Meet Alexis Toren, a compassionate and dedicated Registered Psychotherapist (q) affiliated with The Sereda Psychotherapy Group, a cutting-edge virtual private practice that extends its services across Canada, revolutionizing accessibility to therapy. Alexis holds a Master’s in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, solidifying her commitment to understanding and addressing the complexities of mental health.
Her journey into psychotherapy began during her practicum at The Sereda Psychotherapy Group, where she honed her skills and developed a profound understanding of therapeutic dynamics. Alexis has now seamlessly transitioned into her role as a Psychotherapist Associate, demonstrating her passion for making a positive impact on the lives of others.
With a diverse clientele, Alexis brings expertise to the forefront in dealing with various mental health challenges. Her clinical focus shines particularly bright in the realms of borderline personality disorder (BPD), trauma, anxiety, and sports performance psychology. Alexis’ commitment to the well-being of her clients is evident in her approach, which combines empathy, evidence-based practices, and a deep understanding of the human experience.
Describe yourself in three words.
Empathetic, dedicated, human.
What is your personal definition of trauma?
My personal definition of trauma encompasses the emotional, psychological, and sometimes even physical distress resulting from distressing and overwhelming experiences and events. It is a subjective and individualized response and can impact the individual’s view of the
world, sense of self and interpersonal relationships. Trauma can be particularly disruptive to an individual if the event(s) happened during important developmental years within childhood and can negatively impact the individual into adulthood. Trauma can occur in many forms and be perceived differently by each individual based on a series of unique factors of each individual.
What therapeutic approaches or modalities do you find most effective in addressing trauma and promoting healing?
This really depends on the client sitting in front of me; what works for one client, does absolutely nothing for another. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy for trauma. There are many modalities that I use with clients that are evidence-based and shown effectiveness in addressing trauma such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Another great modality for trauma is Internal Family Systems (IFS), although I am not trained in this modality specifically, however, I may pull helpful resources and worksheets from this modality to help clients process and understand the way their trauma is impacting them. No matter which modality is used with a client, I always take a trauma-informed approach by creating an environment that prioritizes safety, trust, and empowerment.
How do you tailor your counselling approach to meet the unique needs of each individual who has experienced trauma?
I look at each individual as their own unique person with their own unique backgrounds, worldviews, and experiences. I always prioritize flexibility in modalities, cultural sensitivity, respect for the client’s autonomy, as well as collaborative goal setting and safety planning. As stated earlier, therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach, each client is always treated as the unique individual that they are.
How do you address cultural factors that may influence a person’s experience of trauma and their approach to healing?
Addressing cultural factors is integral to providing effective and culturally sensitive therapy. In grad school, there was a large emphasis placed on training in cultural competence in order to cultivate an understanding of diverse cultures, belief systems, and their unique perspectives on trauma. I always practice cultural humility with my clients, acknowledging that I do not possess comprehensive knowledge about every cultural experience and background. Collaborative goal setting is particularly important to successful treatment outcomes for clients, specifically establishing treatment goals that are culturally sensitive and reflect their values and beliefs. I also feel it is important to acknowledge the impact of trauma on cultural identity and how it may influence family dynamics, community connections, and cultural practices. In addressing cultural factors, it is also crucial to consider intersectionality with clients, the interconnectedness of social categories like race and gender to be able to better understand the multifaceted nature of the client’s experience and how trauma is further impacting that. Through these many practices, I aim to create an environment that respects and honors cultural diversity within therapy, contributing to a more effective and empowering healing journey.
What strategies do you employ to create a safe and supportive space for clients to share their traumatic experiences?
I use various strategies with clients to create a safe and supportive space. The therapeutic relationship is of utmost importance with any client and is especially important with clients who are disclosing trauma. A strong therapeutic relationship is one where trust and rapport are established by demonstrating a warm, empathetic, and non-judgemental environment. Other strategies I use are providing psychoeducation about trauma and how it can impact the brain and our emotions. I also prioritize normalizing emotional reactions to trauma and validating their experiences and feelings surrounding it without judgment and normalize that healing from trauma is not a linear process. Many of my clients have had some type of trauma in their past and I always use trauma-informed approaches to avoid retraumatization and use trauma-informed language which contributes to that safe and secure space. By incorporating these strategies, I aim to create an environment that fosters trust, safety, and support with every client.
Working with trauma can be emotionally and mentally demanding. How do you prioritize self-care and maintain resilience as a therapist?
As a therapist working with trauma, prioritizing self-care is crucial to maintaining emotional and mental well-being and fostering resilience. Regular supervision and consultation with colleagues in group supervision provides a supportive space to process challenging cases and seek guidance; this has helped me feel more connected to my colleagues in a naturally more isolating profession. I also engage in my own personal therapy as an essential aspect of my self-care and allows me to explore my own reactions and emotional triggers so that they do not affect me in my work with trauma. Other self-care for myself is regular physical exercise (walks/hikes and pickleball) along with journaling and a mindfulness practice contributes to my overall well-being as well. Lastly, fostering a strong support network with friends and family has always offered a valuable outlet for me outside of my work. I completely recognize the demanding nature of trauma work and actively prioritize self-care for my own well-being and to enhance my ability to provide effective and compassionate care to my clients.
What is your current favourite self-care activity?
I have so many, but I have to say my favourite is pickleball! I love playing pickleball competitively because it satisfies so many of the domains of self-care. It is great physical activity while also allows me to connect with others and allows me to connect with my inner child playing a competitive sport again.