Get to know therapists in Hamilton that work with Psychologist Dr. Barbera

Thank you Jenn for taking the time to let us get to know you better. Where did you go to school and what kind of schooling did you have to complete?
I completed my undergraduate degree at University of Toronto, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Outside of my normal psychology classes I took sociology, women studies, anthropology, worked in research labs, and completed a thesis focusing on intercultural relationships. I completed my Master of Psychology at Adler Professional School in Toronto in order to become a therapist . My courses focused on therapeutic skills, taking classes in DBT, CBT, Trauma-informed treatment and couples therapy. I also completed a psychology practicum with Dr. Barbera c. Psych and have been working as a therapist in Hamilton Ontario ever since.

What specific therapeutic approaches are you trained in as a therapist?
I am trained as a therapist  in multiple therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), as well as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). 

I take a trauma-focused approach to therapy, meaning as a therapist  I'm well versed in how trauma is stored in the body through the lense of polyvagal theory and tend to utilize body-based approaches with therapy clients. 

What should others know about you as a therapist?
I'm quite client-centred as a therapist, meaning that I view therapy as a collaborative process in which the therapy client is their own best expert. As a therapist I show up authentically and offer unconditional positive regard, I will accept you however you show up In therapy.

What is your favourite kind of therapy? 
Internal family systems (IFS) therapy really resonates with me. I love that the focus is acceptance and understanding your inner world through compassion, connection, and curiosity. Through training and my own therapy twork with clients I have been witness to the healing power everyone innately has within them while guided by IFS principles. 

What are your strengths as a therapist and what are your areas for continued growth as a therapist?
In general, I often get the feedback from others that I bring a warm, gentle, and non-judgmental energy everywhere I go. I really love to listen to others and can easily hold compassionate space for tough emotions. I view these innate qualities as strengths I bring into my work as a therapist. 

I view being a therapist as an opportunity for lifelong growth and a continuous search to obtain a greater understanding of humans. In terms of continued growth I will always be on the search for knowledge. 

What is your favourite part of being a therapist?
That’s an easy answer - I feel so honoured that others allow me to witness and aid in their healing journey.  

What is your least favourite part of being a therapist?
Also an easy answer - the lack of government funding for mental health services limiting access to therapeutic services. 

Is there anything else you would like to let people who are considering therapy know?
It is hard to reach out for help. There are many different options when seeking therapy and it can seem overwhelming, that’s normal! The difference between psychotherapist, psychologist, psychological associate, and therapist is complicated at times. At the end of the day as long as you are seeking out qualified professionals, what probably matters most is your comfort level and quality of relationship with your therapist. 

What do you think are some of the most important factors that determine how much someone benefits from therapy? 
In my experience a client's willingness is a very important factor when considering a client's benefit from therapy. Such as willingness to make changes between sessions, willingness to make space for painful emotions, willingness to try new approaches, and engagement in assigned therapy homework. 

In this interview we talk in-depth with therapist Paula Boanta, who has been providing therapy services in Dr. Jennifer Barbera's practice in  Hamilton  Ontario  since 2017. 

Paula originally completed a psychology practicum in 2017, and then completed her 4 years of post-masters work to register as a psychological associate with the College of Psychologists of Ontario.

What made you decide to become a therapist?

I wanted to pursue a career in psychology very early on, from the age of 15 years. Mental illness runs in my family and I watched my father suffer from Major Depression from a young age and never fully understood why. Studying psychology became a life goal of mine in order to learn about mental illness, in the hopes that it would bring some peace of mind knowing why my dad was suffering. By studying psychology I also wanted to acquire the knowledge and tools to become a therapist and help others struggling with mental illness.

Where did you go to school and what kind of schooling did you have to complete?

