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Meet your therapist
Kumsal (she/her)
Founder and Psychotherapist
at Our Healing Connection
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Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist in Ontario, Canada
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Turkish-Canadian cis-gender woman and a first-generation immigrant
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Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Toronto, Canada
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BSc in Biological Sciences and Biological Engineering and Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Sabanci University, Turkiye
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Postdoctoral training in cancer and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, USA
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Experience working in community mental health centres, inpatient and outpatient hospital settings serving diverse adult clients
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Specialty in trauma-informed care and substance use/addiction support;
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Supporting people dealing with anxiety, depression or low mood, bipolar disorder, stress and burnout, work-related challenges, parenting-related challenges, caregiver burnout, boundaries, emotion regulation, identity issues, relationship conflict, low self-esteem, life transitions, grief and loss, traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, substance use and addiction, substance use disorders, concurrent disorders
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Training in several evidence-based therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Interpersonal Therapy
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Holds a membership in the following professional organizations and regulatory bodies:​
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OCSWSSW - The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers
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OASW - The Ontario Association of Social Work
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CASW - The Canadian Association of Social Workers
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Psychology Today - Worldwide listing of verified Mental Health Professionals
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Our Services
Individual Therapy
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We provide online individual therapy, counselling and mental health support in English and Turkish for adults residing in Ontario, Canada.
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Together, we can uncover new insights, helping you develop coping strategies that will support you in achieving your goals.​
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About Our Healing Connection
Perhaps you have been to therapy before or this is your first time exploring.
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Either way, welcome!
I am glad that you found your way to our centre.​
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Our Healing Connection merges my passion for psychotherapy with a robust scientific background where my goal is to nurture wellness for all.
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I believe counselling and psychotherapy is a process of exploration, collaboration and connection based on your individual needs and goals and offer individualized mental health support in English and Turkish.
With expertise in trauma-informed care and a commitment to promoting safety and empowerment, my approach is tailored to your unique needs.
My unique background and training as a researcher, scientist and social worker and lived experience in both Middle Eastern and North American cultures as a woman, and as a mother allows me to bridge cultural gaps and foster understanding, recovery and healing at your pace.
Why choose Our Healing Connection?
At Our Healing Connection,
we focus on three fundamentals of psychotherapy:
the bond, the tasks and the goals.
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We work on building our healing connection,
helping you identify and reach your
wellness & recovery goals
by creating a collaborative roadmap and
tackling one task at a time to get there.​
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Center client-centred care that respects your autonomy and focusing on empowerment and collaboration
Trained in evidence-based interventions including but not limited to CBT, DBT, EFT, MI, Trauma-informed care, IPT and mindfulness
Experienced at culturally sensitive and
strengths-based care that believes you are the expert in your experience
Create a holistic and customized approach that focuses on your needs and goals, tailoring a unique treatment plan together with you in English or Turkish
Prioritize trauma-informed and anti-oppressive care that allows you to have choice and control over your treatment
Licensed Professional in Ontario, Canada
Registered Social Worker with masters level education, clinical experience and advanced training
Our Approach
We function from a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, client-centred and strengths-based lens.
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In plain words, your safety is the priority. We will work with you at your pace to support you toward your wellness and recovery goals.
How can we support you?
We specialize in several evidence-based approaches
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We can provide support in English and Turkish
with a variety of issues and concerns such as;
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anxiety
depression or low mood
other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder
stress and burnout
work-related challenges
parenting-related challenges
caregiver burnout
boundaries
emotion regulation
identity issues
relationship conflict
low self-esteem
life transitions (such as immigration, career change, marriage, divorce, having a baby, caregiver responsibilities, death of a loved one)
grief and loss
traumatic experiences
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
complex trauma
substance use and addiction
substance use disorders
concurrent disorders
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How does it work?
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CONSULTATION
You can book a 15-minutes free consultation and tell us your needs and reasons for reaching out to support. We'll tell you how we can support you and figure out if we are a good fit for your needs.
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INITIAL ASSESSMENT
We will meet for an initial assessment also called intake to understand your needs better and create a tentative roadmap forward.
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WORKING TOGETHER
We will start working together at the intervals comfortable to you (weekly or biweekly) and we will find creative ways to support you feel better, build your resilience and enhance your well-being.
Contact Us
We provide a free 15-minute consultation to connect and determine whether we are a good fit. It will also give us a better idea of the issues you are looking for support with and how we can support you.
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Are you ready to establish our healing connection? ​​​You can also reach out to us from the form below or through our online calendar.
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