About me
Hi, I’m Dagmara (she/her), a Registered Psychotherapist based in Toronto, in private practice. I work with adults who feel stuck in patterns they can’t quite explain — people who function well on the outside but carry something heavier underneath. Much of that weight tends to trace back to early relationships: how we learned to connect, what we had to do to feel safe, and what got left behind in the process.
I specialize in working with attachment-related difficulties and trauma, including the impact of early relational wounds. I’m interested in the emotional and relational roots of distress, not just managing symptoms. Many clients come to therapy carrying patterns shaped in childhood that continue to influence their relationships, sense of self, and emotional regulation in adulthood.
I work with women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the empty nest phase, transitions that can surface unexpected emotional weight and identity questions. Therapy can be a place to slow down and make sense of what’s shifting, rather than just push through it.
Alongside my clinical work, I bring an understanding of family life and developmental change, which informs a thoughtful and grounded approach to therapy.
Whether you are seeking support through a difficult period or looking for deeper personal growth, I offer a respectful, non-judgmental space to explore what matters most to you.
Before becoming a therapist I spent years in the corporate world - high-functioning environments where appearing capable was the baseline expectation. I know what it’s like to keep going while something inside quietly isn’t okay. I also immigrated from Poland, which gave me a close understanding of what it means to navigate change, identity, and belonging when the ground keeps shifting. These experiences aren’t incidental to my work. They’re part of why I do it.
My approach is psychodynamic, attachment-based, and trauma-informed. We look at patterns that formed early — patterns that once helped you cope, but may now be getting in the way. The work is collaborative and paced. I’m not trying to fix you. I’m trying to help you understand yourself well enough that things can actually change.
Education
My education and training include an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University and a Diploma from the Ontario Psychotherapy and Counselling College (a 5-year Master’s-equivalent program). I’m licensed with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and a member of the Canadian Association for Psychodynamic Therapy (CAPT).
I serve on the Board of Directors for CAPT — a role I took on because I care about the field and the practitioners in it. It keeps me connected to what’s happening in psychodynamic therapy in Canada.
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I’m committed to ongoing professional development to ensure I provide high-quality, evidence-informed care. In addition to my core training, I’ve completed specialized education in trauma-informed and integrative approaches, including:
Somatic Therapy for Trauma (Wellspace) — Sep 2025–May 2026
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Training (UofT & CAMH) — Jan–Mar 2026
Art Therapy Training — Jan–Mar 2026
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Foundations Masterclass Dr. Kendhal Hart — May-Aug 2026
Complex Trauma Certification Training Level 1 & 2 (CCTP/CCTP-II) Course with Janina Fisher (PESI) — 2024
Trauma Research Foundation's Certificate Program in Traumatic Stress Studies (PESI) — 2024
Personal philosophy and approach
My approach to therapy is grounded in the belief that healing happens within safe, authentic relationships. I work with curiosity, warmth, and care, creating a space where clients can explore the emotional roots of their struggles without judgment or pressure to change too quickly.
Using a psychodynamic, attachment-based, and trauma-informed lens, we look at patterns that often form early in life, patterns that once helped you cope, but may now limit how you relate to yourself and others. Together, we work toward greater emotional awareness, self-compassion, and more flexible, connected ways of being.
Therapy is a collaborative process. My role is to help you make sense of your experiences, strengthen your capacity for regulation, and support growth that feels grounded and sustainable.
