Welcome

I am an experienced therapist who has provided professional services to the community for 20 years. I love what I do and try my best to provide clients with the services they need.

In my practice I offer the following services:

Individual and couples therapy
Other related clinical social work services as needed

My gentle, compassionate, non-judgmental approach can assist you to discover ways to feel better about yourself, your life, and improve the way you relate to others.

I offer my services in English and Spanish.

Contact

Pamela Larrondo
(647)407-7973

My Style

I recognize that choosing a therapist is a very important and personal decision. I work in a gentle manner and prioritize your need for safety, unconditional respect, and acceptance. This sets the necessary conditions for a working alliance towards helping you to connect to and activate your own intuition, inner strengths, and capacity for self-awareness, self-compassion, growth and healing. During our sessions I stay present to your moment-to-moment experience, and remain invested in helping you make the changes that will bring new perspectives and a sense of inner peace that can take you closer to meeting your therapeutic goals.

My therapeutic Approaches

I am skilled in a variety of therapeutic approaches and access my assessment skills and intuition to guide me in using the ones that will be most effective for you. Some of the therapeutic approaches that resonate with me include:

Psychodynamic therapy
Emotionally-focused therapy
Narrative therapy
Integral Healing (or body-oriented therapies that enhance connection to mind, body and spirit). This therapeutic approach combines one or more of the following: psychodynamic therapy , bioenergetics, energy healing, sensorimotor psychotherapy, and emotional freedom techniques.
Trauma-focused therapy for the treatment of PTSD and DID
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for the treatment of PTSD, depression, anxiety, emotional blocks, etc.)
Cognitive-behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression
Mindfulness/Buddhist oriented therapies
Solution-focused therapy
Art therapy

I'm happy to work in collaboration with other health care providers and community resources that you feel compliment your healing needs.

My Training, Accreditation, and Professional Commitment

I acquired an honours bachelor degree as a psychology major in 1989, and completed a master’s degree in Social Work and Women’s Studies from the University of Toronto in 2003. My graduate studies were in clinical social work with an emphasis in working with individuals, couples, and families. In 2008 I completed a four-year psychotherapy training program at The Integral Healing Centre of Toronto, where I had to undergo intensive training under the expert supervision of John Went, a Psychologist/Healer who specializes in psychodynamic, body-oriented and energy healing therapeutic practices.

I am committed to continuing to update and expand my knowledge and skills by participating in several therapy-related professional development training opportunities each year. I seek regular consultation with clinical experts contracted to supervise my work, to ensure I am always able to provide my services with great integrity and in an insightful, grounded, and unbiased manner.

Finding meaning and direction

I've worked successfully with many people who have experienced psycho-social and emotional blocks to creating the life they want for themselves. I work together with my clients to discover these blocks, their origins, and ways of resolving and healing them.


When you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel...

For many people intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, worthlessness and helplessness can be an ongoing struggle in their daily lives. I will honour your efforts to protect yourself from harsh situations and help you determine which ways of coping are currently working for or against you. Together we will explore your strengths, enhance your ability to utilize them, and build on them. This creates new ways of seeing, feeling, and being that can help you manage and begin to heal your emotional pain. I am able to help with any of the following:

Fear, panic and anxiety
Sadness and depression
Loss and grief
Feelings of worthlessness, shame and despair
Feelings of anger
Relationship issues affecting heterosexual, bi-sexual and gay couples
Partner abuse
Parenting stress
Memories and experiences of violation or trauma, both in childhood and adulthood
Work stress
Struggles with settlement and adaptation for immigrants and refugees
Problems affecting youth
Living with a chronic illness and/or disability

My intention in these therapeutic conversations is to help restore confidence, peace and connection.

My Fee

Fee for individual therapy is $115/hr.

Fee for couples therapy is $115/hr.

Location

The Spadina Therapy Centre
37 Spadina Road
(at Spadina/Bloor)

The Toronto Healing Arts Centre
717 Bloor Street West
(at Christie/Bloor)


I work at The Toronto Healing Arts Centre office location from Monday to Wednesday. On Thursdays and Fridays I work at The Spadina Therapy Centre office location. Please note that I offer two evenings per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Insurance Coverage

Some insurance companies provide coverage for therapy services from clinical social workers (M.S.W.). If you are covered for extended health benefits you may wish to inquire with your insurance company about this.

Crisis and Emergency Resources

A. Medical Mental Health Services

If you are at risk of harm and cannot get yourself to a hospital emergency room please call 911 immediately and help will come to you. Otherwise, please visit your nearest hospital emergency department to receive immediate attention.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH):
If you are able to get yourself to a hospital that specializes in mental health services, CAMH provides assessment and care for psychiatric emergencies to anyone walking into their emergency department who they determine to be at risk or in need of service.
Crisis Line: 416-535-8501 ext 6885
Location: 250 College Street (north-east corner at College and Spadina), Toronto, Ontario.
www.camh.net/

The Hospital for Sick Children - Psychiatric Emergency Crisis Service
416-813-7005 * Monday-Sunday 8 am-11 pm * telephone consultation for children at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others * ongoing risk assessment * crisis service -- initial assessment through Emergency Department

