Psychotherapy for Anxiety
Feel more grounded, at ease, and like yourself again through virtual therapy available across Ontario.
Anxiety can be overwhelming, confusing, and exhausting.
You might find yourself overthinking, feeling on edge and struggling to relax. Or, my personal favourite, you might worry that you are worrying too much!
Maybe you tried ways to get calm, but your body couldn’t listen and your mind didn’t agree to turn itself off. (If only it were as easy as just wishing anxiety away!)
If that sounds familiar, you are not alone and you don’t have to navigate it on your own either.
What Anxiety Can Feel Like
Anxiety doesn’t just live in your thoughts; it affects your whole system.
It can show up as:
clouds of worry or “what if” spirals
difficulty relaxing or feeling present
tension, fatigue, or disrupted sleep
irritability or emotional overwhelm
overthinking decisions or second-guessing yourself
avoiding situations that feel uncertain or uncomfortable
Over time, anxiety can start to shrink your world and pull you away from the things that matter most.
How Can Therapy for Anxiety Work?
It might be useful to start by looking at anxiety a bit differently. At its core, anxiety is not a flaw; it is a protective response.
Your mind and body are trying to keep you safe by scanning for danger, preparing for what might go wrong, and helping you cope. Sometimes, though, your system learns to stay on high alert even when you are no longer in danger.
Therapy isn’t about “getting rid” of anxiety.
It is about understanding it, working with it, and helping your system feel safe enough to soften.
This work could lead you to:
feel more grounded and less overwhelmed
trust yourself to handle uncertainty
respond to anxiety with compassion instead of fear
expand your sense of choice and freedom
feel more at home in your own mind and body
How I work with anxiety in therapy
I use an integrative, trauma-informed approach, because anxiety doesn’t come from just one place and it can’t be treated in just one way.
Anxiety lives in your thoughts, your body, your emotions, and your relationships.
That’s why I try to:
meet you exactly where you are
adapt to what’s happening in the moment
combine insight with practical tools
work with both symptoms and root causes
This work isn’t just about managing anxiety: it’s about understanding what it’s trying to tell you and creating real, sustainable change.
This might look like:
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We explore where your anxiety may have come from by looking at your early experiences, relationships, and internal patterns.
This might include:
attachment patterns
fears, wishes and emotions
what the anxiety might be trying to communicate
the emotional experiences your anxiety may be protecting against
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We look at the patterns that keep anxiety going in and explore practical tools to interrupt the anxiety cycle.
Together, we might:
recognize triggers and anxious thinking loops
work with “what if” and catastrophic thoughts
reduce avoidance and overplanning
build confidence in your ability to cope
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Instead of fighting anxiety, we might get curious about it. We befriend the anxious part of you and learn what it is communicating.
We compassionately explore:
the “worrier,” “perfectionist,” or “inner critic” parts
the super hurt parts
what they are trying to protect
how to relate to them with compassion instead of fear
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Anxiety is not just in your thoughts; it’s in your body.
We work with your nervous system to:
help your body feel safer
recognize and regulate activation
build capacity to stay present during stress
What to Expect at Spring Bloom Psychotherapy
Sessions are 50 minutes
We meet on a secure online platform so you can access support from the comfort of your home anywhere across Ontario.
We typically meet weekly or biweekly.
We might talk through a situation that’s bothering you, explore patterns from your past, check in with your body, or reflect on how you relate to yourself and others.
There’s no right way to be in therapy, just your way.
The current rate is $145 per session.
Maria Legault’s Psychotherapy Approach
My approach is trauma-informed and holistic. Therapy with me is about deep work that helps you reconnect with who you really are.
It creates a space rooted in curiosity, empathy, and safety where all parts of you will be welcome.
It looks beyond your symptoms to explore your patterns, your story, and your strengths.
This approach blend psychodynamic, trauma-informed, EMDR, humanistic, somatic, mindful, and poly-vagal perspectives to support your healing.
Ready to Begin Therapy?
Therapy for Anxiety in Oakville, Burlington, Waterdown and Online Across Ontario
If anxiety has been shaping your days, your decisions, or your sense of self, please know that support is available.
With the right approach, anxiety can become something you understand and work with instead of something that defines you.
If what you’ve read here resonates with you, I would love to connect. I invite you to book a free consultation to see if therapy might be the right support for you in this season.
Read this blog post to find out more about an integrative approach to working with anxiety in therapy:
Contact Me
You don’t need to navigate this journey alone. If you’re feeling stuck, I’d love to help!
3 EASY WAYS TO CONTACT ME
Email: maria@springbloom.ca
Call: 416-823-1648 and leave a message on my confidential voicemail. I will do my best to respond to you within 48 hours.
Form: You can fill out the form to help me understand your needs and how I can best support you
Frequently Asked Questions
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Working Together: 3 Simple Steps
1. Reach Out
Getting started is easy:Just fill out my contact form, send me an email or give me a call.
I will get back to you within 48 hours to arrange a free consultation.
2. Initial Consultation
We will meet virtually to talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, explore your goals, and get a sense of how we might work together. It’s a no-pressure space to see if the fit feels right for you.3. Begin the Work
We will start your therapy journey at a pace that feels safe and supportive.The work can be short-term or ongoing, whatever feels most helpful to you.
Together, we will explore your inner world, tend to what hurts, and build toward more clarity, self-compassion, and connection.
