Colin Schwartz

M.Ed., R. Psych.

Registered Psychologist

Psychology and Counselling for Teens and Adults

Welcome. Reaching out for help isn't always easy, and I'm glad you're here.

Does Any of This Resonate with You?

  • Have you been feeling low or anxious for so long that you've started to feel numb?

  • Are you tired of feeling badly and unsure where to turn to talk about it?

  • Have the people closest to you, or even your employer, begun to notice that you're struggling?

  • Do you feel disconnected or on the outside of the people and the life around you?

  • Do you know you have many years ahead of you but aren't sure how to live them well?

If any of this sounds like you, you're not alone, and there is a way forward.

There is Hope

  • Learn how to look at your life experiences and struggles from a fresh perspective

  • Work toward understanding the thoughts, values, and beliefs that may be quietly driving your emotions

  • Build more meaningful connections with the people in your life and with yourself

  • Learn how to manage depression, anxiety, and misplaced anger

  • Develop stronger social skills and deeper empathy in your relationships

  • Move toward a better quality of life, with more light and colour in your days

 

APPROACH TO COUNSELLING

My formal training is in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and I also draw on existential perspectives. Emotions can be complex and draining. I like to listen closely to them and to where they've taken you. Often, deep and unexamined thoughts, values, and beliefs about the world and your place in it are driving those emotions. I'll ask questions that invite you to consider your experiences from a new angle, one you may not have thought of before. A fresh look at yourself can lift the dark glasses from your eyes and let more light and colour in.

I believe everyone has a path behind them that has shaped who they are. Telling your story to someone who truly listens brings dignity to the process and can ease the feeling of being alone with it. Together, we'll work on the unhelpful thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that wear away at your quality of life, and on building a story about yourself and your relationships that feels meaningful to you. In an accepting environment, you can begin to enjoy the present without being weighed down by worry about the future.

Why Choose to Work with Me?

I'm warm, engaging, and a good listener. Therapy is important work, but it doesn't always have to feel heavy. A smile or a laugh can help break the ice and ease difficult emotions. My colleagues have described me as fun and comfortable to be with, and I want you to feel the same way in session.

You can count on me. Dependability and consistency matter to me. Having someone reliably in your corner is a healthy connection in itself, both personally and therapeutically.

I understand what it's like to feel disconnected. In my own life, meaningful connections with others were the antidote to worry and angst. That experience, along with self-study, formal training, and many years of practice, shaped the way I work.

I have experience with the concerns that bring people in. I have worked with both adults and teenagers on depression, anxiety, misplaced anger, social skills, relationships, and developing empathy.

You'll be listened to without judgement. Clients have described me as easy to approach and talk to, and I'm glad when our conversations leave you with new things to think about. My greatest reward is seeing someone smile and tell me they feel better after our sessions.

Ready to Take the First Step?

You don't have to keep carrying this alone. I'd be glad to hear your story. Get in touch to book your first session.

If you live according to nature, you will never be poor. If you live according to opinion, you will never be rich. Seneca

SPECIALTIES IN COUNSELLING

Demographics:

  • Teens

  • Adults

  • Seniors

  • Neurodivergent Clients

  • Faith-based Clients

  • Trauma Survivors

Major Categories of Practice

  • Individual

  • Group Counseling

  • Mediation

  • Career / Vocational

  • EAP / EFAP

  • Testing & Assessment

  • DSM-IV-TR Diagnosis & Treatment

  • Crisis Intervention / Trauma

  • Education / Schooling

  • Business & Organizational Development

Specializations:

Education / Career / Vocation:

  • Career Change & Development

  • Career & Vocational Assessment

  • Learning Difficulties

  • Professional Burnout

  • Workplace Issues

Addictions:

  • Alcohol & Drugs

  • Substance Addiction

  • Gambling Addictions

Abuse:

  • Abuse Survivor Issues

  • Child Abuse

  • Domestic Abuse

  • Emotional / Psychological Abuse

  • Neglect

  • Rape & Incest Recovery

Medical / Health:

  • Chronic Illness

  • Managing Chronic Pain

Disorders:

  • Adjustment Disorders

  • Anxiety Disorders

  • Developmental Disorders

  • Dissociative Disorders

  • Eating Disorders

  • Impulse-Control Disorders

  • Mood / Depressive Disorders

  • Personality Disorders

  • Psychotic Disorders

  • Somatoform Disorders

  • Substance Disorders

General:

  • Abandonment

  • Aggression

  • Anger

  • Anxiety

  • Boundaries

  • Caregiver Stress

  • Communication

  • Control Issues

  • Dependency & Co-Dependency Issues

  • Forgiveness

  • Grief and Loss

  • Identity Issues

  • Individual Counseling

  • Men's Issues

  • Therapies Used:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Existential Therapy

  • Grief Therapy

  • Group Therapy

  • Social Learning / Modeling Therapy

  • Somatic Experiencing