As an Individual and Family therapist based in Toronto, I provide one-time consults, short-term counselling, and longer-term psychotherapy to pre-teens, adolescents, young adults, and families.

Welcome

Who do I see?

  • Pre-teens and teens aged 10+

  • Post-secondary students

  • Young adults

  • Families and caregivers of children aged 7+

GET IN TOUCH

Meet Lisa

Hi, I'm Lisa, a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with 15 years of experience helping children, teens, adults and families navigate life's challenges. I received my Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto in 2013, and spent the first several years of my career working at the Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health at SickKids (formerly The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre).

I've had the privilege of supporting children, adolescents, and families through individual, group, and family therapy. I work with teens, post-secondary students and young adults, supporting them through stress, school and work-related challenges, relationship issues, self-esteem, and life transitions. I also have a passion for helping parents support their children through emotional challenges, anxiety, behavioural issues, family conflict and transitions, mood disorders, trauma, and grief. 

In addition to my private practice, I facilitate mental health workshops for students, parents, and educators in schools throughout the GTA with Common Compass.

My approach is integrated and tailored to each client's needs, drawing on Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Brief and Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Attachment-Focused Therapies. I also have a strong interest in mindfulness and self-compassion, which often shows up in my work with clients.

Services

  • I offer a non-judgmental, caring, and compassionate approach in individual sessions with pre-teens, adolescents and young adults. I believe in the relationship between client and therapist in helping individuals to reflect, grow, learn new skills, and to develop successful relationships outside of therapy. By exploring and noticing your body sensations, thoughts and feelings, we can connect them to previous experiences and behaviours to understand them more fully and change unhelpful behaviours or patterns present in your life.

    We might be a good fit if you're looking for support with:

    • Anxiety, low mood, OCD

    • Feeling things deeply or have been told you are 'too emotional'

    • Stress or overwhelm related to school, work, relationships

    • Life transitions, uncertainty about direction, identity, or next steps

    • Self-esteem or self-worth

    • Relationship difficulties (romantic, family, peer), feeling disconnected from others, or wanting more intimate relationships

    • Better understanding yourself and processing previous and current experiences

    • Expressing your feelings in more effective ways

    What to expect: Our first session is a chance to share what's brought you here and what you're hoping to get out of therapy. From there, we'll work together to build a space where you feel comfortable exploring what's going on for you, at your own pace.

  • I help children, teens, and families work through difficult moments together. I offer a supportive space where children and teens feel heard and parents get practical tools.

    Therapy for your child/family may help if:

    • Your child is struggling with anxiety, worry, big emotions

    • Your child has difficulty expressing their feelings

    • Your child and/or family is going through a life change

    • There is conflict between family members

    • You're wanting to strengthen your relationship with your child and be the best parent you can to them

    How it works

    I use a flexible, family-centered approach with children and teens.

    We often start with a family session, and then have individual sessions with your child or teen, and parent-only sessions. This gives each person space to explore their own perspective, needs, and challenges without the pressure of anyone else in the room.

    Once everyone has a clearer sense of their own needs, we can bring the family together for joint sessions. Here, everyone can share their feelings and perspectives in order to better understand one another. We can work together on finding more effective ways to communicate and how parents can best support their child in whatever they are going through.

  • Parent-only sessions allow for parents to reflect on their own feelings, experiences, and parenting approaches in order to better understand the parent-child dynamic and their child's emotional needs.

    Together we can discuss and practice new strategies and ways of being with your child to help them express feelings in healthier ways.

    Parent counselling sessions may be helpful if:

    • You're unsure whether your child's behaviours are typical for their age

    • You want more effective tools for responding when your child is dysregulated

    • You'd like a space to process your own reactions to parenting challenges

    • You want to support your child with their feelings and behaviours and feel confident that "you're doing the right thing"

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, I offer in person sessions in downtown Toronto at 114 Maitland St. (5 min walk from Wellesley station).

    I also see clients virtually, or do a hybrid of in-person and virtual sessions based on your location, scheduling, and preference.

  • If you contact me through my website or email, I typically respond within a couple business days to book a consult call (Zoom or phone).

  • Yes. These are typically about 15-20 minutes over Zoom or phone.

    Clients often find these calls helpful to get a better sense of me and see if I'd be a good fit for what they're looking for. In these calls, I like to learn a bit about you, what brought you to reach out, and what your hopes are for therapy. It's also okay if you're not fully sure yet — we can figure that out together, and I can offer some ideas or recommendations based on what you share. I'll also answer any questions you have about me, the therapy process, my approach, and we'll discuss scheduling and fees.

    What happens after the consult call?
    If it feels like a good fit for both of us, we can schedule a first session. There's no pressure to decide right away — take whatever time you need, and reach out whenever you're ready.

  • You can reach out directly via my website or by email to: lisaschwartztherapy@gmail.com.

    I typically respond within one to two business days.

  • Yes, most Ontario private insurance providers (Manulife, Sunlife, Empire Life, Greenshield) cover Registered Social Workers. However, it is always a good idea to review your specific plan.

Get in Touch