Gentle, phase-based trauma therapy with a Registered Psychotherapist and Certified Trauma Professional. We go at your pace, and safety always comes first, from your own home anywhere in Ontario.

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Certified Trauma Professional · Evenings & weekends · Receipts for benefits

Is this for you?

Trauma can show up in ways that don’t look like trauma

You don’t need a diagnosis, and you don’t need to tell your whole story in the first session.

You feel on edge, jumpy or braced for something even when things are calm.

Certain voices, places or smells pull you straight back into an old moment.

You go numb, shut down or feel far away when emotions run high.

Sleep is hard, or nightmares keep returning.

You keep ending up in relationships or patterns that feel familiar in the wrong way.

You’ve been holding it together for years and you’re tired.

Trauma comes in more than one shape

Most people will live through something overwhelming at some point: a car accident, an assault, the sudden death of someone they love, violence, war or a natural disaster. Many recover over time with support from people who care about them. For others, the effects linger long after the event, as fear, numbness, confusion or posttraumatic stress.

Single-incident trauma comes from one event, like a highway collision or a frightening medical emergency. Complex trauma builds over time, often in childhood, through abuse, neglect, chaos at home or relationships where you never felt safe. It doesn’t always look like PTSD. It can show up as shame, people-pleasing, trouble trusting others or a deep sense that something is wrong with you.

Neither kind is a sign of weakness. Your reactions are your nervous system doing its best to keep you safe, and with the right support, they can change.

Four common groups of trauma symptoms

The DSM-5, the diagnostic manual used by mental health professionals, groups posttraumatic stress symptoms into four clusters. You might recognize yourself in one or several:

Re-experiencing and intrusion — Unwanted memories, nightmares or flashbacks that make it feel as if the event is happening again. Reminders can set off a strong emotional or physical reaction.

Avoidance — Steering clear of places, people, conversations, sounds or thoughts that bring the event to mind. Over time, your world can quietly get smaller.

Negative changes in mood and thinking — Persistent guilt, shame, fear or numbness. Losing interest in things you used to enjoy, feeling detached from others or having gaps in memory about what happened.

Arousal and reactivity — Feeling constantly on guard, jumpy or irritable. Trouble sleeping or concentrating, angry outbursts, or reckless and self-destructive behaviour.

Widening your window of tolerance

Psychiatrist Dan Siegel coined the term window of tolerance to describe the zone where you can feel your feelings and still think clearly. Trauma tends to shrink that window. Small stressors can tip you into hyperarousal (panic, rage, a racing heart) or hypoarousal (shutting down, numbness, feeling far away).

Much of our early work is about noticing when you’re leaving that window and learning how to come back. That might happen through breath, grounding, movement or simply naming what’s going on. As your window widens, harder memories become possible to work with without being flooded by them.

This is also why trauma can feel like it’s happening now rather than in the past. We work with the present-day effects at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

A person standing on a rock in the sea beneath storm clouds

How we work

Three phases, at a pace you set

Approaches may include CBT, DBT skills, ACT, mindfulness-based work and clinical hypnotherapy, chosen with you, never imposed.

Phase 1

Safety and steadiness

We build grounding skills and a sense of safety in your body first, so you have tools before we go anywhere difficult.

Phase 2

Processing, carefully

When you’re ready, we work with the memories and beliefs that still carry a charge, without flooding or forcing.

Phase 3

Reconnecting

We focus on relationships, boundaries, self-worth and the life you want to build next.

How CBT and hypnotherapy fit into trauma counselling

Trauma-focused CBT helps you identify beliefs that formed during or after trauma, like “It was my fault” or “I’m never safe,” and test them against what you know now. It also includes gradual, supported steps toward the things you’ve been avoiding.

As a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, I sometimes use clinical hypnotherapy to deepen relaxation, strengthen inner resources and help your nervous system rehearse feeling calm. It is never used to dig up memories, and you stay aware and in control throughout.

