Rachael Fernandes

Hi, my name is Rachael (she/her)! I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with Safer Spaces Therapy, providing virtual counselling and psychotherapy in Ontario. Pressure, stress, and change can make finding your identity, voice, and fulfilment challenging. I aim to build a grounding, productive space to help clients dive deeper into their past and present, reconnect to their unique self-expression, and work towards their preferred paths.

Growing up in the GTA as a 1.5-generation multicultural immigrant fostered my awareness of the intricacies of intersections, culture, and identity. Defining a safe space for all layers and parts of your experience represents an intentional aspect I strive to bring to our work together. Supporting individuals along their mental health and wellness journey expanded from my experiences at crisis support lines, public service, and mental health campaigns. My professional and personal experiences called me to cultivate a creative and thoughtful place for clients to uncover challenges or barriers, define their preferred paths and establish space for self-authenticity.

Being a part of professional spaces that foster growth, reflection, self-compassion, self-agency and strength in vulnerability is an honour and privilege. Using an integrative approach, I support areas like identity, people-pleasing/perfectionism, burnout, early adulthood challenges, anxiety, depression, and life transitions/changes. I work from evidence-based practices, including Narrative, Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I incorporate existential, creative, multicultural, and trauma-informed lenses aligning with client interests and goals. Creativity, reflection, humour, collaboration, and compassion are some pillars of practice I integrate into the therapy room, where being human is respected, celebrated, and supported!