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Do you ever feel stuck, like no matter how hard you try, things just aren’t clicking?
Maybe it’s struggles in your relationships, work stress, low confidence, or that constant worry you can’t seem to shake.
Perhaps boundaries feel impossible to set, or past experiences still weigh heavy on your heart.
Whether you’re carrying the pain of a hard childhood, longing for deeper connections, or simply craving personal growth, psychotherapy is an investment in yourself- a chance to explore what’s really going on, heal old wounds, and uncover new paths forward. Because you deserve to feel aligned, empowered, and free.
If this resonates, I’d love to connect. Please reach out for a complimentary consultation to see if therapy feels like the right fit for you.
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I offer virtual holistic psychotherapy grounded in five years of psychodynamic training—which is really just a fancy way of saying that I help you uncover those sneaky unconscious patterns that might be holding you back.
Together, we will work on boosting your self-awareness, navigating emotions, and understanding how your attachment history and early life experiences have shaped you. It’s all about helping you create deeper connections, both with yourself and with others, while moving toward the kind of life and relationships that you truly want.
I also weave in mindfulness, self-compassion, Parts Work, nervous system awareness, creative and somatic approaches to help untangle the knots of trauma, shame, and that nagging feeling of never being good enough.
Every method I use is backed by research, but more importantly, it’s designed to meet you where you are at.
If any of this speaks to you, I would love to invite you to a complimentary introductory session. It is a chance to connect, explore what is possible, and see if we are a good fit for your journey.
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Although each client is unique and no outcomes are guaranteed, therapy can offer a safe space to dive deeper into the patterns, emotions, and experiences that shape your life- so you can break free from what’s holding you back. It’s not just about managing symptoms; it’s about uncovering the root causes of struggles like anxiety, depression, or relationship challenges.
Through this process, you can gain a clearer understanding of yourself, heal emotional wounds, and learn to navigate life with more confidence, connection, and authenticity.
It’s about creating lasting change and stepping into the most empowered version of yourself.
And sometimes, it’s just nice to have someone in your corner- to remind you that you don’t have to do it all on your own.
If any of this resonates, I would love to connect. Reach out for a complimentary consultation- it’s a no-pressure way to see how therapy could support you on your journey.
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Each session lasts 50 minutes and is held online.
This makes it easy to connect from the comfort of your own space, anywhere in Ontario, while ensuring a safe and confidential environment for our work together.
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The frequency of our sessions is all about what works best for you. Many people find that weekly or bi-weekly appointments help to build momentum. You are welcome to continue therapy for as long as it feels helpful.
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The current rate is 120$ per 50-minute session.
Payments are made by e-transfer or credit card.
Currently, all of my sliding scale spots are filled.
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I am a Registered Psychotherapist (qualifying), which means that many insurance plans may offer partial or full coverage for sessions.
Please check your plan to ensure Registered Psychotherapists (qualifying) are included. It’s also helpful to know how much coverage you have per year, any per-session limits, and when your plan renews.
While I do not currently bill insurance directly, I can provide receipts for you to submit to your insurance if you have out-of-network benefits.
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I understand that life can be unpredictable. If you need to reschedule or cancel, please provide at least 48 hours’ notice.
This time is reserved just for you and without such notice, you will be charged for the full session fee.
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My practice isn’t equipped to provide emergency services.
If you’re experiencing a crisis or life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department immediately.
You can also:
Reach out to Crisis Services Canada at 1.833.456.4566
Connect with the Distress Centre Helpline at 1.416.408.HELP (4357) or 905.688.3711.
Send a text message to 741741
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Degrees:
5-year Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Ontario Psychotherapy and Counselling College
Doctorat en Études et pratique des arts, Université du Québec à Montréal
Master of Fine Arts, University of Guelph
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Concordia University
Memberships:
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario: 19041
Canadian Association Association for Psychodynamic Therapy
Trainings:
Working with Trauma and the Body 2 day training: the Fundamentals of Somatic Therapy, Wilfrid Laurier University
Moving from Self Criticism to Self-Acceptance with Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy 2-day training: Wilfrid Laurier University
The “Not Good Enough” Treatment Plan: A Certified Shame-Informed Treatment Specialist 2-day Training: PESI
Working with Core Beliefs of “Never Good Enough: National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine
How to work with Shame: National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine
How to Work with Clients who Struggle with an Inner Critic: National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine
The Neurobiology of Attachment: National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine
The Healing Trauma Program: Soundstrue
Meditation and Psychotherapy course: Soundstrue
200 hrs Yoga Teacher Training, Yoga Space
300 hrs Yoga Psyche Soul, Ashley Turner
Trauma Informed Yoga, Hala Khouri
Workshops:
Workshops in Parts Work, Somatic Interventions, Intimate Partner Violence, Diversity and Anti-oppression, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Diversity, Psychopharmacology, Ethics and Sexual Abuse recovery: Ontario Psychotherapy and Counselling College
Courses:
Trauma Recovery course: Soundstrue
Mindful Self Compassion course: Toronto Centre for Mindfulness Studies
Introduction to Art Therapy course and Art Education courses, Concordia University
Yoga for Mental Health, Ashley Turner
If you have any other questions that aren’t covered here, feel free to get in touch. I’m here to help you navigate this journey and look forward to supporting you along the way!