720 Bathurst Street, Toronto
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Sly Sarkisova
MSW, OASW, BA, BSW
ABOUT
Providing counselling and therapy to LGBTTQ2SI communities and beyond. Specializing in trauma informed care, issues of mental health and substance misuse.
DESCRIPTION
I am a queer and trans identified counsellor who has been working in the field of mental health and addictions counselling, therapy and support for the past 13 years.
My social work practice is clinical in nature, providing therapy to individuals that centers and affirms unique experiences and strengths. I work to help folks feel safe to discuss the issues and barriers they face and establish goals for change.
My counselling training and practice is wholly derived from my ability to listen to the individual as the expert of their experience. I believe the most powerful healing and change come from affirmative relationships that acknowledge the power of an individual to tell and understand their own story. I strive to provide a non-judgmental, safe and reflexive space that centers your unique experience, while also identifying the impacts of systemic and individual traumas and stresses on your ability to cope and function. We will co-create a space wherein you feel safe to explore issues of concern to you, identify goals for increasing your ability to cope with distress, function better, and begin to externalize shame and stigma collected in the body and spirit.
The approach that I use will be specifically catered to your experience and needs, and may be seen to infuse CBT, Narrative, Solution Focussed and Harm Reduction techniques within a larger model of anti-oppressive, trauma informed, holistic therapy.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION AND INTEREST:
Concurrent Disorders (co-occurring mental health and addictions issues)
Substance Misuse
Serious and persistent mental health concerns including
Schizophrenia, Bi-Polar, Major Depression, Social Anxiety &
Agoraphobia, Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, OCD
Depression and Anxiety
Trauma therapy
Increasing coping strategies
Managing anger
Relationships
Navigating stigma associated with queer and trans identities
Accessing trans positive health care
Diverse gender experiences and presentations
Sex positive, sex work positive, kink positive, poly positive