UNDERSTAND. RECONNECT. HEAL.
MICHAEL WASSEF, REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Trauma-Informed, Attachment-Focused Therapy in Burlington, Oakville & Mississauga
Most people who reach out to me are stuck — anxious, over-responsible for everyone else's feelings, or caught in the same argument on repeat. I help you see where that pattern actually started, usually much earlier than you'd expect, and build real ways to respond differently.
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST (CRPO) - MDIV - BENG - PREPARE-ENRICH FACILITATOR - VERIFIED BY PSYCHOLOGY TODAY
Come as you are.
Approach to Therapy
I draw from attachment theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS), alongside narrative and somatic tools, to help you understand patterns, heal relationships, and build lasting change — not just talk about what’s wrong.
What to Expect
Our work together is collaborative and grounded in curiosity, not judgment. Expect a safe space to be heard, honest guidance, and practical tools you can use between sessions.
Trauma-Informed Care
A TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICE
Trauma doesn’t just live in memory. It lives in the body, and in the patterns that once kept us safe.
My approach is trauma-informed at every stage — paced to what you can carry, attentive to safety and choice, and grounded in advanced clinical training in how trauma shapes attachment, relationships, and the nervous system’s stress response.
TRAUMA TRAINING & CERTIFICATION
Certificate in Trauma Counselling for Mental Health Professionals — Level 1 Trauma Training
The Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health at SickKids · Completed
Certificate in Trauma Counselling for Mental Health Professionals — Level 2 Advanced Clinical Training
The Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health at SickKids · Completed
Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
PESI In progress
MY STORY
I believe everyone carries a real capacity for intimacy and compassion toward themselves and the people they love. Grief, betrayal, trauma, stress, and the wounds of childhood can quietly erode that capacity, leaving people feeling helpless, disconnected, or stuck in patterns they can’t quite name.
Our most frustrating adult patterns—the urge to fix everyone else’s feelings, the fear of disappointing others, the shutdown or pursuit that shows up mid-argument—usually made sense once, as a way to stay safe or loved as a child. Together, we trace those patterns back to their roots, meet the protective parts driving them with curiosity instead of judgment, and build new ways of responding that fit your life now.
With individuals, I often draw on narrative tools like the Tree of Life for grief, transitions, and identity. With couples, I use EFT to help partners step out of pursue-withdraw or blame-defend cycles and into moments of real emotional reachability. I also weave in somatic and nervous-system-informed practices — breathwork, grounding, polyvagal psychoeducation — because insight alone rarely regulates a racing heart or a shut-down body.
I’m warm, curious, and gently challenging, and I’ll name what I’m noticing rather than talk around it. Taking the first step toward counselling takes courage, and I don’t take that lightly.
Specialities
Anxiety & Depression
Trauma & PTSD
Grief & loss
Relationship issues
Couples therapy
Family conflict
Self-esteem
Stress management
Life transitions
Spirituality
Parenting
Approaches
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Narrative Therapy
Somatic and body-based practices
Solution-focused therapy
Mindfulness-based interventions
Humanistic and person-centred modalities
Client Demographic
Adults
Couples
Families
Adolescents (13-17)
Languages
English
Arabic
Sessions
In-person
Online
Licensing
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) - Authorized for Independent practice
Frequently Asked Questions
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We’ll talk briefly about what’s bringing you in, answer any questions you have, and see whether working together feels like a good fit. There’s no obligation to continue.
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Both. I see clients in person in Burlington and Mississauga, and online across Ontario.
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I don’t bill insurance directly, but I provide receipts so you can submit for reimbursement through your extended health plan. Registered Psychotherapist services are also CRA tax-eligible as a medical expense, and a limited number of sliding-scale spots are available. See the Fees & Insurance page for current rates.
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English and Arabic.
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Adults, couples, and families, as well as adolescents ages 13–17.
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New clients start with a free 15-minute consult — book using the button above. Existing clients can rebook anytime through the Jane App.
Explore Our Services
Couples & Marriage Therapy
Rebuilding connection and trust between partners.
Individual Therapy
Support through anxiety, stress, and life's hard moments
Premarital Counselling
Discover and build your skills together to start a strong marriage.
Family Therapy
Strengthening relationships across the whole family system
Not Sure Where to Start?
That’s exactly what a free 15-minute consult is for. Tell us what’s going on, and we’ll help you figure out which service — and which approach — fits your situation, with no obligation to continue.