Chris Saxton

Psychotherapy, Marriage and Family Therapy,

Addictions Counselling, Pastoral Counselling

 

ckwsaxton@gmail.com

 

416 577-8215

 

257 Eglinton West. Suite 210

M4R 1B1

 

If you are looking for a Psychotherapist, individual and couples therapist or pastoral counselor in Toronto, chances are you are going through a rough patch in your life, marriage or relationships. Issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, grief, loss, alcohol/drug addiction issues, relationship challenges, family issues, life transitions and career issues among others may be impacting on your ability to achieve your fullest potential. In my practice I work with individuals and couples from a variety of backgrounds, faiths, or no faith tradition at all, including those in recovery from addictions as well as those for whom substance use has impacted their family and relationships.

 

I believe that the two most powerful catalysts for growth are awareness and relationship. My training is to meet people where they are without expectation, and without the agenda of fixing, healing or converting the people I work with.

 

Psychotherapy is primarily concerned with the flourishing of human life in relationship: the relationship of self to self and self to others. With that understanding, my practice uses Family Systems, Somatic, Humanistic, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Enneagram typology and Transpersonal methods, and I may suggest exercises based in this varied methodology.

 

I come to psychotherapy from two careers, one in theater as a Stage and Production manager and the other in the Hospitality industry as a Sommelier, consultant and educator. I returned to school to take my Masters of Divinity at the University of Toronto.

 

I have interned at Bridgepoint Health and Renascent House as well as at religious communities in the GTA. I work with those in recovery from addictions as well as those in other 12 step programs I am in training to become a certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist with ICEFT (International Centre for Excellence) and I am a member of CASC (Canadian Association for Spiritual Care).

 

In my practice I seek to hold an open space between ‘secular’ counselling (where some practitioners may be uncomfortable with religion) and ‘religious’ counselling (which can be obsessed by it) – a space in which it is possible for psychology and theology, faith and counselling practice to remain in dialogue and for spirituality to be seen as a source of meaning and a resource for living.

 

I am open to my clients spiritual experience and concerns. While I nurture my own spirituality within the Christian tradition, I believe all religions or no religion at all can be pathways to the Sacred, and I seek to understand and support each person’s own understanding of ultimate values and reality.

 

I am not in any way preachy or ‘religious’ in my counselling, although it is my experience that psychotherapy is enhanced if clients can address their religious and spiritual yearnings in therapy just as they do any other aspect of their lives.