IVANA STANIC
REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER, PSYCHOTHERAPIST
MASTERS OF SOCIAL WORK, BACHELOR OF ARTS HONOURS IN SOCIOLOGY, MINOR IN PSYCHOLOGY
I approach therapy as a collaborative process rooted in safety, curiosity, and honest reflection. I support couples and individuals facing a wide range of challenges, including intimacy and relationship concerns, and I tailor evidence-based approaches to each person’s unique needs. My background in sociology and social work with six years of experience in the field shapes how I understand the impact of relationships, life experiences, and systemic pressures on emotional well-being. With a trauma-informed approach, I offer a safe, non-judgmental space where you can feel seen, heard, and respected. I meet you where you are at and work alongside you to identify meaningful goals and create lasting change.
Working with me is collaborative and practical. I aim to create an environment where you can explore what feels difficult, build resilience, and grow at a pace that feels right for you. I aim to have clients leave sessions feeling understood and more confident, with clear insights and tools to support change between sessions. I use an integrative, client-centred approach that includes mindfulness, cognitive-behavioural strategies, and trauma-informed interventions. I have completed extensive training in the Gottman Method (Level 2), Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), and other specialized therapeutic approaches such as EMDR, CBT, DBT, SFBT, sex therapy and more. Continued learning is important to me, and I regularly engage in advanced training to support my clients with approaches that are effective, relevant, and grounded in best practice.
Sessions are warm and grounded, focused on helping you strengthen relationships, navigate challenges, and move toward a more fulfilling way of life.
What you can expect working with me
Starting therapy is a meaningful step, whether you come with clear goals or simply a sense that something isn’t working. Our work begins with a collaborative assessment of your experiences emotionally, attachment patterns, and current stressors, while also recognizing strengths that support resilience.
I use an integrative, evidence-based approach tailored to your needs. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) help us understand thinking patterns, reduce avoidance, and build psychological flexibility, while Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) skills support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and communication and ADHD-related challenges such as impulsivity, executive dysfunction and overwhelm. Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed work allows for trauma-informed care and gentle trauma processing by exploring different “parts” of yourself with compassion, helping address self-criticism, internal conflicts, and the lasting impact of difficult experiences.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be utilized to help reprocess distressing memories so they feel less overwhelming in the present. Psychodynamic and attachment-focused perspectives help us understand how early relationships may continue to shape emotional responses and patterns in current relationships. Psychodynamic and attachment-focused perspectives help us understand how early relationships may continue to shape emotional responses and patterns in current relationships.
For couples, I draw from the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), research-based approaches that help partners understand negative interaction cycles, attachment patterns, strengthen emotional safety, rebuild trust, and improve communication and connection.
Therapy focuses on insight alongside practical tools, including emotion regulation strategies, communication skills, boundary-setting, and new ways of responding rather than reacting. Change happens at a pace that feels safe and sustainable, guided by your goals and readiness.
Who I work with
I work with individuals and couples who want to better understand their emotional and attachment patterns, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful change. Clients often come in feeling stuck in repeating relational cycles, managing anxiety, stress, trauma-related impacts, or ADHD-related challenges, or feeling disconnected from themselves or their partners.
Some seek support for communication difficulties, trust concerns, intimacy challenges, or life transitions such as parenting or blending families. Others want to process difficult or overwhelming experiences, reduce emotional reactivity, work through attachment wounds, address self-criticism, or build greater self-awareness and confidence.
You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Many people come with a desire for growth, healthier coping strategies, stronger emotional balance, and more secure relationships. Whether the focus is trauma processing, relationship repair, emotional regulation, ADHD support, or personal development, therapy offers a structured, supportive space to understand patterns, build skills, and move toward a more connected and fulfilling life.
Equity is central to my practice. I approach therapy with cultural humility, curiosity, and respect, and I adapt my approach to align with each person’s values, strengths, and context rather than using a uniform approach.
· Safety · Integrity · Collaboration · Compassion · Honesty ·
These values guide how I show up in the room, steady, honest, and respectful of your pace.