I help you navigate life’s transitions with emotional balance, guiding you through challenges like immigration, loss, and illness with clarity and lightness.
When should you consider psychotherapy?
- Facing changes or adjusting to life in a new country, with the challenge of rebuilding yourself in a different culture.
- Feeling lost in your own identity or searching for a new sense of belonging.
- Overwhelmed by emotions, uncertainties about the future, and having difficulty naming and regulating your emotions.
- Dealing with a chronic illness (such as cancer) and needing support to face and reframe the process, whether as a patient or a family member.
- Struggling to reconnect after a significant loss that has completely changed your reality.
- Facing challenges in family, social, or professional relationships.
How can psychotherapy help you?
- Develop a fresh perspective on your current situation and enhance self-awareness.
- Reconnect with your values and purposes, bringing coherence to your life.
- Reframe painful experiences and reconcile with your history.
- Manage uncertainties and anxiety during the process.
- Name, understand, and regulate emotions to improve well-being.
- Build healthier interactions and strengthen your relationships.
benefiados pela Psicoterapia
Creating a Safe Space for Your Emotional Well-being.
As a psychotherapist, I provide a safe and welcoming space to help you reconnect with your story and reframe challenging experiences and difficult emotions, ultimately enhancing your emotional well-being.
My therapeutic approach integrates the following modalities:
My clinical focus includes:
Life Transitions
It can involve changes that lead to significant transformations in our lives, such as moving to a different city or country, changing jobs, marriage/divorce, having children, children moving out, illness, and losses.
Immigration
Support with adapting to a new culture, finding a sense of belonging, navigating relationships, life transitions, and mental health challenges.
Cancer
Support for individuals living with cancer (diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, survivorship).
Caregiver Support
Assistance for family members caring for loved ones with cancer or other chronic life-threatening illnesses.
I also provide support for clients facing:
How do psychotherapy sessions work
- Sessions are virtual (video), individual, and last 50 minutes.
- I provide services to clients residing in Ontario and British Columbia.
Welcome!
My name is Andrea Benites, and I am a psychotherapist trained in Canada. My journey in health began with my clinical and hospital psychology training in Brazil. For over 12 years, I have provided support to individuals living with cancer and their families, as well as others with life-threatening chronic illnesses, both in hospitals and private practice. I also hold a Master’s in Psychology (UNESP-Bauru) and a PhD in Psychology (University of São Paulo, USP-RP), where I studied the emotional, existential, and spiritual impacts of the cancer experience for patients and their families. My research also focused on existential health development in vulnerable situations.
As a Brazilian-Canadian immigrant, my journey has brought both profound internal and external changes. Now, I have the privilege of using my experiences to help others navigate the challenges of immigration and adjustment that resonate with my own path. To deepen my knowledge of psychosocial aspects in a new culture, I completed a Master of Social Work at the University of Toronto (UofT), specializing in Health and Mental Health. I also received technical training across various sectors of public health in Canada, such as primary care and hospital services, with a focus on psychotherapy. I worked as an oncology social worker at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Canada’s largest cancer center, providing psychoeducation, connecting clients with community resources, and offering counselling.
In my private practice, I focus on helping individuals navigate their experiences with illness and grief, life transitions, relationship issues, depression and anxiety, and, most importantly, the challenges of immigration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer in-person sessions?
The majority of available sessions are online (video). I also offer a limited number of in-person sessions in downtown Toronto, depending on availability.
Do you offer a free initial consultation?
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to hear your concerns, get to know you, and explore how we can help.
How can I book a session?
You can contact me through the intake form, email, or WhatsApp. I will respond within 48 hours to provide available times. I will do my best to offer your first appointment as soon as possible.
Do I need a referral from a doctor?
No, a referral from a doctor or any other professional is not required. Feel free to contact me directly to schedule a consultation.
What is your session rate?
The rate for a 50-minute session is $165. If this rate makes therapy financially inaccessible, please reach out to discuss the possibility of a reduced fee, depending on availability.
Is your service covered by insurance?
Psychotherapy services are covered by various insurance plans. You can check your policy for “social worker” or “psychotherapist” coverage, as well as “Mental Health” or “Counseling” categories.
How does reimbursement work?
After paying for your session, you will automatically receive a receipt via email, which you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
What is your cancellation policy?
You can cancel a session up to 24 hours before the appointment without charge.
