Hi, I’m Alyssa Walsh (she/they).
I’m a counsellor who knows how important it is to work with someone who actually understands you.
As a neurodivergent, disabled, queer person, I prioritize working with people who are:
disabled or chronically ill
neurodivergent (ADHD, Autism, learning disabilities, sensory processing disorder, etc)
queer, trans, or otherwise 2SLGBTQIA+
polyamorous, ethically non-monogamous, or kinky
It is important to me that you do not feel like you have to explain yourself or your identity to a therapist who does not understand, cannot relate, or may hold judgements or prejudices.
About Alyssa
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bloom: to flower, to blossom, to open up; to develop, flourish, or grow to one’s full potential
in kind: reciprocity, responding ot an action or gesture by doing the exact same thing in return
Moving to virtual private practice was not always my goal - I began my career in community mental health, working full time as an intimate partner violence counsellor at a drop-in women’s shelter, and have worked for other private clinics and non-profits. However, my health issues have made accommodating myself essential, and so I began working from home, virtual only, and for myself.
I know the things that often make it challenging for me to work as a therapist can be equally as challenging for my clients - commuting, public transit, sensory overload, exposure to viruses and illness, uncertainty and new experiences, high pain and low energy days - so I decided to create a practice that kept those things in mind.
I am also aware of how difficult it can be to access financial security for so many people, and so I decided to remove as many barriers as possible to accessing therapy - late cancellation forgiveness, same-week rescheduling, more affordable session fees, and sliding scale without proof of need or income. My hope is to provide quality therapy to people who often need it but cannot always access it, from someone who understands where they are coming from.
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Living with a chronic illness and neurodivergence greatly informs the way I practice as a counsellor. My lived experience gives me a deeper understanding of the challenges my clients experience: the double empathy problem is no longer a problem when both client and therapist have neurodivergent brains.
They say a therapist cannot take a client further than they have gone themselves, and I take that message to heart. I deeply understand the barriers and challenges that exist for my clients, because I live through many of them myself. While it doesn’t guarantee complete sameness in our life experiences, it often means that I really get it.
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I began my career in education, and swiftly switched to the mental health field as a peer supporter. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in English and History, a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Education (Counselling Psychology), all from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
I am registered and in good standing with the CCPA as a Certified Canadian Counsellor, and with ACTA as a Counselling Therapist.