B. Non-medical Mental Health/Support Services

The Gerstein Centre – Provides crisis intervention to adults, living in the City of Toronto, who experience mental health problems. The Centre provides supportive counselling for immediate, crisis issues and referrals to other services for on-going, non-crisis issues. This service is a community mental health service and is non-medical. Crisis calls of a medical nature (psychiatric assessment, severe self-harm or suicide attempts) are referred to a hospital. The service has three aspects, telephone support, community visits and a ten- bed, short-stay residence. All three aspects of the service are accessed through the crisis line, (416) 929-5200. It is preferred that anyone wishing to use the Centre's service call the crisis line personally.
www.gersteincentre.org/

Distress Centres of Toronto - Telephone response to persons in need of immediate emotional support, crisis intervention or suicide prevention. Crisis Phone: 416-408-4357 ; 416-408-HELP. www.torontodistresscentre.com

Sexual Assault Centres:

Women's College Hospital - Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre 416-323-6040 -- entrance on Grosvenor St west of Bay St * Monday-Sunday 24 hours * men and women * medical assessment and treatment * collection of medical and legal evidence at request of client * psychological and social support * follow-up medical and psychological services as required * safety planning * cultural interpreters.

Toronto Rape Crisis Centre: Multicultural Women Against Rape - Crisis intervention and culturally sensitive counselling, support and referral for survivors of rape/sexual assault/incest * support for families and friends of survivors * self help groups for sexually assaulted women * information on alternatives to the legal justice system * court support, accompaniment and advocacy program * support groups on general issues for women in the Vanier Centre for Women (Milton), with individual counselling as needed * research, public education, workshops * library related to women's issues * children's room * comprehensive volunteer training * all services confidential * trans-positive environment. Crisis phone: 416-597-8808.
www.trccmwar.ca

Support and Shelters for Abused Women
Safe emergency accommodation with telephone crisis lines for women who have experienced or are at risk of domestic violence. Assaulted Women's Helpline 416-863-0511 (TTY 416 364-8762). Outside 416 area 1-866-863-0511 (TTY 1-866-863-7868).

C. Child Protection Services

Children's Aid Society of Toronto
Office Phone: 416-924-4646; * Crisis Phone: 416-924-4646; * www.torontocas.ca

D. Other Legal Services

Law Society of Upper Canada
Telephone referrals $6 per call -- 1-900-565-4577 (Bell residential lines), 416-947-3300 (other phone services and pay phones) * after brief assessment, referrals made to participating lawyer * lawyers will provide up to one free half hour of consultation by telephone or in person * fees for subsequent consultation or any legal work are negotiated with the lawyer

Callers who are incarcerated, institutionalized, under the age of majority, in domestic abuse crises, or calling regarding child protection issues can call 416-947-3330 in Toronto at no expense, or toll free 1-800-268-8326 in the rest of Ontario. TTY Phone: 416-644-4886. www.lsuc.on.ca

Legal Aid Ontario
Lawyers specializing in family law * representation for custody, access, restraining orders, divorce, support, property issues, child protection or Children's Aid cases. Office Phone: 416-348-0001; Toll Free: 1-800-331-9618; www.legalaid.on.ca

Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Services include counselling (individual and group), legal assistance and interpreters. Office Phone: 416-323-9149; TTY Phone: 416-323-1361; e-mail: admin@schliferclinic.com; www.schliferclinic.com

Couples Therapy

When working with couples I see my role as that of a gentle facilitator in helping each person express to the other aspects of themselves and their experiences that are not habitually seen.

By staying closely tuned-in to both your realities, I can assist you to create a safe space in which you can risk revealing aspects of yourself, your struggles, your needs, your longings, and your desires. I become an ally with both partners/spouses as we work towards cultivating greater compassion, connection, and hope in your relationship.

I will hold the space and support both of you as you embark on this courageous journey.

Creating a Positive Space

I am aware of the social and systemic barriers that exist for many people, and have a strong commitment to reflecting on my own social location and on how much more or less power and privilege I hold in relation to my clients.

Having this awareness and being self-reflective allows me to deliver my services in an open, respectful, and equitable manner to all my clients.

My practice offers a positive and safe space for all individuals, including those belonging to and/or identifying with a variety of experiences based on race, culture, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and age. Please note that I do not regard this to b e an exhaustive list of individuals facing social oppression and marginalization.

Professional Obligations of a Registered Social Worker

During your first visit I will ask you to complete an intake form that I use to collect certain information about you that I am required to keep in your file. I will also present you with a copy of my office privacy policy, my fees and other relevant office practices. I will ask you to read these over and ensure that you get the opportunity to ask any questions that will help you gain clarity about their contents. It is of utmost importance that you are clear about this information before consenting to receiving any therapeutic services from me. I will work diligently throughout the course of our work together to ensure you are kept aware of any professional obligations and limits of my practice.

By visiting WWW.OCSWSSW.ORG you can become better acquainted with the professional standards of practice and code of ethics I am required to adhere to as a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). You can also contact OCSWSSW directly by calling 416-972-9882.