Relational Psychotherapy

Relational psychotherapy is a powerful, effective model for working with individuals who suffer from chronic emotional, psychological, and/or relational distress. Relational psychotherapy is based on the following principles:

Emotional well-being depends on having satisfying mutual relationships with others.
Emotional distress is often rooted in patterns of relational experience, past and present, which have the power to demean and deaden the self.
The relational therapist tries to understand the client's unique self-experience in its social/relational context and to respond with empathy and genuine presence.
Together, client and therapist create a new in-depth relationship which is supportive, strengthening, and enlivening for the client.
Within this secure relationship, the client can safely re-experience, and then find freedom from, the powerful effects of destructive relationships, past and present.

Relational therapists help clients understand, on the one hand, their own patterns of thoughts and feelings about themselves, and on the other hand, the power of significant relationships, past and present, to shape this self-experience. Through the interpersonal process of therapeutic interaction, relational therapy strengthens and transforms a client's sense of self, which in turn enhances his or her confidence and well-being in the world. Empowerment and growth through interpersonal connection are both the process and the goal of relational psychotherapy.

With this perspective on therapy and relationship, a relational therapist takes seriously the interpersonal impact of power differentials and social issues such as race, class, culture, gender, and sexual difference, and works with these issues as they are present in the client's life and in the therapy relationship.

The principles of relational psychotherapy taught by the Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy are drawn from self psychology, intersubjectivity theory, relational psychoanalysis, psychodynamic developmental theory, trauma theory, and feminist theories of psychotherapy.

Low-Cost Therapy

The Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy offers a therapy referral service to the general public. Anyone may call the Institute to request an appointment with a TIRP student or recent graduate. Institute staff respond to all calls sensitively and confidentially.

We offer private appointments with a student therapist for a fee of $20 (including HST) per session, and this fee is applicable for as long as the student is in training.

Relational therapy with recent graduates of the Institute is available at $40 (including HST) per session for up to 20 sessions.

We also offer couples therapy at $40 (including HST) per session for up to 12 sessions.

When there are no spaces immediately available with a student or recent graduate, we suggest you also consult our graduates list. Many of these experienced relational therapists are willing to negotiate a reasonable fee on a sliding scale.

Low-cost TIRP therapists practice in central Toronto, Etobicoke, Oakville, Woodbridge, Markham, Newmarket, Brampton, London, Huntsville, Bracebridge, Muskoka, Haliburton and Barry's Bay.

All therapy sessions are conducted according to the Institute's standards of professional ethics, which include confidentiality and appropriate supervision. The faculty who supervise student work are experienced as therapists, consultants, and supervisors.

To ask for an appointment, call our office at 416.465.2392 and leave a message that says that you wish to see a therapist. We ask that you call instead of email so that we can have a conversation with you to assess your needs.

Don't forget to give us your name, your telephone number, and a good time to reach you.

tirp.ca

Relational Psychotherapy

Low-Cost Therapy