Julia E. Falzarano

Sometimes you know exactly what you’re looking for help with. Other times, you just know something isn’t working anymore. Maybe it’s your child, who’s struggling in ways that have you second-guessing every decision. Maybe it’s a teen who used to talk to you and doesn’t anymore. Or maybe it’s you, navigating grief, a transition you didn’t choose, or an anxiety that never quite turns off. Whatever brought you here, you don’t have to arrive with the right words. We’ll find them together.

I work with children, teens, and adults. For kids under twelve, that often means directive play therapy, because children tell us who they are through play long before they have the vocabulary to explain themselves. It’s especially helpful for children navigating ADHD, autism, or developmental differences, where the usual sit-and-talk model isn’t the right fit. I have a strong focus on supporting neurodivergent individuals, including those with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), helping them better understand their own needs, navigate daily challenges, and build confidence in how they move through the world. With teens, the work often lives in peer pressure, school stress, family dynamics, and the things they haven’t quite told anyone yet. With adults, my work often focuses on grief and loss, divorce, new parenthood, career shifts, or the quiet pressure of perfectionism and anxiety that can make everyday life feel heavier than it should. I also work closely with parents and caregivers, offering guidance and coaching to strengthen communication, emotional regulation, and connection at home. Depending on what you or your family need, our work might draw from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and grief-informed approaches

My background spans more than a decade across school-based, clinical, crisis, and pediatric healthcare settings. That includes crisis response work through Victim Services, school-based mental health through the Toronto District School Board, pediatric care through SickKids-affiliated programs Spark Pediatrics, hospice care, and private practice. Each of those settings shaped the way I hold a therapy room now, and together they taught me that the most meaningful work usually happens somewhere between structure and flexibility, between evidence-based protocol and the specific person sitting across from you.

What drew me to this work was a mix of personal and professional. I was diagnosed with ADHD in university, and the therapist I worked with at that point in my life made a difference I’ve never stopped thinking about. I know what it feels like to be the person wondering whether therapy is going to help, and I don’t take that leap of faith for granted. I also believe therapy doesn’t belong only inside the therapy hour. A lot of my work is about building practical tools you can actually use between sessions, small strategies for regulating emotions, noticing thought patterns, or moving through hard moments with a little more grounding. What we practice grows stronger.

I also have specialized training in grief, death, and bereavement, and I’m currently completing advanced certification in this area through Wilfrid Laurier University. I support clients navigating both recent and longstanding loss, with care that tries to be both deeply compassionate and practically grounded. That work also includes supporting individuals navigating pregnancy and infant loss, a kind of grief that can feel deeply complex, isolating, and too often carried alone.

Alongside ongoing therapy, I also offer SRS-2 (Social Responsiveness Scale) standardized autism assessments. This evidence-based screening tool provides insight into a child’s social communication strengths and challenges, and helps families better understand their child’s needs and whether further assessment or support may be beneficial. When appropriate, I can also provide supporting documentation to help guide conversations with schools around temporary supports or accommodations, such as IEPs, while families are in the process of pursuing a formal diagnostic assessment. The SRS-2 is a screening measure, not a formal diagnostic autism assessment on its own, but it can be a meaningful piece of the puzzle for families trying to understand what their child needs.

When I work with children or teens, I see the family as part of the team. Every five to eight sessions, I build in a parent consultation so you’re not in the dark about what we’re working on. I respect your child’s confidentiality, and at the same time, you get to stay connected to their progress and to the goals we’re working toward. For adults who are new to therapy or unsure about it, the early sessions are never about diving into the hardest thing. We spend time warming up, getting a sense of what matters to you and what you’d like to focus on. You don’t need to come in with your questions prepared or your story polished. Making that space feel safe is my job, not yours.

My caseload is currently full, and I’m not taking new clients at this time. Rather than keeping a waitlist, I’d encourage you to explore the other therapists on our team, each of whom brings real care and expertise to their work. Their bios and availability are on our team page, and each of them offers a free 20-minute consultation.