Ready to move past trauma or conquer anxiety?
Meet Rebecca Steele, MA, MSW, Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist, & Canadian Certified Counsellor
she/her/hers
You don't have to be alone in this anymore.
You know you were meant to have a life full of meaning
- Whether you’re struggling with emptiness, high stress, or lack of fulfillment in life…
- Whether you’re feeling on edge, never calm and never happy…
- Whether you’ve given up hope, or lost touch with who you want to be…
This is a space for you. It’s time for things to be different.
How is therapy with me different?
It's not just CBT—it goes deeper
What makes me different from most other therapists is my Depth Therapy approach. Unfortunately, in North America, Psychoanalytic/Jungian/Depth Therapies have been dismissed and diminished in the wake of CBT. But CBT doesn’t solve all problems, and it doesn’t work for everyone. Some people are hungry for an alternative. Common reasons include:
- They felt CBT did not meet their therapy goals.
- CBT did not go deep enough for them.
- They did not like the rigid and highly didactic style.
- They are curious about psychoanalytic approaches or would like to consider archetypal/personality factors.
- They want to be able to explore their past experiences during therapy.
- They want to get to the root of their issues, instead of just focusing on positive self-talk and behavior modification.
- They want to understand and explore their unconscious mind through dreams and other avenues.
My journey into Depth Therapy approaches began with a psychoanalytically-oriented supervisor. Inspired by him, I sought out additional trainings and certifications so that I could offer Depth Therapy to my own clients.
Insight you can feel: deep understanding with heart.
In addition to these trainings, I've done 5+ years of my own personal dream analysis and depth therapy with well-known depth psychotherapist & author, Thomas Moore. This amazing personal experience taught me how to apply archetypal principals in dream work, how to work from a depth and Jungian lens, and how to understand and work with unconscious material using multiple approaches.
Altogether, I've spent the last 20+ years learning about depth psychology principles and personality systems. In my 10 years as a therapist, I've created a therapeutic approach built on a strong foundation.
Since I love archetypes and typology, I love to explore personality types with clients, including the Enneagram or Myers-Briggs. If you love tests, I have them all—questionnaires that can determine your personality, worldviews/schemas, attachment style, HSP profile, screening questionnaires, and more.
I’m passionate about my field and I love to learn. Because I’m always completing new certifications and trainings, I’m able to offer exciting new types of therapies for those who are interested.
Using depth and heart-centered approaches, I am here to walk with you—safely, reliably, toward healing.
Every therapist has their own style.
Therapy with me is an experience of exploration and authenticity.
I have a conversational approach. I won't just sit there and nod my head; I'm there to collaborate with you. I'll be direct, but non-judgemental. I know human beings are messy-and I'm just as human as you are.
My goal for you is that you would get to encounter yourself at the deepest level. This intimacy with yourself is a vital part of healing; it's the cornerstone of your relationship with yourself. Relief from your symptoms only comes when you can determine the wants and needs that are driving those symptoms. Without this insight, making lasting change will be an uphill battle.
Insight without connection can feel hollow; insight infused with empathy is enlightening.
What therapy with me looks like
A session together could involve processing what’s happening in your life right now, discussing your past or your childhood, or even diving directly into the unconscious material of your dreams.
Depth therapy is about exploring both the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind, which allows us to address multiple layers of healing simultaneously.
Treatment areas
I have extensive experience in supporting clients with:
- Anxiety
- OCD
- 'Pure O' subtype presentations
- Trauma
- Including childhood trauma, complex trauma, relational trauma, and PTSD
- Self-Esteem & Confidence
- Relationships
- Romantic, family, friends, and work relationships
- Boundaries
I help individuals navigate a wide range of challenges including trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, major life transitions, burnout, workplace stress, substance abuse, relationship or family stress, low mood, low self-esteem, boundary challenges, assertiveness development, internal feelings of emptiness, feelings of neglect, anger, poor body image, and self-soothing challenges.
I specialize in treating trauma and anxiety-related concerns such as: generalized anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, insecure or anxious attachment styles in relationships, health anxiety, separation anxiety, adjustment anxiety, existential anxiety, performance anxiety, perfectionism-related anxiety, postpartum anxiety; and OCD, particularly "Pure O" OCD, Relationship OCD, and Religious OCD/Scrupulosity.
This list is not exhaustive; if you are seeking help for a problem that’s not listed here, please don’t hesitate to contact me. While Depth Therapy is suited to almost any counselling concern, I also provide a variety of different approaches to help clients face unique challenges in effective and meaningful ways.
Scroll below for more information about my education and training, as well as my teaching experience.
Each traditional talk therapy session will involve...
In each session, we’ll explore events, thoughts, and feelings from the past, the present, or what’s on the horizon
The focus is always on your unique counselling goals. In our meetings, we’ll work toward shifts in many areas of your life, including:
Cognitive Tendencies/Thinking Patterns
Learn how to overcome catastrophizing thoughts, manage chronic worry, and reduce obsessive thinking and rumination. Break out of the cycle of anxiety-or depression-based thought; improve self-esteem, and decrease negative thoughts about body image.
Emotional Processing & Regulation
Processing challenging experiences by learning how to work through painful emotions, how to self-soothe, and how to nurture yourself and lean into your innate resiliency. Tapping into the emotional components of your experiences, thoughts, memories, and dreams.