I went to Mcmaster University in Hamilton Ontario and acquired an honours degree in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour. Afterwards, I decided I wanted to go to a professional psychology school and gain more hands-on, direct therapy experience instead of focusing on research. As a result, I went to ADLER Professional Psychology School in Toronto and received a Masters degree in psychology, along with a certificate in CBT  and  I’ve  been  working  as  a  therapist  ever  since.

What is your favourite part about being a therapist?

My favourite part about being a therapist is the connection and strong therapeutic relationships I build with my clients in therapy, and knowing that they are allowing me to be a part of their journey. Another thing I enjoy about being a therapist is watching my clients grow and unveil their true selves as they transform their lives. This is a very rewarding aspect of being a therapist.

What is your least favourite part about being a therapist?

My least favourite part about being a therapist, and I'm sure I'm speaking for many other therapists, are having to complete the therapy case notes!

What is something that surprised you when you became a therapist?

The one thing that surprised me most after becoming a therapist is how fast an hour session goes by. When I first started providing therapy as an intern, I always worried about what an hour would look like sitting with a client because outside of session, an hour feels like a very long time. To my surprise, I was amazed to see how fast the time goes by while in session and sometimes 50 minutes does not feel long enough because I really enjoy talking with and helping my clients!

What should others know about you as a therapist?

What I wish others would know about me as a therapist is that I am also human! I am imperfect, just like everyone else. Even therapists can experience a wide range of emotions and won’t always have the answers to everything. After becoming a therapist, I often heard others say “ well you should know how to handle X and Y, you are a therapist”. Although I am a therapist, I am also human and I can struggle with my own difficulties and I too benefit from support from others. And yes, therapists have their own therapists, and I believe this makes them even better therapists!

What are your strengths as a therapist and what are your areas of continued growth?

My strengths as a therapist are my great communication, listening and social skills. I am very empathetic, calm, gentle and compassionate with my clients. This helps them feel more understood and acknowledged. 

My areas of continued growth would be increasing my level of confidence in setting expectations around ending session on time as this tends to be my weak point as a therapist.

What is your favourite kind of therapy?

My favourite kind of therapy is both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). Though both therapies are quite different, a commonality is the basic premise of accepting our thoughts, feelings or “emotional or disruptive parts” of ourselves without struggling, directly trying to change them or trying to get rid of them. 

As individuals can relate to their inner worlds from a more calm, mindful and accepting way, overall their level of overwhelm will decrease and they will learn that they can still live a meaningful and fulfilling life, despite the negative thoughts or emotions that may surface from time to time. Both therapy  approaches emphasize that it is okay to have these experiences and I've seen coming to a place of validation or acceptance be very transforming for people  In  therapy.

Is there anything else you would like to let people who are considering contacting a therapist know?

For those who are considering contacting a therapist, keep in mind that it is normal to experience anxiety and feel nervous about taking this important step  towards  therapy— you are going to be talking to someone you don't even know yet. However, this will decrease over time as you learn to be more comfortable with your therapist and the process itself. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that you are not broken! Many people seek therapy to “fix” their problems and make their thoughts go away. Too much of this focus can be unhelpful because unhelpful thoughts, behaviours and negative beliefs are not “diseases” that can be eradicated by finding some sort of quick cure. Therapy is a process that can help to reduce symptoms by teaching coping skills, improving well-being and healing wounds. 

Having the expectation of wanting something to go away now may only hold you back from getting there quicker. Keep in mind, the cure is within you —we all have the potential to heal and transform if we believe we are capable of doing so and then move in a helpful and meaningful direction. 

Thank you for taking the time to let us get to know you, especially for those seeking a therapist in Hamilton Ontario. Destiny- Can you briefly describe your educational background and training in therapy & psychology?

I have an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, and a Master’s Degree in Psychology, during which I achieved a certificate in trauma-informed therapy. I have been a therapist since 2021.

Can you tell me more about what made you go into psychology as a career?

