Melissa Baldry

I am a graduate student, completing my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. I have been fortunate enough to work at a community level in mental health over the past few years. I have experience working with individuals going through depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, substance use concerns and homelessness. This experience in my professional life has motivated me to approach everyone with the utmost respect and empathy. I have seen first-hand what long-term trauma and injustices can lead to therefore I hope to foster a welcoming and safe space within which we can learn and grow together. My approach is holistic in nature, focusing on individuals’ strengths. I believe in letting you lead the way and aiding in helping you build a toolkit you can utilize to increase your quality of life!

As a counseling psychology graduate student and mental health professional, I provide human-centered approach to supporting individuals navigating trauma, addiction, career transitions, and life's challenging moments. With a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Yorkville University, a Graduate Certificate in Addiction Treatment from Georgian College, and dual bachelor's degrees in psychology and biology from Macalester College, my practice is grounded in both scientific understanding and compassionate care. I have worked across community mental health, career counseling, and peer support settings.

as a queer, feminist therapist, i support other careworkers and community organizers who want to feel resourced and held in their work. i specialize in the areas of grief work, including disenfranchised, complex grief and sudden and traumatic loss, chronic illness and disability, existential concerns and feelings of overwhelm. i'm trained in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), somatic attachment therapy, and clinical hypnosis. i also support clients with things like OCD, body-focused repetitive behaviours, and fears and phobias. my work is experiential, embodied, and intuitive. what this means for therapy is that we’ll spend a lot of time together learning and practising new tools and skills that you can immediately apply in your daily life. my hope is for you to feelbetter resourced to handle the inevitable stress that comes with life under late-stage capitalism. and, as we work to clarify your values and unhook from systems of oppression, i hope you'll also discover a renewed sense of focus so you can get clear about how to best allocate your energy and time. i bring two decades of experience to my clinical work, primarily in the non-profit sector doing work in harm reduction, outreach, supportive housing and with people living with HIV. i currently work part time as a counsellor in hospice providing care to people in bereavement, as well as those at end of life and their caregivers.

I (she/her) have been practicing therapy since 2016. Originally from Newfoundland and Labrador I’ve made the West End of Toronto home and St. Joseph’s Health Centre my primary workplace where I work as a Child and Family Therapist. I have countless trauma trainings, plus DBT, CBT, DDP, EFFT, Psychodrama for Traumatic Stress, and exposure to Gestalt Therapy. I participate in psychoanalysis and am a true believer in the healing relational aspect of therapy. I know the importance of an intersectional approach to personal growth, and I seek to help you discover wholeness versus the elusive permanent wellness. Relational dynamics are my expertise, they play important roles in how we see ourselves and live our lives.