Emily Hostland
Counsellor and Expressive Arts Therapist

I am committed to supporting people discover their capacity for change and to build a meaningful and enjoyable life.  I offer support in getting to know yourself better; developing a deeper, more compassionate relationship with yourself and others; healing from traumatic experiences; and working with difficult emotions such as depression, stress, anxiety and hopelessness. I aim to offer a non-judgmental, open space where you can share and explore your thoughts, ideas, imagination and life meaning. I will listen and help you hold what is too difficult to hold on your own.

My approach is informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic, mindfulness-informed, neuroscience-informed, polyvagal theory, expressive arts therapy, existentialism, systems theory and resource-centered approaches. I believe that a compassion-focused, cultural humility, trauma- informed and anti-oppressive approach is essential for safe and effective therapy.

I am a cis-gender female, Canadian-born, with ancestral roots in Ireland, Norway and Czech. A part of me loves to geek out over neuroscience and learning. A part of me loves creating abstractly and mystically. A part of me loves to isolate in nature and go hiking. A part of me loves to play team sports and be in community. I appreciate learning from other people, places, and stories. I value connecting to others, and I believe that is where transformation and healing are rooted. 

I have always been moved and inspired by anti-oppressive, social justice, and healing work. I worked in mental health and social justice research before becoming a therapist. In addition to my individual practice, I have facilitated groups at YWCA Toronto’s Breakthrough program, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, Toronto General Hospital, Ontario Corrections Institute and Sojourn House.

Credentials:  The Create Institute  (graduated in 2017)

Additional Training:  IFS Level 1, Graduate Diploma in Art Therapy (DTATI), MA

Professional Affiliations: Ontario Association for Mental Health Practitioners

Areas of expertise & experience: Trauma, depression, anxiety, life transitions

Arts Practice: Movement, Somatic, Visual arts, Writing, Play and Voice.

Languages: English

Arts practice: Movement, Somatic, Visual arts, Writing, Play and Voice.

Fee: $160
Location:  Toronto and ATMA Cena in Vaughan for psychedelic-assisted therapy
Contact:     Email: [email protected]
                     Tel: (647) 849-4486