About Us
Welcome to Our Space
Isheaga Counseling Services currently offers in-person and virtual sessions. We are located in the South Etobicoke area.
A place for you to be with all parts of you, where support, comfort, and freedom to be as you are can occur.
My approach and philosophy of change
About Me
I am Donicka and I am a Registered Psychotherapist with a background in Child and Youth Care Practice and possess over 18 years of experience working with individuals, parents, and families in Mental Health, Education, and Child Welfare settings.
My Passion
Inspring others to experience a fullfilled life
My Style
I practice from a relational, holistic and process-oriented lens that honors an individual's experiences and innate wisdom that they bring to therapy. My ability to co-create a safe space with you and engage you in this process through genuineness and respect for your time and individual needs is reflective of my client-centered approach. I will not judge you, nor is it my place to tell you what to do, though I will ask that you be an active participant in this process. I will engage you in a process of self-exploration and somatic awareness practices that will support you in getting unstuck and out of your head! .
Further to my client-centered approach, and to ensure that your individual needs are best addressed during our time together, I also draw from other therapeutic modalities that inform my approach: CBT, DBT, IFS, ACT, EFT, Narrative, Psychodynamic, Somatic Awareness and Spiritual Integrated Therapies. *Attachment theory and Trauma Informed care underpin my approach to therapy and Supervision.
"Achieving a greater understanding of self helps to pave the way for living anew."
My approach and philosophy of change
My approach
My therapeutic approach is grounded in authenticity, compassion and curiosity and embodies a deep reverence for an individual’s life experiences. We will identify the pareas of your life process the ways these experiences have affected you in order to bring about sustainable change. Our time together will support you in experiencing new ways of knowing and being in the world. During our time together we will get curious, informed and intentional in shifting areas of your life that you are concerned with, though a process of self exploration to identify key points for intervention. Together we will identify the practices that fit for you to incorporate into your week between sessions.
My Philosophy of change
Change begins with learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
I believe that at the core of each individual lies the inner wisdom to navigate life's experiences and the capacity to achieve their fullest potential. Learning to shift from doing what we know to doing differently is a dynamic process that involves reflective inquiry, setting intentions and committing to daily practices.
"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." - Aristotle
About Mya
Mya, has claimed her role as my silent co therapist since I began my home practice in Etobicoke. She is innately curious, and intuitive and loves people.
Mya welcomes individuals who enter our space and will offer her affection when she senses others are open to this. She has the uncanny ability to sense when people may need some additional comfort or in need of grounding in the room and may plop herself beside you or on your lap. She may also keep her distance recognizing your boundaries and need for space.
Animals can have a positive effect on us as touch can have a calming effect on many people. The mere act of petting an animal has been shown to reduce biological stress responses in people ( Dr. Jessica Baron, 2022).
Mya is also able to keep her ego in check and takes no offense to being shooed away if cats don't fit for you.