A B O U T U S
Growth begins in the right environment.
Just as a plant cannot thrive without the right conditions, people need spaces where they feel safe, understood, and supported before meaningful growth can take root.
At Growth Psychotherapy, we believe therapy is more than a conversation. It is a relationship, an environment, and a process that creates the conditions for lasting change.
O U R S T O R Y
The practice began in an emergency department, unofficially, years before it had a name. Our founder, Gelica Tatarenko, spent years as a nurse at the shelter system and psychiatric emergency in downtown Toronto, where every shift was shaped by urgency and uncertainty.
What she kept noticing was that the moments that changed people were rarely the interventions themselves. They were the quiet moments when someone was simply allowed to be a person.
A conversation in the ambulance bay. A nurse sitting beside a hospital bed. Those unhurried minutes often carried more healing than the system had time to offer.
Those experiences led her to train as a psychotherapist and build a practice around what she believed people needed most: time, safety, and a relationship that stays steady enough for growth to unfold.
Today, Growth Psychotherapy welcomes healthcare workers and first responders, couples, Filipino-Canadians, and adults navigating trauma, burnout, grief, and life's many transitions.
We are not the heroes of your therapy. You are.
Our role is to tend the conditions where growth becomes possible.
What therapy here looks like.
Fifty minutes. No script. We usually begin with whatever is loudest, and often end somewhere neither of us predicted.
Depending on what the work asks for, sessions draw on cognition, EMDR, parts work, attachment theory, somatic awareness, and emotion-focused approaches. The method serves the moment, never the reverse.
You will never be asked to perform progress. Slow weeks are part of the shape of it.
Q U E S T I O N S P E O P L E A S K F I R S T
Frequently asked.
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That’s a great question! If you're feeling overwhelmed, struggling to cope with your emotions, facing difficulties in your relationships, or simply feel like you're not living the life you want to live, therapy can be beneficial. Remember that therapy is not only for those with mental health diagnoses, but also for anyone who feels they need support to navigate life's challenges.
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We are glad you asked! The first session is typically about you and your therapist getting to know each other. Your therapist might ask questions to get a sense of what brought you, what you have already tried, and what you want to be different. You are not required to tell the whole story on day one.
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It's important to feel comfortable and connected with your therapist. In fact, the therapeutic relationship is an important aspect of the therapeutic work. If at anytime you don't feel like it's a good fit after a few sessions, it's perfectly okay to look for another therapist. Let your therapist know. Your therapist will understand and can even provide referrals if you wish.
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It is generally a good idea to start with weekly sessions to establish a therapeutic relationship with your therapist and gain momentum in your work together. However, the frequency of your sessions can be adjusted at any time based on your needs, schedule, capacity, resources, goals, and how you're progressing.
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Yes, of course! It's important to discuss ending therapy with your therapist to plan proper termination of service, determine additional services or referrals you may need, and consider how to maintain your gains outside of therapy.
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Sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist are covered by most extended health plans. Please make sure to check with your insurance provider for coverage for therapy services by a Registered Psychotherapist. We offer direct billing to many of the major insurance providers in Canada. As always, a receipt will be given upon payment.
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We do our best to be understanding and considerate of emergencies that may arise, which is why we want you to make sure you understand our cancellation policy before you begin therapy with us. As much as we want to be flexible every time something comes up, we appreciate your understanding that sessions cancelled within 24 hours of your appointment time, for any reason, will be charged at 50% of the session rate. A no show will be charged the full fee.
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This practice is not an emergency service. If you are in immediate danger, please go to a hospital near you or call 9-1-1; for mental health crisis support in Canada call or text 9-8-8, available 24 hours.
