Trauma-informed therapy for ADHD, trauma, and MVA recovery in Ontario
For when life feels overwhelming, fragmented, or stuck, and you're ready for support that meets you where you are.
ADHD · Trauma · PTSD · EMDR · Anxiety · MVA & Brain Injury Recovery · Virtual & In-Person Across Ontario · Free · 15 minutes · No commitment
Hi, I’m Melissa Huang.
I'm a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) in Ontario (CRPO #17942). I believe that healing happens in the presence of safety, connection, and understanding. My approach is warm, collaborative, and tailored to your unique experiences and goals.
I work with adults navigating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, motor vehicle accident recovery, brain injury, and relationship challenges. Together, we'll explore what's keeping you stuck, build on your strengths, and create space for lasting change at a pace that feels right for you.
I offer in-person therapy in North York, Toronto (near Leslie & Sheppard) and virtual therapy across Ontario.
Areas of Support
You don’t need to have everything figured out to reach out. Here are some of the areas we can work through together.
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When your brain never seems to slow down — or shuts off completely when you need it most
When you’ve been told you’re not trying hard enough, but you know it’s not that simple
When ADHD is affecting your relationships, your work, or how you feel about yourself
When starting tasks, staying organized, or managing time feels genuinely hard — not just a bad habit
When overstimulation leaves you drained or dysregulated at the end of every day
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When your mind won’t stop running through worst-case scenarios
When you feel on edge, restless, or unable to fully relax
When anxiety shows up in your body — tight chest, racing heart, or shallow breathing
When sudden waves of fear hit out of nowhere (panic attacks)
When you’ve started avoiding places, people, or situations just to feel safe
When you lie awake at night unable to quiet your thoughts
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When you wake up exhausted before the day has even started, we’ll work on understanding what’s draining you — and how to start rebuilding
When everything feels like too much and you don’t know where to begin, we’ll slow things down and help you find your footing again
When you’ve been pushing through for so long you’ve lost touch with what you actually need, we’ll explore what rest and recovery look like for you
When your emotions feel bigger than you can handle, we’ll make sense of what your nervous system is trying to tell you
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When you feel flat, empty, or like the things that used to matter just don’t anymore
When getting through the day takes everything you have
When the critical voice in your head is louder than anything else
When you’ve been pulling away from people, even the ones you care about
When you wonder if this is just who you are now — and you want to feel like yourself again
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When a concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has changed how you think, feel, or function
When you’re dealing with cognitive fog, irritability, or fatigue that others don’t always see
When you’re grieving the version of yourself you were before the injury
When you need support rebuilding routines and emotional steadiness in your recovery
When the emotional side of your injury hasn’t been given the same attention as the physical
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When your past keeps showing up in your present — in how you react, relate, or protect yourself
When you carry wounds from childhood that were never named or addressed
When emotions feel like they go from 0 to 100 with no warning, or feel completely shut off
When your nervous system feels stuck in high alert, or you feel disconnected from yourself
When you’ve experienced complex or ongoing trauma and want a safe space to process it
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Grief & loss
Relationship breakdown & divorce
Life transitions & identity shifts
Self-esteem & confidence
Perfectionism & people-pleasing
Caregiver stress & compassion fatigue
Cultural identity & belonging
Chronic illness & chronic pain
Postpartum depression & perinatal mental health
Workplace stress & burnout
Getting started is simple
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Reach out
Book a free 20-minute consultation through the secure online portal. No commitment, no pressure.
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Free consultation
We'll have a brief conversation about what you're going through and whether my approach feels right for you.
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Begin therapy
Begin therapy in-person in North York or virtually from anywhere in Ontario, at a pace that works for your life.
Where We Will Meet
Recovering from an accident or injury?
Before becoming a therapist, I spent years working in community rehabilitation alongside people recovering from motor vehicle accidents, strokes, and brain injuries. I saw firsthand how much emotional weight comes with that recovery — the grief, the frustration, the loss of who you were before. If you're navigating that now, this is a space to process it.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions *
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The free 15-minute consultation is a relaxed, no-pressure conversation — not a commitment. You can share a bit about what’s been going on for you, ask any questions about the process, and get a feel for whether my approach resonates. I’ll briefly explain how I work and what therapy with me typically looks like. There’s no intake form to complete beforehand, no pressure to share more than feels comfortable, and no obligation to book a session afterward. The goal is simply to help you figure out whether this feels like the right fit.
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I offer both in-person and virtual therapy sessions. In-person sessions are available at my office located at 1100 Sheppard Avenue East, Unit 407B, Toronto, ON, M2K 2W1 (near Leslie & Sheppard in North York). Virtual therapy is available to anyone living anywhere in Ontario — all you need is a private space and a reliable internet connection. Many clients find that virtual sessions are just as effective as in-person, and they offer the added convenience of not having to commute. If you're unsure which format is right for you, we can talk through it during your free consultation.
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In Ontario, all psychotherapists are regulated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), and every practitioner must meet rigorous education, training, supervision, and ethical standards before they can see clients. "Qualifying" is an official CRPO designation for therapists who have completed their graduate degree and are registered with the College, but are still accumulating the required supervised clinical hours before receiving full registration. It is a recognized, protected title — not a temporary or lesser credential. I am registered with the CRPO under registration number 17942. You can verify my registration at any time through the CRPO's public register at crpo.ca. I work under clinical supervision, which means you benefit from both my direct training and the oversight of an experienced registered psychotherapist.
