Nirja Thakkar, MACP

Registered Psychotherapist

(Qualifying)
Location: Virtual
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Clinical Approach

  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Somatic Strategies
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Dialectal Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Specialties

  • Eating Disorders
  • Relationship Conflicts
  • Body Shaming Experiences
  • Trauma
  • Life transitions
  • Perinatal Mental Health
  • Parenting Struggles
  • Caregiver Burnout

Our Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying) are trained mental health professionals who have completed graduate-level clinical education and are registered with their regulatory body. They provide psychotherapy while completing additional requirements for full independent practice.

As part of this process, they engage in regular clinical supervision with an experienced, fully licensed clinician. Supervision offers ongoing guidance, consultation, and support to ensure high-quality, ethical care.

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About Nirja

Background

Nirja Thakkar is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) practicing under clinical supervision in Ontario. She holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and brings over 10 years of experience in the mental health field, including work in both Canada and India.

Nirja’s background includes supporting children and adults with autism as an Applied Behaviour Therapist, as well as working with individuals with disabilities in a support role. These experiences have shaped her deep respect for each person’s unique story and her commitment to providing compassionate, individualized care.

Approach and Training

Nirja believes that healing happens within safe, meaningful relationships. She takes a warm, relational, and collaborative approach to therapy, creating a space where clients feel seen, respected, and able to show up as they are.

She approaches her work with humility and openness, welcoming feedback and prioritizing each client’s lived experience. Her goal is to foster a therapeutic relationship where clients feel comfortable exploring difficult emotions, gaining insight, and moving toward meaningful change.

Her work is rooted in psychodynamic therapy, helping clients explore underlying patterns and how they influence present-day experiences. She integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS) to support compassionate exploration of different parts of the self, alongside somatic approaches that deepen awareness of the mind–body connection.

Nirja also draws from evidence-based modalities such as ACT and DBT to offer practical tools for navigating emotions, shifting unhelpful patterns, and moving toward values-aligned living.

Her practice is trauma-informed, person-centred, and grounded in an anti-oppressive framework. She is committed to creating a space that is inclusive, affirming, and responsive to diverse identities and lived experiences.

Who She Works With

Nirja works with individuals (15+), couples, and families navigating a range of challenges, including:

  • Relationship and family dynamics
  • Life transitions (including new parenthood, fertility, postpartum, and separation/divorce)
  • Emotional overwhelm and mood-related challenges
  • Hormonal and reproductive mental health (including PMDD, PCOS, PPA/PPD)

She is especially attuned to the impact of relational dynamics and systemic factors on mental health, and finds meaning in helping clients build deeper understanding, connection, and resilience—both within themselves and in their relationships.

Nirja offers culturally responsive care and strives to create an affirming space for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, Indigenous communities, and individuals with disabilities. She provides therapy in English, Hindi, and Gujarati.

Professional Status

Nirja is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) in Ontario and practices under the supervision of a fully licensed clinician as part of her path toward independent practice.

She offers virtual therapy to clients in Ontario and Québec. Please note that insurance coverage may vary for clients residing in Québec. Clients are encouraged to confirm eligibility with their provider.

Schedule an Appointment with Nirja
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