When we learn how to become resilient, we learn how to embrace the beautifully broad spectrum of the human experience.
-Jaeda DeWalt
In-person Downtown Burlington and virtual sessions across Ontario
Sandra Cushing is a Registered Social Worker and Clinical Director of Resilient Steps Counselling Services providing individual therapy to adults ages 18 years and older throughout the GTA and across Ontario. Counselling for family, partners and friends of persons contending with emotional and psychological difficulties is also provided.
Sandra is an experienced mental health professional drawing from 20 years experience working in hospital, community-based and private practice settings.
Sandra holds a Masters of Social Work degree with Distinction from Wilfrid Laurier University and an Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree from Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson University. Sandra is a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).
Sandra Cushing, BSW, MSW, RSW
Optional Virtual Therapy Platform
Resilient Steps Counselling Services provides an affirming, engaging, person-centered counselling space designed to equip you with insights and tools to forge your way toward a meaningful life path. The virtual therapy platform provides the benefits of the therapeutic experience using a secure platform in the comfort of your own home or alternative private space that you prefer.
Acclaimed Merits of Online Therapy include:
Comfort - Being able to participate in therapy from a tranquil space with familiar items and surroundings can ease engagement in the therapeutic process.
Privacy- Resilient Steps Counselling uses a secure video teletherapy platform that is compliant with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and offers excellent security for health information, confidentiality and protecting your privacy.
Environment-Specific Coaching - Being able to practice tools using a coaching framework in settings that activate strong emotions is a key advantage of online therapy. Examples of online coaching environments include crowded areas, social situations, or when targeting behaviours that someone is striving to do less of such as OCD rituals in one’s home, work or leisure environment.
Time and Financial Savings - Travel and Parking fees are eliminated.
Flexibility - Ease of scheduling day and evening therapy sessions.
Fingertip Convenience - Practice tools such as diary cards, exposure hierarchies, and outcome trackers at your fingertips and easy to look at together online.
My Approach…Interactive, Strengths-Based, Restorative
Seeking counselling and change is an act of courage.
Life can feel overwhelming and include past and current experiences that seem insurmountable. Individual therapy is a one-to-one interaction between the person seeking therapy and the therapist. Individual therapy is designed to be a collaborative process that provides a roadmap of understanding and a transformative space to strive toward the vision and passions that intrigue you.
I provide a comfortable therapeutic environment to explore the challenges you are facing. I place a high value on establishing rapport and trust in the therapeutic relationship. My approach is one of transparency, compassion and collaboration integrated with expert knowledge of therapy models and strategies designed to achieve your counselling goals and aspirations. I will invite you to be an active participant during and between the counselling sessions so that you bring forward the tools and learning from the therapy sessions into your daily life.
I believe that every person has a wealth of strengths and the ability to to tap into and leverage their attributes. Together we will explore perspectives about oneself, others and the world that have been influenced by your life story to date. We will gain an understanding of patterns, beliefs, emotions and responses that serve you well, along with those that are ready for release. Using the therapeutic relationship and evidence-based approaches we will work toward meaningful outcomes including self-resiliency and enhanced communication and connection with others.