Lisa O’Donovan

I provide a compassionate, warm, and calming environment where you can feel comfortable exploring your internal world and safely work through complex emotions. My approach is grounded in Psychodynamic Therapy with a focus on relational trauma and attachment patterns. I specialize in helping individuals uncover and understand unconscious patterns, so they can begin to reorganize their experiences and lead a more integrated life. I also work with a variety of trauma-informed techniques, including Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), allowing us to address deep-rooted emotions while fostering healing and growth. With over 20 years of personal and professional experience, working with families and young children, I bring significant life experience to my practice. As a child of an alcoholic, I understand the complexities of childhood trauma and its long-term impact on internal safety, self-identity and relationships. My personal and professional journey gives me a unique ability to deeply relate to the struggles of those working through trauma and familial patterns. I offer a safe space to explore your internal world. In our work we aim to emotionally organize, accept and integrate experiences, creating self compassion, acceptance and empowerment. Together, we can work to increase emotional connection, promote self-compassion, and empower you to create positive changes that feel aligned in your sense of self today. I have specialized training in men’s trauma and am passionate about helping men address emotional pain, especially in relation to past experiences. I enjoy working with first responders and their families as well as those living with addiction or the impact of addiction of a loved one. My additional training and education includes Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Cert. / Relational Trauma Repair Cert./ Complex trauma-focused learning - ACoA Trauma Syndrome, / Men, Addiction and Trauma; IFS informed. I offer a safe, calm and gentle space to foster processing and change. In my personal journey, I have transitioned to psychotherapy from a long career in public and private education. I am also a mother and single parent of teenage girls, which further shapes my understanding of family dynamics and emotional resilience! I consider myself a life long learner and a curios seeker of the human experience. I love to read, connect with nature, play with my dog, connect with others and be a mom! This work has been a life long dream for me to arrive at and I would be honoured to witness, walk with and support you on your journey! I look forward to connecting!