When the Past Lives On,
Talking Isn’t Always Enough
Do you remember the last time you felt triggered? Chances are, your body went into survival mode and you felt the need to fight, freeze or flee rather than think, review and reflect. In order to engage in the traditional type of talk therapy, known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), we need to access our thinking brains. However, extensive research has shown that when we are triggered, our thinking brains go offline.
Therapies that only focus on thoughts or emotions, fail to address the ways in which trauma is stored in the body. The deeper healing work then goes untouched and the root cause unexplored. You may walk out of a session thinking, ‘that just didn’t work for me’. Using a trauma-specific approach, I work with the whole person to help calm the survival and emotional part of the brain first, so we can then access the thinking brain … and create lasting, transformational change.

My Journey as a Therapist
When I was younger, I had no idea what my future path would be. Yet, I always felt an overwhelming sense of compassion and empathy. Later on, I would realize that this was a gift that I can share with others.
I recognized early in my professional journey that our childhood experiences can shape our past, present
Mental health symptoms – from depression to anxiety, to stress to trauma – are coping strategies. They are our brain and bodies incredible attempts to protect us, despite them often causing us distress. Through our work together, we can find new ways of protecting the self, while also realizing the amazing capacity of our brain and body.
It never ceases to amaze me how powerful the human spirit is – even in the face of extreme challenges, distress and trauma.
With the right tools and the right guide, anyone can heal.
Healthy Attachments. Healthy Minds.
From early on, our relationships play a role in our mental health. A strong emotional and physical attachment to at least one primary caregiver in our early years (ie. a parent) is essential to emotional, social, and behavioral development. These attachment patterns become embedded in the pathways of our brain and central nervous system and can affect our ability to regulate our emotions.
After taking a developmental, relationship, and family history, I determine the therapeutic approach to healing attachment wounds, complex trauma, dissociation and more. Together, we will relearn healthy relationship patterns, heal parts of your younger self, and better navigate your emotional landscape.
The result is a happier and mentally healthier child, parent and adult.
Supporting Mental Strength, at Every Step
Child, Youth & Adult EMDR Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
I incorporate individual sessions for adults, children, and combined parent-child sessions.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP)
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Polyvagal Theory in Trauma Therapy
Structural Dissociation Treatment
From Trauma to Triumph
Our brains have a natural information processing system that may get blocked when traumatic or adverse events occur. This can overwhelm our ability to cope, causing them to get locked in the brain with the original picture, sounds, thoughts, feelings and body sensations – like a scene from a movie. Whenever we encounter a reminder of the event, the same distressing response may be triggered. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps the brain reprocess these memories so they no longer hold the same negative emotional charge.
I’m one of the few practitioners in Canada who is trained and experienced in using EMDR with children and youth (ages 4 and older). I’m trained under the supervision of Ana Gomez, Psychotherapist, Author, Lecturer, and Researcher in EMDR (Arizona). Additionally, I’m a Certified EMDR Therapist and EMDRIA approved consultant.
I’m also a founding partner of the Healing Therapy Alliance, a collective of integrative Psychotherapists, Wellness Therapists, and Addictions Counselors.
Toronto, ON M4P 1G8
BY APPOINTMENT
Monday 9am – 5pm
Tuesday – Thurs 10am – 7pm
Friday 9am – 5pm
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Youth Therapy
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JILLIAN HOSEY
Palmerston Blvd.
Toronto, ON M6G 2N8
BY APPOINTMENT
Monday 10 am - 7 pm
Tuesday 9 am - 5 pm
Wednesday 10 am - 7 pm
Thursday 10 am - 7 pm
Friday 9 am - 5 pm