Cassandra Grosso, BSc., MPsy., Registered Psychotherapist

I provide individual therapy for adults and adolescents facing a variety of concerns including depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, panic disorder and panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), relationship OCD, moral OCD (scrupulosity), real-event OCD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), trauma (including attachment & developmental trauma, intergenerational, and complex trauma), relationship challenges including navigating conflict & improving communication, low self-esteem and negative self-dialogue, intrusive thoughts, and rumination.

I also use strategies that help to manage stimming (self-soothing repetitive behaviours), body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs), stress management, sleep difficulties, changes to eating habits, procrastination, barriers to habit formation, productivity & goal-setting, perfectionism and people-pleasing, emotional regulation, and self-acceptance.

Relationship OCD is an often-misunderstood subtype of OCD, but it can show up in disruptive ways that impact emotional connection, communication, intimacy, compatibility, and self-perception. The natural concerns & complexities that relationships present become blurred with thoughts and behaviours driven by fear, control, protection, trauma, and previous experiences that can inadvertently make depth & vulnerability feel unimaginable. Together, we can identify the ROCD patterns that get in the way of connection, and you can begin to shift towards establishing emotional safety, setting & enforcing healthy boundaries, and leaning on self-trust & authenticity.

I hold a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree from York University and have earned a Master of Clinical Psychology (MPsy.) graduate degree from Adler Graduate Professional School of Psychology.

I have also attained the Complex Trauma Certification (CCTP I & II) to address experiences rooted in trauma that persist through patterns that can impact daily life. With techniques from the Parts Model paired with skills from EMDR and other therapeutic approaches, we can work together to better understand how past experiences are impacting your present through compassionate care and self-grace.

My approach in therapy is to establish an authentic connection and create a safe and comforting space that allows for mindful reflection that doesn’t feel intimidating but is instead met with empathy and compassion. I also recognize how complicated applying takeaways from therapy can be, so my primary focus is to collaborate with you to find attainable goals that are always specific and straightforward. I use a combination of psychotherapeutic techniques drawing from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Complex Trauma (CCTP) & Trauma-Informed Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) to make sure your treatment is always curated to your specific goals and healing needs, which will continue to evolve with you on your unique journey in therapy.

An important first step in the management of distressing emotions and ineffective behaviours is to understand when they show up and how they persist, which as you know can impact many areas of your life. Through our work together, we can find ways to help you cope when you’re faced with moments that are intense and overwhelming through personalized plans of action that focus on staying present and choosing to tune into rather than battle against the feelings you experience. I hope to encourage and support you in creating a path toward breaking the patterns that no longer serve you to flourish into the version of yourself you’ve always envisioned.

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