Volha Shelepava, Registered Psychotherapist

My name is Volha, I am from Belarus and I have been working with clients for over 14 years. My journey in psychotherapy started in 1997 when I chose psychotherapy as my University major. I studied psychotherapy at Belarusian State University. I also finished the Belarusian-Italian program on clinical psychotherapy and the Moscow Gestalt Institute. I moved to Canada in 2008 and finished Gestalt Institute of Toronto in 2016. I became a registered psychotherapist in Canada in 2016 and since 2019 I also have been supervising therapists who are just starting their own professional journeys. I love my job and I believe that I can call myself a “good enough therapist”. I only work with adults 18+ English and Russian When do we need therapy? Every life turn is precious and every difficulty deserves attention. In our fast-paced society of "successful success", we often dismiss small inconveniences and do not pay attention to discomfort until it grows out of proportion. There is no need to wait that long! We can use therapy to our benefit not only when dealing with deep and serious traumas, even though it is always the main focus and priority. Therapy could also be a place where we discover how to move from "OK" to "great". My therapy goal for most clients is to deepen awareness of their needs and resources and to create the “toolbox” that will help them manage their lives on a daily basis without regular therapy. As a psychotherapist using the Gestalt approach, I focus on helping my clients become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in the present moment. I encourage self-acceptance, the ability to make choices and explore how unresolved issues could limit personal growth and how my clients relate to themselves and others in their daily lives. In other words, I help clients gain insight into their experiences and work towards a greater sense of wholeness and authenticity. If you can relate to this: Everything is great “on paper” but you don’t feel happy or content. You feel your problems are “not significant enough” to seek professional support but you have tried everything and nothing worked. You hear that you are “too sensitive”, “take everything too personally” or “just have to relax” Then I am your therapist!