Part of our work as therapists is helping to guide others through their journey of self-awareness and self-discovery. Over the course of my education and in practice as a therapist, I have come to learn how valuable personal self-awareness is as a therapist working to help other individuals do the same. I have seen in myself and my clients how powerful this journey can be in obtaining inner peace, happiness, and overall satisfaction. Hardships, suffering and adversity is part of the human experience, and therefore is nothing to be ashamed of or avoided. Instead, if they are faced, approached with self-compassion and acceptance, and understood in the context of our thoughts, feelings and behaviours that may cause us distress, they no longer have to govern us or weigh us down. Part of what drew me to this field (therapy & psychology) was wanting to achieve this for myself. I grew up with a single-mother and never knew my father past the age of two. It was not until adolescence and early adulthood that I became curious as to how this aspect of my life contributed to my personality, strengths and weaknesses. I soon realized that I could not begin to help guide others through their own journey of self-discovery if I had yet to do that myself. In order to be confident in the work that I am doing and trust that I am capable of the work, I had to allow myself to be fully vulnerable to my adversities, faults and weaknesses, and learn to accept and embrace them. This unique factor that brought me into this field of work has influenced how I can understand and relate to other individuals who have experienced parental absence or other forms of childhood adversity, and how I can help said individuals navigate the difficulties that may come with this.

How long have you been practicing as a therapist, and what types of clients have you worked with during your career?

I have been practicing as a therapist since September 2021. I underwent my psychology practicum experience from September 2021-June 2022 under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Barbera C. Psych. Since then, I have been contracting my clinical therapy services as an associate working under the clinical supervision of both Dr. Barbera C. Psych and Dr. Amanda Robinson C. Psych while I complete my 6000 hours (4 years) of post-masters work to register with the College of Psychologists. In my experience thus far, I have worked with a handful of adolescents around age 17, but I primarily work with individual adults between the ages of 18-65 years, with concerns consistent with anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance abuse.

What specific therapeutic approaches or modalities are you trained in, and do you have any specialized certifications or areas of focus?

I use a variety of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical BehaviourTherapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotion-Focussed Therapy (EFT), and Mindfulness-and Self-Compassion-Based Approaches. I do have a certificate in trauma-informed therapy that I obtained during my Master's degree, but I also plan on pursuing further training in additional specific trauma-related modalities, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

What qualities do you think are most important in a therapist?

I believe it is important for a therapist to find a healthy balance between being non-judgmental and empathetic, and objective and realistic, depending on the context of the situation and needs of the therapy client.

How do you ensure that you provide client-centered care and maintain a non-judgmental and empathetic stance with your clients?

In my therapy work, I recognize the role that therapist’s can play in some individuals’ lives. We can be a confidant, a safe place/outlet, or a listening ear, and in that role, we are often trusted with individuals’ most sensitive experiences, deepest thoughts, fears and emotions. I believe it is most important to adopt and maintain a non-judgmental and empathetic view when working with therapy clients, because I truly value and appreciate this level of vulnerability and openness, despite how hard it can be at times. I ensure this by separating the individual from the situation and working to understand the reasoning for the situation as opposed to fixating on it itself. With my psychology background, I understand that as humans, we are imperfect, and can often make decisions, or have tendencies that we are not proud of. However, I also understand that, even the things that we may dislike about ourselves have a purpose, and usually stem from positive intent at a subconscious level. Part of my job is helping clients to uncover this positive intent in therapy, instead of viewing it from an entirely negative lens and perpetuating the issue.

How do you prioritize self-care to prevent burnout and maintain your own emotional well-being?

I prioritize self-care by working to establish a healthy balance between my therapy work, interpersonal relationships, and personal interests/hobbies. I have a fairly structured routine that includes focussing on work in the morning and during my work day, and making time for myself, family and friends after this work day and on the weekends, and adjusting when needed. I believe this routine is most important not only to maintain my own emotional well-being, but also to ensure I am at my best for my therapy clients. 

Where do you see your career as a therapist heading in the next few years?

