Open positions: Registered Social Worker with 4 years of clinical experience
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Our Team​

Meet Your Embodied and Evidence Based Therapists

Virtual Therapy across Ontario. In person therapy available Toronto and Hamilton. Book your free consultation today.

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Willow Salehi Varela, MSW (They/Them)

Social Worker & Therapist

Virtual Therapy

Areas of Focus

  • Queer, Trans, Gender Diverse Identities and Self-Exploration
  • Adult ADHD
  • Chronic Illness
  • Grief
  • Anxiety and Depression

I support queer, neurodivergent, and racialized people to embrace the fullness of their being. Experiences of marginalization and discrimination create disconnection from our spirit, body, and community. My approach is grounded in the understanding that wholeness means coming back to ourselves, connecting with who we are and where we have come from. Part of this work includes recognizing the ways in which the systems we live in are not built with us mind and creating alternate systems rooted in belonging and joy.

My approach is highly relational and rooted in harm-reduction and trust. In practice, this means we “move at the speed of safety”: honouring the ways your body has learned to protect itself, prioritizing consent and compassion, while becoming curious about what is present.

My work is rooted in identifying the ways systemic oppression impacts mental health, and my understanding of healing is based in an anti-oppressive, anti-colonial, anti-racist framework that pursues justice and liberation for all oppressed communities. I offer both cognitive and embodied therapies while honouring ancestral forms of healing that are culturally and spiritually resonant with you.

Therapies Offered:

  • Narrative Therapy
  • Focusing
  • Mindfulness
  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy
  • Embodied Experiential Dreamwork
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AngelaKaruhan

Angela Karuhanga (She/Her/Hers)

MSW, RSW

Not Accepting Clients

Areas of Focus

  • Racial Trauma
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Self-Esteem
Do people misunderstand your identities, and try to place you in a box? Do you question your sense of belonging, and long to find a space of acceptance? Does your experience in the world leave you feeling anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed?  Hello, my name is Angela, I am a Black Canadian therapist of Ugandan/British heritage. With a decade of experience, I have worked with children, youth, and families across various settings. My training in Applied Behavior Analysis allows me to observe patterns of behavior that impact a person’s ability to develop meaningful relationships. Using an interpersonal approach, I operate from a Trauma-informed, Anti-Oppressive, and Strengths-based lens. I draw from several modalities including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction.
 
You are the expert on your life and determine the direction of your growth.
Together, we will work on your social-emotional goals, develop new skills, and uncover your inner strengths. It can be nerve-racking to begin therapy, especially if you have never engaged in therapy before. Anything new and unknown can be scary! It would be my honor to support you in reclaiming your joy for life. Individuals of all genders, sexual orientations, and cultural backgrounds are welcome to book with me.
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Melissa Taylor, MSW (She/Her/We)

Clinical Director & Therapist

In Person & Virtual Therapy

Areas of Focus

  • Trauma
  • Racial Trauma
  • Intergenerational Trauma
  • EMDR
  • 2SLGBTQ+ oppression

Certifications 

  • Narrative Therapy 
  • EMDR Therapist 
  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 2
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)

Registered to practice in Ontario and Nova Scotia  

Navigating both physical and virtual spaces, Melissa is a third-culture individual deeply versed in cultural nuances and intergenerational trauma. Driven by a mission to reconnect with her ancestors and to help others on their own journeys of reconnection, she specializes in addressing relational and intergenerational trauma as well as oppression.

Melissa’s practice is grounded in principles of anti-racism, anti-oppressive practices, and Black feminism. She’s committed to working with individuals impacted by colonization, enslavement, and 2SLGTBQ+ oppression.

Melissa’s certifications span Cognitive Processing Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness, EMDR, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. She’s registered to practice in Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Through her empathy and expertise, Melissa illuminates the path towards healing and reconnection at Ancestral Memory Therapy.

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Begin Your Journey Today - In-Person Therapy Available Toronto and Hamilton

Every step towards healing is a victory. Join us at Ancestral Memory Therapy, where we’ll walk alongside you on your unique journey towards understanding, integration, and healing. Book a free 15-minute consultation to start your journey today.

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