Our Philosophy

It is our belief that growth, for both children and adults, is an ongoing process of responding to the challenges of life in creative ways. The experiences that we have throughout our lives, both positive and negative, shape the people we become and the way we see the world. Sometimes we develop patterns in living that make sense at one time in our life, but that do not make sense, nor serve us well, at a different point in time.

We believe that through an exploration of oneself and one’s relationships, people can build on their strengths and find new ways of moving forward in their life. This process can be facilitated in the context of a supportive therapeutic relationship.

Ruth Benedikt Krauze DCS., RP

Registered Psychotherapist

I am a Registered Psychotherapist with the Province of Ontario, and I have Masters level education from a branch of OISE at the University of Toronto, specializing in Child Study, Assessment and Counselling. I have post graduate training in Family Therapy, Couples Therapy, and Divorce Mediation. I am a long-standing member of the Association of Mental Health Professionals (OAMP). I have participated in advanced training in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Divorce Mediation, Emotion Focused Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Mindfulness Presence, as well as a wide variety of Self-Compassion trainings. I have immersed myself in mindfulness practice which has informed how I live my own life, which in turn, has enriched and deepened the approach I use in my psychotherapy practice.

I have dedicated my career to helping adults, couples, adolescents, and families dealing with the full range of changes and challenges that life often presents, including anxiety, depression, trauma, parenting issues, separation, work situations, and general life transitions, to name a few. Over the many years in practice, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, such as children’s mental health agencies in the Toronto area. Since 2001 I have been in private practice with the Collaborative Therapy and Assessment Group. Currently, I continue to evolve as a therapist, as I shed light and insight on general well-being, through the practice of self-compassion which also extends to compassion for others. As an immigrant to Canada myself, I have a keen interest and awareness of the wide range of cultural experiences and wisdom that people bring to their lives.

My hope is to facilitate dialogue through the exploration of present struggles and the stories people bring from the past, which together form the legacy of a person’s life journey. This exploration provides context to build resilience moving forward. The cultivation of inner trust and the acceptance of the self become the basis of restored optimism and growth.

I can offer my services in English, Spanish and Hebrew.

I offer both, in person services (post-pandemic), and online.

Dr. Stacey Whyne

I have a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology and have been Registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario since 1994. I have been working in private practice providing individual psychotherapy and psychological assessments to a wide range of clients. Prior to beginning my private practice in 2001, I gathered extensive therapeutic and assessment experience through my employment at The Toronto District School Board, as well as in hospitals (psychiatric units) and university settings (including both counselling centres and accessibility/disability services). I have significant cross-cultural experience, and have done a lot of work with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, difficulty coping with a traumatic history, and relationship issues. My approach is informed by psychodynamic, emotion-focused, and mindfulness principles. I also have extensive training in Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Relational Life Therapy, trauma therapy as well as compassion-based therapy. Finally, I am a certified EMDR practitioner. I flexibly draw on these varied theoretical orientations to best suit the needs of each individual client. It is my intention to work side by side with clients to assist in exploring their current and past experiences, with the aim of developing strengths and helping to remove barriers to joy and fulfillment.

Dr. Ruth Slater

Having left the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (December 2020) and moved to St. John’s, Newfoundland, I am excited to be offering online psychotherapy support to residents of Ontario and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. I have been a registered psychologist in Ontario since 1993 and am also registered as a psychologist in Newfoundland and Labrador (as of February 2021). My work has focused on helping adults, adolescents, children and families, in their efforts to cope with stressful life events (e.g., relationship difficulties, challenges with work or school, illness or injury). As an able-bodied, cisgender, white woman, I am aware of my position of privilege within Canadian society and strive to understand how this affects my role as a psychologist. My training in family systems approaches and my experiences through work in various community settings (e.g., hospitals, school board) have helped me to appreciate the multiple influences that affect each of us.

My passion for psychology and understanding the ways in which our minds naturally operate has been enhanced by my own mindfulness practice of 20+ years. I have training in traditional cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) as well as “third wave” therapies that include mindfulness practices (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - ACT, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy - MBCT). I have found that an emphasis on developing compassion, for self and others, has been particularly helpful for me and for others in developing mindfulness activities that are flexible, adaptable, and sustainable. I am a Trained Teacher in Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) and am able to offer groups for adults wishing to develop their skills in this area, to assist with day-to-day living and/or their personal (e.g., parent) or professional roles (e.g., health care provider). I am also trained as a Trainer in Motivational Interviewing (MI) and I find that this approach, with its basis in identifying personal strengths and values, is very compatible with my overall approach.

I would be more than happy to speak with you by phone or video meeting to answer any questions you may have and to determine whether our working together would be a good fit.