In the next few years, I will be completing my 6000+ post-master’s supervised practice hours with  Dr. Barbera C.Psych and Associates, after which I will be registering as a Psychological Associate with the CPO.

How do you feel about receiving supervision, and how often do you seek supervision for your cases?

I truly value receiving supervision because it often helps me see my therapy cases from a different and unique lens which can provide clarity when I am seeking therapeutic guidance. I also value supervision because it continues to teach me and challenge me in the field, to ensure that I continue to grow as a therapist. I have scheduled supervision either individual or in a group format at least once a month (and available as needed), and this is usually sufficient for what I need. 

What do you think are some of the most important factors that determine how much someone benefits from therapy?

A few factors I believe are most important to determine how much an individual benefits from therapy are:

1. Rapport between therapist and client: in order for any therapy progress, I believe it is important that the client feel safe, and comfortable with their therapist. For this reason, I try to prioritize rapport building early on, and examine the specific needs of each therapy client to ensure I can meet them to the best of my ability.

2. Frequency of sessions: Depending on the presenting concerns and client goals, more frequent therapy sessions can lead to a higher benefit in individuals (for example, meeting weekly to biweekly as opposed to every 4-6 weeks). Significant gaps between therapy sessions can potentially delay or limit progress simply due to lack of reinforcement or inconsistency. In my experience, I have found that starting at a greater frequency (1-2 weeks) and then transitioning to every 4-6 weeks if progress is now being maintained, seems to be a good balance. However, since there are many additional factors the can influence frequency of sessions for clients, I do my best to ensure that their goals and objectives are still met regardless of how frequently they are able to come in.

3. Work between sessions: Given that meetings between therapist and client are 50 minutes every week (at most), work that is done between sessions is an essential factor for therapy progress. Some cases require more work between sessions than others, but all clients should practice reflecting on what was discussed during each meeting and practicing interventions, strategies or coping skills in real-world situations. 

Dr. Jennifer Barbera: Thank you Jena for taking the time to chat with me. I am grateful to be able to work with you as a therapist in Hamilton Ontario, and thought it would be helpful to ask you some questions so that people can get to know you more as a therapist and even what it would be like to have you as their therapist.

Can you briefly describe your educational background and training in therapy & psychology?

I completed an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Guelph. After that, I then went on to do a Masters of Psychology at Adler Graduate Professional School. I am in the final stages of completing my Masters as I finish the final edits of my Major Research Paper. At Adler, I was able to complete a certificate in trauma psychotherapy. Throughout my 900 hours of practicum experience as a Graduate Intern at the clinic I was able to complete various online trainings, readings, and supervision with Dr. Barbera c. Psych and Dr. Robinson c. Psych focused on modalities such as CBT, ACT, IFS, and EFT. I have been working as a therapist in Hamilton since finishing my placement.

Can you tell me more about what made you go into psychology as a career?

There are many things that made me gravitate towards psychology as a career. Being the oldest child, with two younger siblings I was put into a supportive role from a very young age. Also, being more introverted and a good listener, I noticed that many of my friends would come to me to discuss what was going on in their lives. I remember taking my first social science class in high school and being fascinated in understanding mental health and behaviour. I knew that I loved psychology but was unsure of what career I would want to pursue. I gained experience working at a youth homeless shelter and truly enjoyed connecting one on one with the youth. From there I realized that becoming a therapist was something that I would enjoy and find fulfillment out of.

What specific therapeutic approaches or modalities are you trained in, and do you have any specialized certifications or areas of focus?

I use an integrative approach as a therapist  using modalities such as CBT, ACT, IFS, DBT, and EFT. I pull aspects from each therapy modality that I think would benefit the specific therapy client that I am working with. In my masters I was able to complete a certificate in trauma psychotherapy which has allowed me to work as a therapist from a trauma-informed lens.

What qualities do you think are most important in a therapist?

