you are too interesting, too capable, too worthy to live without change, transformation and renewal
About Therapy-
IFS, Somatic, 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 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 feels 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.
Healing from traumatic experiences. I focused my training and experience on trauma-informed therapy in order to ensure that working with traumatic experiences is done in a safe and evidence-based way to support healing and transformation.
Facilitating experiential and transformative sessions using expressive arts therapy, mindfulness, somatic and self-reflective practices to deepen healing and learning (none of these you need to know, that’s why I am here). '
I also offer psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PaP) through ATMA Cena. Please contact me for more information.
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.
Some issues/topics people explore in therapy:
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
Some reasons people come to me:
You have found talk therapy, even when helpful, limiting and you are looking for new ways to understand yourself, create change and heal in an embodied way.
You are curious or have an intuitive sense about the benefits of mindfulness, somatic work, art therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), or Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).
You want to understand why patterns, habits, behaviours and emotional states keep arising and how to change them.
You want support in separating what is personal versus environmental, systemic and ancestral.
You know there’s something that needs to change in your life and you want to feel more aligned to yourself and your life’s meaning.
You are new to therapy and want to make sure that therapy feels safe, offers ways of coping and emotional regulation in order to prepare for deeper trauma and healing work.
For more information about Internal Family Systems, Art Therapy and Psychedelic-assisted Psychotherapy, see Approaches
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:
Graduate Diploma in Art Therapy at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute, 2023
Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy at the Create Institute, Toronto, 2017
Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on trauma at York University, Toronto, 2012
Bachelor in Public Affairs and Policy Administration with a focus on conflict studies at Carleton University, Ottawa, 2009
Internal Family Systems by the IFS Institute including IFS Level 2 (Cece Sykes and Anna Gartshore - Addictions and Eating Disorders), IFS Level 1 (Gwen Hurd and Dan Reed), Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems (Frank Anderson), Integrating Internal Family Systems Across Clinical Applications
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, including Ketamine Learning Experience and ATMA’s Introduction and Advanced Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PaT) Program
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, psychedelic-assisted therapy 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 in Toronto 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
I currently have a few spaces available for virtual and in-person sessions. Please contact me for more details.
Groups, Events & Workshops - Inquire to find out more about planning an event, or if you are interesting in a group or workshop. You can also visit Groups & Events for more information.
Rates
$160 per 60 min session
Payment is due at the beginning of each session by eTransfer. I have a 24 hour cancellation policy.
Unfortunately, OHIP does not cover my services.
Please make sure that your private insurance company covers Registered Psychotherapist before starting sessions.
Contact me.
Emily Hostland
(647) 849-4486
support@therapywithemily.ca
I offer a free 15min consultation to ask questions about my approach and make sure I’m the right person to support you at this time.
I try to respond to messages as soon as possible. It may take me up to 2 business days to respond to your message.
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