I also draw on mindfulness, DBT skills for intense emotions and person-centred care. If trauma is affecting your closest relationship, couples counselling can be a helpful next step alongside your individual work.

What to expect

From first call to feeling steadier

Reach out

Book a free 15-minute consult online or call. We’ll talk briefly about what’s going on and whether we’re a fit.

Get oriented

Early sessions map what’s happening, what you want to change and the pace that feels right.

Do the work

Weekly or biweekly secure video sessions, with skills you can use between sessions.

Carry it forward

You leave with insight and tools you actually use in daily life.

About Kim

Hi, I’m Kim Michael.

Registered Psychotherapist

CRPO #13293

Certified Trauma Professional

CTP

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist

NGH

MA, Counselling Psychology (Hons)

Yorkville University

I’m a Registered Psychotherapist and Certified Trauma Professional. My work is trauma-informed, integrative and evidence-based, which means emotional safety comes first, you set the pace, and we focus on understanding rather than judgment.

I bring curiosity and respect to the cultures, faiths and family expectations that shape your life.

Book a free consult

More about Kim

Fees

Clear fees, no surprises

Free

15-minute consultation

A no-pressure call to see if we’re a fit.

$175

Individual session

Online, for teens, adults and older adults.

$200

Couples session

Both partners, one shared session.

Most extended health plans in Ontario reimburse Registered Psychotherapists. I provide official receipts with my CRPO number, and psychotherapy from an RP is HST-exempt.

Online trauma counselling for Brampton and Peel Region

Every session happens online, which many trauma survivors find easier. You can stay in a space you already know, keep a blanket or pet nearby, and finish a session without facing a drive home while you’re still settling. We always leave a few minutes at the end to ground before you log off.

Brampton is one of the most diverse cities in Canada, and many families across Peel Region came here after war, displacement or violence. Trauma can also come from racism, workplace incidents or years of conflict at home. If you’ve been searching for a PTSD therapist in Brampton who will listen without judgment and with respect for your culture and faith, I’d be glad to talk.

I work with clients in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon, Bolton and across Ontario.

If you’re in crisis right now

Therapy isn’t an emergency service. If you’re thinking about suicide or worried you might hurt yourself, please call or text 9-8-8, Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline, any time, day or night. If you’re in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency department.

Trauma Counselling: frequently asked questions

Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail? No. You choose what to share and when. Much of trauma therapy, especially early on, focuses on safety and coping rather than retelling what happened, and you can pause at any time.

What’s the difference between PTSD and complex trauma? PTSD often follows one or more specific frightening events and involves symptoms like flashbacks, avoidance and hypervigilance. Complex trauma usually develops from repeated or ongoing harm, often in childhood or close relationships, and tends to affect self-worth, emotions and trust as well. Both can respond well to careful, phase-based therapy.

Can online trauma therapy really work? Yes. Research supports video-based therapy for PTSD and related concerns, and many people feel safer working from their own home. We’ll plan together for what to do if you feel overwhelmed during or after a session.

How long does trauma therapy take? It varies. Recovery after a single incident may take a shorter course of focused sessions, while complex or childhood trauma usually benefits from longer-term work. The stabilization phase is never rushed, because it’s what makes the rest possible.

What if I can’t remember parts of what happened? That’s common, and it doesn’t mean your experience isn’t real. Gaps in memory are a recognized response to trauma. We work with what you notice now, in your body, emotions and relationships, rather than trying to force memories back.

Is hypnotherapy safe for trauma? When used carefully by a trained clinician, yes. I use it mainly for calming and strengthening, not for memory recovery, and only if you’re comfortable with it. You’re never asleep or out of control.

Is it normal to feel worse before I feel better? Some people notice more feelings coming up once they start paying attention to them. That’s one reason we build coping skills first and go at a steady pace. If something feels like too much, tell me, and we’ll slow down.

How much does trauma counselling cost, and is it covered? Individual sessions are $175 and are HST-exempt. Most extended health plans that include Registered Psychotherapists reimburse sessions, and I provide official receipts.

Good questions