I think as a therapist it is very important to be open, non-judgemental, and accepting of others, as this is very important for therapy clients to feel comfortable to open up. It is also important to be curious, as this helps to learn and explore with therapy clients as well as to keep learning more with regards to mental health research and training. I have also learned that it is important to be present and in the moment, as we must be practicing what we are trying to encourage our therapy clients to do!

How do you feel about receiving supervision, and how often do you seek supervision for your therapy cases?

I really enjoy and appreciate receiving supervision. It is very beneficial to see others perspectives on a therapy case that maybe you have not thought of before. I try to balance narrowing down therapy cases that I feel more challenged by for supervision with also trusting myself independently with the cases that I feel more confident with. I have a regular schedule that rotates through group and independent supervision every 4 weeks. I also am able to seek supervision outside of this schedule throughout the week if I have more urgent inquiries which is a great option.

What methods do you use to assess the needs and goals of your clients at the beginning of therapy?

I always try to make a point in the intake session to understand a therapy client’s reason for coming in and clarifying their goals for therapy. As a therapist, I will listen to the goals that the client has in mind, and also collaboratively suggest additional therapy goals if I have any in mind and seeing how those suggestions land with them. I try to stay very client-centered and follow what they want to get out of therapy.

As a therapist, how do you collaborate with clients to establish treatment goals, and how do you measure progress toward those goals?

If a therapy client has multiple goals at once, it can be helpful to break them down to focus on 1-2 at a time so they seem less overwhelming. I also try to encourage patience with progress towards these goals, as sometimes impatience can block progress. I will check in from time to time to see if the clients’ goals have changed in any way. We also monitor progress regularly through something called a CORE 10, which is a quick survey to monitor symptoms.

As a therapist, How do you prioritize self-care to prevent burnout and maintain your own emotional well-being?

Self-care is extremely important in this career to help to make you the best clinician you can be. I try to set boundaries in my therapy work by blocking off times in my week/weekend to take breaks and not be doing work on my laptop. I try to maintain a regular schedule of moving my body by going on walks, going to the gym, and doing hot yoga. I also prioritize making plans with my friends and family. I also enjoy spending time with my horse and my dog. In the winter, I enjoy going downhill skiing. Additionally, I really enjoy travelling, and find it really helpful to have those plans to look forward to. I also like just relaxing and watching crime shows or reality TV.

As a therapist, are there any particular self-care strategies or practices that you find especially effective in managing the demands of your work?

I find it really helpful to do some deep breathing or mindfulness practices before therapy sessions to help be focused and in the moment. I also find essential oils to be helpful for clearing my mind and calming me down.

What is your favourite thing about being a therapist?

I really enjoy watching clients progress towards their therapy goals. I love hearing them reflect on their progress and hard work. I feel honored that clients allow me to be part of their journey. Along the same lines, I love hearing “you are going to be proud of me, I ...”

What is your least favourite thing about being a therapist?

It can be difficult when clients you develop a strong therapeutic relationship with leave therapy, as it leaves you wondering how they are and what is going on in their lives.

What do you think are some of the most important factors that determine how much someone benefits from therapy?

I think a persons support system is a major factor. It is so important to have at least a couple people in your life that you can go to for support and encouragement. I would also say that how a client treats themselves is a major factor. It is so important to be kind and to show up for yourself, especially through challenging times. Mental health challenges and therapy are not easy and being self-critical certainly does not help. I would also add that doing the work between sessions is important. There are many hours in a week outside of the therapy hour to be doing the work and implementing the skills and techniques worked on in session.

Where do you see your career as a therapist heading in the next few years?

In the next few years, I hope to be working towards registration with the College of Psychologists doing my 6,000 hours of post graduate work. I also hope to pursue EMDR training to gain that as a new modality in my tool box. Additionally, I hope to continue growing both personally and professionally, improving my work-life balance, knowledge, and self-confidence.

Read an interview with Psychotherapist and Social Worker Peter Thomson Scarlett.