Nicholas Balaisis, RP, PhD

Personal Statement:

I believe strongly in therapy’s capacity to help clarify and untangle issues that affect our mental health, and give us tools towards greater resilience, perspective, and independence. As a therapist, I emphasize the importance of listening, interpretation, and empathy in relating to you as a client, as we work together in finding strategies and approaches to help heal, move forward, or cope with challenging moments in life. Therapy can be challenging work in itself, but in a supportive environment, it can yield important short and long-term benefits.

Areas of Special Interest:

I have a lengthy background as a university instructor, and am mindful of the particular challenges involved in juggling school work, social life, family pressures, and individual mental health during post-secondary student life. I bring this perspective into my role as a counsellor, often bridging my role of therapist with insights from my life as an instructor to help with issues of time-management, stress, ‘grind culture,’ motivation, or self-medicating to cope.

Much of my clinical work has been with individual men and couples, with a focus on relationship issues, self-esteem, shame, and sexuality. I am very sympathetic to the unique challenges faced by young men in our culture as well as the stigmas about mental health and counselling for men in particular. I enjoy working on issues related to masculinity/ gender roles, communication strategies, and interpersonal anxiety with individuals or couples.

Finally, I have a particular interest in dream work, and have found it to be a rich source of therapeutic insight in my work with clients. Please feel free to share a recent and impactful dream.

Certifications, Memberships, Accreditations:

- - - - Registered Psychotherapist (RP), College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
        
        Emotionally-Focused Couples’ Therapy Certificate (EFT, Level 1)
        
        Board of Examiners in Sex Therapy and Counselling Ontario (Training Certificate)

Education:

- - - - Trent University, Bachelor of Arts (Cultural Studies)
        
        York University, Doctor of Philosophy (Communication)
        
        Wilfrid Laurier University, Master of Theology (Psychotherapy & Spiritual Care)

Languages other than English:

- - - - French
        
        Spanish