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Individual therapy sessions are $170 for 50 minutes. Couples and family sessions are $200 for 50 minutes. Payment is due at the time of each session. A limited number of sliding scale spots are available for those experiencing financial hardship — please reach out to inquire. Many extended health benefit plans cover registered psychotherapy, and most insurers will reimburse sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). I recommend checking with your insurance provider before your first session to confirm your coverage, session limits, and any referral requirements.
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I do not offer direct billing to insurance providers. Payment is collected at the time of each session, and I will provide you with an official receipt that you can submit directly to your insurance plan for reimbursement. Most extended health benefit plans that cover registered psychotherapy — including Manulife, Sun Life, Green Shield, Great-West Life, and Desjardins — will reimburse sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). Coverage varies by plan, so I recommend calling your provider or logging into your benefits portal before your first session to confirm your annual coverage amount, per-session limit, and any referral requirements.
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Yes. Therapy can be an important part of recovery after a motor vehicle accident (MVA) or brain injury. Many MVA survivors experience PTSD, anxiety, sleep difficulties, hypervigilance, and emotional distress that persists long after the physical injuries have healed. Brain injury — including concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or acquired brain injury (ABI) — can also affect mood, emotional regulation, concentration, and sense of self. Before becoming a psychotherapist, I worked in community rehabilitation supporting people recovering from MVAs, strokes, and brain injuries, which gives me a grounded understanding of the emotional and cognitive challenges involved. I offer trauma-informed therapy using EMDR, somatic approaches, and attachment-based techniques to support both the psychological and practical dimensions of recovery. I also understand the Ontario insurance and FSRA landscape and can provide supporting documentation where appropriate (note that report writing is a separate service with its own fee).
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Yes. Therapy can be an important part of recovery after a motor vehicle accident (MVA) or brain injury. Many MVA survivors experience PTSD, anxiety, sleep difficulties, hypervigilance, and emotional distress that persists long after the physical injuries have healed. Brain injury — including concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or acquired brain injury (ABI) — can also affect mood, emotional regulation, concentration, and sense of self. Before becoming a psychotherapist, I worked in community rehabilitation supporting people recovering from MVAs, strokes, and brain injuries, which gives me a grounded understanding of the emotional and cognitive challenges involved. I offer trauma-informed therapy using EMDR, somatic approaches, and attachment-based techniques to support both the psychological and practical dimensions of recovery. I also understand the Ontario insurance and FSRA landscape and can provide supporting documentation where appropriate (note that report writing is a separate service with its own fee).
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You do not need to prepare anything specific for the first session. The first appointment is primarily an intake session — a chance for us to get to know each other, for you to share what's been going on, and for me to understand your history, what you're hoping to work through, and what has and hasn't been helpful in the past. I may ask some background questions about your life, mental health history, and goals, but we go at your pace and you never have to share more than feels comfortable. By the end of the first session, we'll have a better sense of whether working together feels right and what a path forward might look like.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy specifically designed to help people process and heal from trauma, PTSD, and distressing life experiences. It works by using bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements — while you briefly focus on a troubling memory or belief. This process helps the brain reprocess experiences that feel "stuck," so they become less emotionally activating over time. Many people find that memories that once felt unbearable lose their intensity after EMDR, without needing to talk about them in extensive detail. I completed EMDR Basic Training through EMDR Training Canada, an EMDRIA-approved training provider. EMDR may be a good fit if you have experienced trauma, PTSD, a motor vehicle accident, childhood experiences that continue to affect you today, or if you have found that talk therapy alone hasn't led to the changes you're looking for. We would always discuss whether EMDR makes sense for you before introducing it.
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Yes. Therapy can be an important part of recovery after a motor vehicle accident (MVA) or brain injury. Many MVA survivors experience PTSD, anxiety, sleep difficulties, hypervigilance, and emotional distress that persists long after the physical injuries have healed. Brain injury — including concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or acquired brain injury (ABI) — can also affect mood, emotional regulation, concentration, and sense of self in ways that are often misunderstood or minimized. Before becoming a psychotherapist, I worked in community rehabilitation supporting people recovering from MVAs, strokes, and brain injuries, which gives me a grounded, practical understanding of the emotional and cognitive challenges involved. I offer trauma-informed therapy using EMDR, somatic approaches, and attachment-based techniques tailored to the pace and needs of recovery. I also understand the Ontario insurance landscape (FSRA, WSIB) and can provide supporting documentation where needed, at a separate fee.
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Absolutely. A formal diagnosis is not required to begin therapy. Many adults come to therapy with strong suspicions about ADHD but haven't yet been assessed — and the path to diagnosis in Ontario can be long and expensive. Therapy can help you regardless of where you are in that process. Together we can explore the patterns in your attention, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and daily life to better understand how your brain works and what kinds of strategies might actually help. I hold specialized training as an ADHD Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP) and have done extensive training in ADHD across the lifespan, including ADHD in adults, relationships, and late diagnosis. If you are also pursuing a formal assessment, therapy can be a powerful complement to that process.
Something brought you here. Maybe it's been building for a while, that feeling of being overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in patterns you can't quite break. Whatever it is, you don't have to keep carrying it alone.
My goal is to create a safe space for your story to be held without pressure or shame.
I work through a trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming lens, recognizing how early experiences and adversity shape our emotions, relationships, and sense of self.
Ready to take the first step?
Book a free 15-minute consultation to find out if we’re a good fit. No commitment required.