Malika Chandra

Insurance Information: Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Services Offered: Individual Therapy, Couple Therapy, Family Therapy, Child Therapy (6+), Youth Therapy

Therapeutic Modalities: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Attachment Therapy, Mindfulness, Dream Analysis, Spiritual Psychotherapy

Areas of Focus: Relationship Issues, Childhood Trauma, Confidence & Self-Esteem, Family Issues, Grief, Stress, Holistic Wellbeing, Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, Anger, Cannabis-Use, Depression, Spirituality, Parenting, Men's Issues

About Malika

(She/Her)

I understand and recognize that therapy can feel overwhelming. That it can be hard and demanding work, requiring you to be vulnerable when facing and feeling emotions that can be extremely difficult to cope with. As a therapist, I tailor my approach with each client to ease this process by creating an open, non-judgmental, compassionate and collaborative space where we can work to help you better understand your internal self, your values, and your relationship to yourself.

My journey to becoming a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) lead me to the University of Toronto, where I completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and psychotherapy respectively. While I was initially a student of bioinformatics in my first year, I took one Psychology course and fell in love with it. From then on, each step of the way has brought me closer to pursuing what I now know to be the purpose of my life. Since graduation, I have been fortunate to gain experience with a diverse clinical population, from children with learning disabilities, to teenagers developing and managing emotional regulation skills, to adults struggling with relationship issues, to elderly end-of-life patients at the Toronto General Hospital. This breadth of experience has given me a comprehensive understanding of various therapeutic needs across different age groups and contexts and the importance of tailoring my approach to walk alongside clients through their journey.

I employ a multicultural, individualized, and integrative approach, and I rely on both the science and the art of psychotherapy. I integrate science by utilizing the knowledge and skills gained through my education and training. My approach integrates multiple theories and modalities that best suit the unique needs of my clients. I often rely on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), psychodynamic theories including Attachment Theory and Family Systems, as well as Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI). The art of psychotherapy is another matter. It speaks to the unique interaction between the therapist and the client during each session. It informs the infinite complexities of a human being that can only be untangled through human connection and collaboration. The art of psychotherapy calls for me to be deeply rooted in each session, with science as my toolkit.

While working with individuals, it is important for me to consider their context, family unit, culture and community. Similarly, when working with couples and families, it is important for me to understand their individuals needs in the context of their relationships. Finding their authenticity within their relationship can help strengthen their communication and foster a deeper understanding of one and another’s needs. In fact, even young children have internal values that may conflict with expectations and environmental changes. My goal is to help them find and express their emotions and their voice and minimize the manifestation of these problems in adulthood.

I would like to help my clients find their authentic self individually as well as within their relationships. These may be masked by other outer layers that we can understand and uncover together. This may involve processing unhealed trauma, understanding your own patterns, and exploring formative relationships. Through this process, I would like to help you gain alignment between your true self and your external world, which would eventually reflect in your well-being, relationships, friendships, and work. I aim to bring you closer to feeling wholeness within yourself and, consequently, in your relationships with others.

Apart from my work, I also enjoy reading and writing poetry, traveling, caring for animals, improv, cooking, and taking walks. I am also a complete psychology nerd and like to keep that part of me alive by staying up to date on the latest research and contributing my writings to journals like the Indian Express.

Schedule an appointment with Malika