Our Team
Scroll down for information on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Dr. Iara Da Costa
Psychologist, Clinic Director
Philosophy
I am fascinated by the science of emotions, neurobiology and neuroplasticity and how they inform our capacity to change.
With individuals, my role is to be your emotion coach - help you understand your emotions and how you can harness them to meet your needs. This may apply to processing past traumas, changing unhelpful patterns, or taking your personal growth to the next level.
In couple therapy, I will help you build effective communication skills and identify the cycles that get your relationship in trouble, create distance or hostility and ultimately get in the way of the balance most partners want to achieve: being separate enough to be their own person and together enough to enjoy the comfort and excitement of having someone in your corner.
I bring authenticity and humour to our interactions and am an active participant in our conversations. I combine a great deal of empathy and compassion with gentle calls to accountability and change.
Qualifications
Registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO), with competencies in the areas of Clinical and Counselling Psychology
PhD in Clinical and Counselling Psychology, University of Toronto
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) Levels 1, 2 and 3 (supervision) for individuals
EFT Levels 1 and 2 for couples
Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Research, California Institute of Integral Studies (CPTR/CIIS)
MAPS MDMA Therapy Training Program (Completed) - certification (Pending)
Previous academic appointment at the University of Toronto teaching graduate students in the Applied Psychology and Human Development department (APHD - OISE)
15 years of experience in human resources and organizational psychology, holding leadership and consulting positions
In private practice since 2006
Languages
English and Portuguese
Client Groups
Adults: individuals, couples, and groups
Supervision and consultation for mental health professionals
Therapy Approaches
EFT, CBT, Trauma-Informed, DBT-Informed, Attachment-Based, CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAP), psychedelic-assisted therapy integration and harm reduction
Memberships
Ontario Psychological Association (OPA)
International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy (ISEFT)
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
I am interested in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP), its integration with EFT, and collaborations in these areas.
I offer integration and harm-reduction sessions for those who have a practice in non-ordinary states of consciousness.
Stay tuned for future offerings related to ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.