Fostering Emotional Wellness in Durham region and across Ontario
Empowering individuals through compassionate, personalized mental health care
Sandra Ragheb
Counselling / Psychology / Mental Health
Owner of Towards Healing Clinic
Do you find yourself repeating patterns you understand intellectually but still struggle to change? Perhaps you feel overwhelmed by your emotions, find yourself overthinking or shutting down, struggle with boundaries or relationships, or carry experiences from the past that continue to affect how you see yourself and connect with others.
As a Registered Psychotherapist licensed by the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), I bring a wealth of education and experience to my practice. With more than seven years of experience , I have been supporting individuals through anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, life transitions, stress, and difficulties with self-worth and emotional regulation. I hold a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the esteemed University of Ottawa, complemented by an Honours Baccalaureate in Psychology from the University of Toronto.
My approach is grounded in attachment and trauma-informed therapy, helping you understand not only what you are experiencing, but why these patterns developed in the first place.
Together, we explore the connections between your experiences, thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and relationships. Rather than viewing these patterns as something “wrong” with you, I help you understand them as responses that may have developed for a reason. This creates space to reduce shame, develop self-compassion, and begin relating to yourself differently.
I integrate parts work and narrative therapy to help you make meaning of your experiences, understand the different parts of yourself that may be trying to protect you, and develop a sense of identity that is not defined by trauma or past experiences. I also incorporate CBT and DBT to translate insight into practical change—developing skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, challenging unhelpful thought patterns, communication, boundaries, and navigating difficult situations.
I believe therapy can hold both depth and practical change. We can take the time to understand where your patterns come from while also developing concrete tools to help you respond differently in the present.
Ultimately, my goal is not simply to help you manage symptoms. I want to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, greater compassion for the parts of you that have learned to survive, healthier ways of relating to yourself and others, and the skills to move toward the life and relationships you want.
If this approach resonates with you, I welcome you to reach out and take the first step toward beginning therapy.
Therapy as a Journey of Reclamation
Healing from Within: Reclaiming Identity, Self-Worth & Emotional Balance
I believe that there is usually a reason behind the ways we think, feel, behave, and relate to others. Sometimes the responses that once helped us feel safe can become patterns that no longer serve us.Rather than asking, “What is wrong with me?”, I believe therapy can help us ask, “What happened to me, what did I learn from it, and how is it affecting me today?”
Together, we work to understand your experiences without allowing them to define who you are. We make space for the different parts of you that have learned to protect you, while developing compassion for the ways you have adapted.I believe understanding is an important part of healing, but it is not the whole process.
Therapy should also give you practical ways to respond differently, regulate your emotions, navigate relationships, set boundaries, challenge unhelpful patterns, and make choices that feel more aligned with who you want to be.Most importantly, I believe you are more than your struggles and more than your past. Your experiences are part of your story, but they do not have to determine the rest of it.
Therapy is a space where we can understand your story, make meaning of it, develop compassion for yourself, and create the space to write what comes next.
Core Principles
- Understand before we change — We explore where patterns come from before trying to change them.
- Your responses have a story — We look at behaviours and emotional responses as adaptations, not flaws.
- You are more than your experiences — Your trauma and struggles are part of your story, not your identity.
- Compassion creates change — We make space for the parts of you that learned to protect you, without shame or judgment.
- Insight and action go together — Understanding yourself is important, but so is having practical tools to respond differently.
- Relationships matter — We explore attachment, trust, boundaries, vulnerability, and the ways past relationships can shape present ones.
- You are the expert on your experience — Therapy is collaborative, respecting your story, values, strengths, and goals.
- Healing includes building forward — The goal is not only to process the past, but to develop the skills, identity, relationships, and life you want moving forward.
Reclaiming Your Story: Healing Through Strength and Self- Compassion
Healing is not just about understanding past wounds, but also about recognizing the strengths that have carried you through difficult times. I care deeply about exploring the unique outcomes in your narrative, helping you honor your resilience while also making space for new ways of being.Throughout our work together, I emphasize self-compassion and emotional regulation, helping you respond to unhelpful beliefs, shift unhealthy coping behaviors, and build skills that support your well-being. Therapy is a space where you are no longer defined by past wounds, but by your own evolving, empowered story.
Education and Certifications
- Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) (2020) - College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
- Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
- Master of Education in Counselling Psychology (2020) – University of Ottawa
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) (2019)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Essential of CBT Certificate (2018)
- Mental Health Academy Certificate of Completion: CBT with Panic Disorder (2019)
- Mental Health Academy Certificate of Completion: Anxiety Disorders(2019)
- Mental Health Academy Certificate of Completion: Working with Trauma (2019)
Committed to Your Wellbeing
Each person's journey to mental health is unique, and I cherish the opportunity to be a part of yours. Your wellness is my priority, and I am here to provide you with compassionate, effective support.
Let's Start Your Wellness Journey
I am Here, Ready to Listen
Begin by exploring the online booking page to secure an appointment at your convenience. Or, feel free to visit my contact page for more ways to reach out to me. Alternatively, you can simply fill out the contact form below, and we'll be in touch soon.
