Brendan McLarty

My name is Brendan and I am a Registered Social Worker. I hold a Masters degree is Social Work from the University of Toronto. I provide virtual counselling to individuals living in Ontario. Encountering issues, no matter the severity, is a normal and natural part of our lives. However, it is my belief that our unique life experiences require a personalized approach to help us reach our goals in the face of adversity. One size does not fit all. Sessions with me are experiential in nature, with a focus on developing present moment awareness of one’s inner and outer world. Every person possesses an expert knowledge of themselves. Through the cultivation of mindfulness and other skills, I aim to help individuals harness that self knowledge to identify where they are stuck and to find ways to engage in values-based living. I have 7+ years of experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds who are navigating life with anxiety, low mood, relationship issues, ongoing dilemmas, grief and/or chronic illness. I operate with a person-centered, anti-oppressive, trans-diagnostic, and trauma-informed lens. I mainly draw upon a modality called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, which is pronounced like the word ‘act’). I also incorporate aspects of other mindfulness and compassion-based approaches, as well as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Motivational Interviewing.