A depth-oriented approach to understanding and shifting the relationship with ourselves and our partners for greater pleasure and connection.
Perhaps you are an individual or couple experiencing sexual or emotional disconnection and want to understand the deeper patterns shaping your experiences of intimacy and conflict.
Maybe you are healing from a relationship break-up, questioning patterns that continue to emerge in your relationships, or wanting to explore your sexuality and desires more deeply.
There may also be cultural values, trauma, family histories, or gender-based expectations shaping your relationships, sexuality, or connection with yourself that you want to better understand.
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY
SEXUALITY, DESIRE, INTIMACY
Sexuality, mind-body connection, pleasure, intimacy,
sexual shame, cultural values around sexuality.
RELATIONSHIP ISSUES & PATTERNS
Attachment, recurring relationship patterns, dating, emotional intimacy, relationship difficulties.
BREAKUPS & RELATIONAL HEALING
Breakups, separation, divorce, betrayal, grief and healing from past relationships.
FAMILY, CULTURE & GENDER
Family experiences, family expectations, cultural expectations, gender roles and intergenerational patterns.
CAREER & LIFE TRANSITIONS
Career changes, work stress, major life transitions, financial pressures, financial trauma.
ANXIETY, STRESS, AND BURN-OUT
Anxiety, chronic stress, overwhelm, perfectionism, burnout, depression, over-thinking.
COUPLES PSYCHOTHERAPY
EMOTIONAL DISTANCE
Emotional disconnection, loss of closeness, loneliness within the relationship, push-withdraw dynamics.
SEXUAL INTIMACY
Sexual desire, differences in desire, sexual disconnection, pleasure & intimacy.
CULTURE, FAMILY, GENDER ROLES
Cultural differences, family expectations, gender roles, intergenerational relationship patterns.
CAREER & FINANCIAL PRESSURES
Career pressures, work-life stress, major transitions, balance, financial stress
RELATIONSHIP CONFLICT
Recurring arguments, communication difficulties, resentment, unresolved conflict.
INFIDELITY / BETRAYAL
Affairs, betrayal, trust issues, relationship repair.
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM
Sexuality in pregnancy & postpartum, changing sexual desire in postpartum, relationship changes
PARENTING CHALLENGES
Becoming parents, parenting styles, changing relationship roles after children.
munities around you.
Shalyn Isaacs, M.Ed
Masters (M.Ed) in Counselling Psychology,
University of Toronto
Registered Psychotherapist - Qualifying,
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
Member, Canadian Association of
Psychodynamic Therapy
My approach to individual and couples therapy
is informed my relational psychoanalytic and psychodynamic
frameworks, along with my training in Emotionally Focused
Couples Therapy (EFT), Sex Therapy, Somatic (Mind-body)
therapy, and anti-oppressive, trauma-informed approaches.
I am a couples psychotherapist, mother, public speaker,
writer, researcher and artist. In therapy I ask deeper questions
to support you with finding answers within yourself, and
with seeing yourself and your relationship(s) with greater
understanding and compassion. My approach is warm,
inviting, and I offer observations in a kind but direct way.
I have a love for supporting people with making the
unconscious, conscious - in the pursuit of greater
psychological freedom to create mutually satisfying
relationships that end hurtful cycles and that support ripples
of change in one's family, relationships, and future generations.
Organizations I Have Supported:
Teaching, Workshops, & Projects
For over 10 years, I have explored how culture, gender, trauma, and social systems shape people's inner worlds and relationships through my teaching workshops, research and work with universities, mental health organizations, community organizations, and media. These experiences continue to inform how I work with couples today.
Why a Psychodynamic,
Anti-Oppressive Approach
to Individual & Couples Therapy?
This approach can support you with:
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Understanding not only what keeps you stuck, but why these patterns developed in the first place so they can be transformed over the long-term.
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Exploring how cultural values, gender expectations, race, religion, and broader social messages may be influencing your relationship in ways that often operate outside of awareness.
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Moving beyond blame by understanding the deeper emotional and relational needs beneath recurring conflict.
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Developing greater compassion for yourself and your partner by understanding the experiences that have shaped each of you.
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Responding to one another with greater intention rather than reacting automatically from old wounds or inherited expectations.
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Cultivating greater freedom to choose new ways of loving, relating, and growing together.
My Office Space: Hamilton, ON
My office is located inside the Hamilton Therapy Collective building located at
185 Young Street.
My Hours:
Saturday & Sunday: 8:00am - 1:00pm
Monday - Wednesday: 5:30pm - 8:00pm