REGISTERED CLINICAL AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGIST

(She/Her)

Dr. Setareh Shayanfar is a Clinical and Health Psychologist with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario. She obtained her PhD from the University of Toronto and completed her clinical residency at The Ottawa Hospital, where she worked closely with individuals dealing with a wide range of health concerns, disabilities, and co-occurring mental health issues in both outpatient and inpatient services. Prior to her residency, she received clinical training at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, where she provided assessment and therapy to patients at different stages of their cancer trajectory as well as sexual health counselling to patients and their partners through Prostate Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic. She also conducted psychodiagnostic assessments with patients pre and post bariatric surgery at Toronto Western Hospital. In addition to her hospital placements, she has trained and worked at university counselling centres and private practice settings.

Setareh believes that a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation of the psychotherapy process and strives to create a safe, warm, and empathic space in her practice. She offers psychological services for a broad range of concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, grief and loss, perfectionism, low self-esteem, and interpersonal difficulties. She also has extensive experience supporting individuals who live with chronic health conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. She is passionate about helping clients adjust to life after their illness, process their diagnoses, manage health-related issues, address existential concerns (e.g., meaning of life, death anxiety), or cope with a loved one’s chronic or terminal illness.

Using an integrative framework, she draws from a number of evidence-based methods depending on each person’s unique needs and goals. Her work is strongly grounded in client-centred, emotion-focused, and other process-oriented approaches. In addition, she is well-versed in cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and schema therapy. She highly values each client’s lived experience and is committed to providing culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed care. Her practice is inclusive of all gender and sexual identities, racial/ethnic backgrounds, and abilities. She offers services in English and Persian (Farsi).

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 647-496-0457 for more information.