Our therapists offer a warm, collaborative, and non-pathologizing space where your experiences are met with care and curiosity rather than judgment.
Trauma Therapy Online
Compassionate, Trauma-Informed Support (Ontario & Québec)
Healing from trauma takes time, care, and the right support.
Trauma can shape the way we relate to ourselves, our emotions, our bodies, and other people.
Sometimes it appears as anxiety, overwhelm, numbness, people-pleasing, self-criticism, emotional reactivity, or a persistent sense of disconnection. Often, these responses began as ways of adapting, surviving, or protecting ourselves in difficult experiences or relationships.
Therapy offers a space to slow down, listen more deeply to what your system has been carrying, and begin relating to yourself with greater compassion and understanding.
Healing does not require forcing yourself to “move on.” It begins with safety, connection, and the experience of not having to hold everything alone.
Personalized Trauma Therapy
Our therapists provide virtual trauma-informed psychotherapy across Ontario and Québec, using an integrative approach informed by psychodynamic therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment theory, and somatic practices.
Our work is grounded in the belief that trauma is not only something that happened in the past- it also lives in the nervous system, in relationship patterns, and in the ways different parts of us learned to cope.
Therapy may support you in:
- Understanding protective patterns such as shutting down, overthinking, perfectionism, or emotional withdrawal
- Developing a safer relationship with difficult emotions and sensations
- Exploring attachment wounds and relational dynamics
- Increasing nervous system regulation and felt safety
- Reconnecting with parts of yourself that feel disconnected, overwhelmed, ashamed, or stuck
- Cultivating greater self-compassion, clarity, and emotional resilience
How Trauma Can Manifest
Trauma responses are often adaptive responses to experiences that felt overwhelming, unsafe, unpredictable, or emotionally painful.
You may notice:
- Feeling chronically anxious, hypervigilant, or emotionally overwhelmed
- Emotional numbness, dissociation, or disconnection from yourself
- Difficulty trusting others or feeling secure in relationships
- Strong emotional reactions that feel difficult to understand or regulate
- Patterns of people-pleasing, caretaking, withdrawal, or avoidance
- Shame, self-criticism, or feeling “too much” or “not enough”
- Intrusive memories, thoughts, or body sensations
- Feeling disconnected from your body or inner sense of self
Whether your experiences stem from childhood relationships, relational trauma, loss, difficult life events, or chronic emotional stress, your responses make sense in context.
Our Approach to Trauma Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy helps explore how past experiences, attachment relationships, and unconscious patterns continue to shape present emotions, relationships, and ways of coping.
Together, we gently explore recurring themes and relational dynamics with curiosity and compassion, helping bring deeper awareness to patterns that may no longer feel supportive.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS views the individual as made up of different “parts,” each carrying its own emotions, fears, and protective roles.
Some parts may work hard to keep you functioning, avoid vulnerability, or protect you from emotional pain. Other parts may carry hurt, shame, grief, or fear.
Rather than trying to get rid of these parts, therapy helps you build a more compassionate relationship with them so they no longer have to carry their burdens alone.
Somatic & Nervous System-Informed Therapy
Trauma is held in the body and nervous system.
Somatic approaches help increase awareness of bodily sensations, emotional states, and nervous system responses in ways that feel gradual and grounding.
This work may support:
- Greater emotional regulation
- Increased felt sense of safety
- Awareness of stress and survival responses
- Reconnection with your body and emotions
- Capacity to stay present during difficult experiences
We move at a pace that feels manageable and collaborative, without forcing disclosure or emotional intensity.
Why Choose Sööma
- Psychodynamic, somatic, and IFS-informed care
- Trauma-informed and attachment-focused approach
- Virtual therapy across Ontario and Quebec
- Inclusive, culturally responsive, identity-affirming support
- Multilingual therapists
- Compassionate care that honours your pace and lived experience
Meet Your Therapists
The following members of our team are able to provide psychotherapy services to clients in Ontario. To learn more about each of their approaches, click on their picture below!
Nirja Thakkar, MACP
Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Trauma-informed therapist integrating relational, psychodynamic, somatic, and attachment-focused approaches to support deeper emotional healing and nervous system regulation.
Sana Ilyas, M.Phil
Supervised Therapist
Experienced in trauma-informed psychotherapy, emotional regulation, and compassionate support for individuals navigating overwhelm, anxiety, and relational challenges.
Healing often begins in the presence of safety, attunement, and connection.
Trauma and Relationships
Trauma often impacts how we experience closeness, trust, conflict, boundaries, and emotional safety in relationships.
Therapy can help you better understand:
- Attachment patterns and relational wounds
- Emotional reactivity or shutdown responses
- Fear of abandonment, rejection, or vulnerability
- Difficulties with trust, communication, or boundaries
- Cycles of overfunctioning, caretaking, or withdrawal
When appropriate, therapy may also include relational or couples-focused support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need a diagnosis to begin trauma therapy?
No. Many people seek therapy because they feel overwhelmed, disconnected, emotionally reactive, stuck in patterns, or impacted by difficult experiences or relationships. You do not need a formal diagnosis to receive support.
Will I have to talk about traumatic experiences right away?
No. Therapy moves at your pace. Establishing safety, trust, and emotional grounding is an important part of the process, and you are always in control of what you choose to share.
What if I feel disconnected from my emotions or body?
This is a very common trauma response. Somatic and trauma-informed approaches can help gently rebuild awareness, safety, and connection over time.
Can trauma therapy help with relationships?
Yes. Trauma and attachment wounds often influence how we experience closeness, conflict, trust, and boundaries. Therapy can help you better understand and shift these relational patterns.
Is virtual trauma therapy effective?
Yes. Online therapy can still provide meaningful relational connection, emotional support, and nervous system-focused work in a secure and accessible setting across Ontario and Québec.
Have Questions or Need Support?
We’re here to help.
Reach out today to learn how we can support you with culturally responsive therapy.