"The curious paradox is that
when I accept myself just as I am,
then I can change."
– Carl Rogers
Relationships ~ Anxiety ~ Trauma
About Me
Welcome to Dahlya Smolash Psychotherapy. I am a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, with an MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy in Individual and Couple/ Family therapy from Saint Paul University. My post-MA training includes eight years of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy training with the Ottawa-based Self-In-Relationship Institute. I provide EMDR for trauma, for which I am fully certified, and have additional training in the areas of CBT, DBT, Creative Arts Therapy, Sensory Motor Psychotherapy, Mindfulness, ACT, Internal Family Systems, Gottman Couples Therapy, and Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples. In order to best meet client needs, I participate in ongoing clinical training and consultation in multiple areas of assessment and treatment.
Credentials
Individual and Couples Therapy
Anxiety
Do feelings of anxiety and overwhelm overshadow your daily life, making it difficult to find peace and clarity? Learn practical strategies and coping mechanisms to manage anxiety effectively, reclaiming control over your thoughts and emotions.
Depression
Do feelings of loneliness, isolation, low self-esteem, or difficulty making decisions seem to be hard to shake? Therapy can assist you to identify and shift negative thought patterns, learn mindfulness skills, or use EMDR to release blocks and open options for new growth.
Relationships
Are you experiencing frequent conflicts, communication breakdowns, or feelings of disconnection in your relationships? Explore proven techniques and compassionate guidance to navigate relationship challenges, aimed at fostering deeper understanding and connection.
Couples Therapy
Do the same conflicts seem to keep repeating themselves with no resolution or repair? I specialize in working with relationships - with family, friends, coworkers, spouses/ partners, dating. Using a blend of therapy approaches couples learn communication skills, deepen emotional bonds, and learn how to repair old hurts.
EMDR for trauma
Does trauma from childhood or a traumatic event affect your daily life and you feel trapped in the old images/ feelings/ and sensations? EMDR is an evidence based model for healing trauma, that works with the body's Adaption Information Processing system to release stored trauma from neural networks of the brain, leading to more adaptive living. I am fully certified in EMDR.
EMDR for couples
Do triggers from the past take on a life of their own in your relationships, leading to dysregulation and conflict? SAFE-EMDR for couples is a gentle method for couples to process their personal issues side by side, to understand how their own traumas impact their relationship today and lessen their impacts, making space for more adaptive interactions.