.
Please make sure that your private insurance company covers Registered Psychotherapist before starting sessions.
Resources
Crisis Support - 24/7
Gerstein Centre
(mental health crisis phone and mobile clinic) 416-929-5200
Toronto Distress Centre 416 408-4357
Children's Aid Society of Toronto 416-924-4646
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre (crisis line) 416-597-8808
Assaulted Women’s Helpline 416-863-0511
For emergencies, please contact 911
Housing Support
Central Family Intake
(for Toronto shelters) 416-397-5637
YWCA Women's Shelter
(shelter for women & children experiencing violence in Toronto) 416-693-7342
Low-cost therapy
Mindfulness
Insight Timer is an online mindfulness app that you can access for free on a website or download the app to a phone: https://insighttimer.com/
4 min breathing Meditation: https://insighttimer.com/meditation4regularpeople/guided-meditations/infinity-breathing-technique
6 min Waterfall Mindfulness: https://insighttimer.com/pub15059972/guided-meditations/tropical-waterfall-guided-meditation-visualization
Storytelling: https://insighttimer.com/sarahblondin/guided-meditations/a-walk-in-nature