Behavioural Changes
Shift impulsive tendencies, end procrastination or avoidance, and address alcohol or substance concerns. Learn to set boundaries with others and to become aware of your own personal boundaries. Escape the behavioural cycle of burnout.
Existential Exploration
Explore worldviews and beliefs. Identify sources of personal meaning in your life and how to find deep fulfillment. Establish a vision for your life that helps you feel a sense of purpose and excitement for the future. Decide what it is that you truly want in life, relationships, and personal growth.
Anti-oppressive practice
I am passionate about therapy, healing, health, and empowerment. Because mental health challenges occur in the context of systemic oppression in all its many forms, I use an anti-oppressive approach with my clients. By actively dismantling patriarchy and other forms of systemic oppression, I will help you reclaim your personal power and open the door to new and empowering ways of relating to yourself and others.
You have innate wisdom within you. My work will focus on teaching you to access the inner wisdom that is already there. This empowering process will give you the ability to deal with anything that comes your way.
Training & Background
PSYC73040 FROM TRAUMA TO RECOVERY, FALL OF 2020, CONESTOGA COLLEGE: An undergraduate course which Rebecca taught and co-created. The course focused on the nature and extent of traumatic experiences among populations involved in community justice and criminal justice. Theories of trauma and their application in treatment and support environments were explored, along with concepts and research related to resilience, social inclusion, hope, and recovery.
MASTER OF ARTS, Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy, Wilfrid Laurier University
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Emotionally Focused Therapy
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Trauma treatment including Feminist Therapy and Jungian Therapy approaches
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy & Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
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Psychodynamic Therapy approaches
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Intro to Art Therapy
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Gender in Therapy
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Indigenous Knowledge in Social Work
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Addiction and Shame
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Anti-Oppressive Practice
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Theories of Change
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Counselling in a Multifaith Society
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Healing Processes for Children
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Human Development
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Professional Ethics
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Assessment
Presently taking:
Soul Psychology Certificate Program, a 1-year long program that involves an intensive study of Archetypal Psychology, Jungian Psychology, Greek Mythology, the world’s spiritual traditions, and the arts. Taught by Thomas Moore, PhD., psychotherapist-author of Care of the Soul
Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Certification Training Program, for professionals working with Highly Sensitive People. Covers various mistaken conditions, health-related issues, and challenges with identity, relationships, and boundaries, as well as traditional and alternative therapies, Nickerson Institute
Completed Trainings and Certifications:
C.C.C., Canadian Certified Counsellor, Clinical Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
Certified Brainspotting Therapist, Brainspotting Trainings LLC.
How to do a Brainspotting Intensive,a specialty training to teach therapists how to effectively and ethically offer Brainspotting extended-length, intensive sessions, and create customized intensive plans for clients, Pacific Brainspotting (Trauma-Informed Training)
Expansion Brainspotting, a specialty Brainspotting training that addresses the best practices of Expansion Brainspotting, and how it works to alleviate profound suffering as well as to strengthen self-worth and desired states of being, Pacific Brainspotting (Trauma-Informed Training)
Brainspotting Phase 2, teaches advanced techniques to help clients with complex trauma and dissociation heal safely and effectively. These techniques strengthen resilience, ease freeze/shut-down responses, and open pathways for lasting recovery, Pacific Brainspotting (Trauma-Informed Training)
Brainspotting Phase 1, addresses the theory, research, and best practices of Brainspotting, how it works to heal trauma and other mental health conditions, & the four techniques or 'frames' used to engage clients via a specific eye position or "Brainspot", Pacific Brainspotting (Trauma-Informed Training)
Emotion Focused Therapy Level 2, York University Psychology Clinic with Les Greenberg & Serine Warwar (Trauma-Informed Training)
Emotion Focused Therapy Level 1, York University Psychology Clinic with Les Greenberg & Serine Warwar (Trauma-Informed Training)
Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship Training Certificate, International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
Depth Mastery in Psychotherapy, 1-year training, Daybreak Therapy and Training
An Exploration of the Work of Sandor Ferenczi, Extension program of 7 weekly seminars exploring Ferenczi, the founder of all relationship-based psychoanalysis, Toronto Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis (TICP)
"A Day with Jeanne-Wolff Bernstein," Full-day workshop that explores new developments in psychoanalytic theory and technique, Toronto Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis (TICP)
Essentials of Psychoanalysis Certificate Program, 1-year training, Toronto Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis (TICP)
Coaching Mastery, a 9-month training program designed to teach mental health therapists how to integrate coaching techniques into counselling. Taught by Dr. Liz Lasky, PhD in Social Work
HeartHealing® Practitioner Mastery, a 1-year advanced-hypnotherapy training program teaching unique hypnotherapy techniques to support the healing of relational-wounding, School of Healing Mastery (Trauma-Informed Training)
Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist (CHyp™), 100-hour certification program, Daybreak Therapy and Training (Trauma-Informed Training)
Annual Mind-Body-Spirit Conferences, Trainings in integrated psychotherapy methods, 2018, 2019, and 2020, Daybreak Therapy and Training
Becoming a Mindful Practitioner: The Art of Creating Space and ‘Being With Your Client’, March 22, 2019. Professional Workshop held through Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University
The Care of Souls: A Workshop for Professional Caretakers on Bringing the Depth of Soul to Their Work, October 26, 2018. Facilitated by Thomas Moore, PhD. Offered through Magentix.
