DR. GENEVIEVE VRANA, PH.D., C. PSYCH.

(She/Her)

Dr. Genevieve Vrana strives to provide clients with a safe space to explore their emotions, so that they can heal from past wounds, become more self-accepting, and make meaningful changes in their lives. Her clients can always count on her warm, empathic, and non-judgmental manner, which leaves them feeling understood and supported. She is passionate about helping people struggling with a range of concerns including depression, low self-esteem, grief, anxiety, worry, childhood and adult traumatic experiences, overwhelming emotions, stress, life transitions, relationship difficulties, life satisfaction, and challenges associated with living with a health condition or disability. 

While Dr. Vrana practices primarily from an Emotion-Focused Therapy orientation, she integrates interventions from Cognitive-Behavioral, Dialectical Behavior, Relational/Attachment-Based, Compassion-Focused Therapy models, in order to best meet the needs and goals of each client. Her approach is grounded in a trauma-informed, intersectional feminist, Neurodiversity-affirmative, and LGBTQ+ positive stance. She aims to create a welcoming and empowering space for individuals of diverse sexuality, gender, race, neurotype, ability, and body size. 

Dr. Vrana obtained her PhD in Clinical Psychology from York University in 2022. She completed a pre-doctoral internship at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, where she worked full-time delivering psychotherapy and assessments to individuals living with complex and serious mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and co-occurring developmental disorders. Since 2009, she has also trained and held positions in various hospitals and private practices, such as in the Women’s Trauma Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, North York General Hospital, York University Psychology Clinic, and Roncesvalles Psychology Clinic. 

Additionally, Dr. Vrana has conducted in-depth research into the process of emotional change in Emotion-Focused Therapy under the supervision of Dr. Leslie Greenberg, one of the primary developers of this approach. Her doctoral research examined how clients resolve self-interruption, or the avoidance of emotions. She integrates her knowledge of research into her clinical decision-making, in order to provide evidence-based services to her clients. 

Dr. Vrana is a registered Clinical and Health Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario.  She is also a member of the Ontario Psychological Association, the International Society for Emotion-Focused Therapy, and the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration. 

Please note that our associates work with many presenting issues, some of which are not listed in this biography. Please speak to our intake team at 416-767-7091 for more information.