Find a Self-Compassion Therapist

Browse therapists who specialize in self-compassion approaches. Watch their intro videos to find the right fit before booking.

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Self-compassion therapy helps you develop a kinder, more understanding relationship with yourself. Rather than harsh self-criticism, this approach teaches you to respond to your struggles with the same warmth and care you would offer a good friend. Self-compassion involves mindfulness, recognizing our common humanity, and practicing self-kindness.

On First Session, you can browse therapists who incorporate self-compassion into their work and watch their intro videos to get a sense of their approach. All therapists have their credentials verified during onboarding. Whether you prefer online or in-person sessions, you can book directly or request a free consultation to find the right match.

Luigi Garde

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
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Luigi Garde

Luigi Garde

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
He/Him
$140/session
Men's issues, Identity and Self-Exploration, Meaning and purpose, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, BIPOC, Caregiver burnout, Thought Restructuring, Workplace stress, Addiction, Sports Performance, Empowerment, Responsibility, Anger Management, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Attachment, Trauma, Depression, Cultural Challenges, Decision making, Goal Setting, Effective communication, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Navigating challenging relationships, Masculinity, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Grief and Loss
Men's issues, Identity and Self-Exploration, Meaning and purpose, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, BIPOC, Caregiver burnout, Thought Restructuring, Workplace stress, Addiction, Sports Performance, Empowerment, Responsibility, Anger Management, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Attachment, Trauma, Depression, Cultural Challenges, Decision making, Goal Setting, Effective communication, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Navigating challenging relationships, Masculinity, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Grief and Loss
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Julianna Harry

Registered Psychotherapist
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Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON, AB, and BC.
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Julianna Harry

Julianna Harry

Registered Psychotherapist
She/Her/Hers
$180/session
Anxiety, Depression, Transitioning into Adulthood, Life transitions, Break-up recovery, Financial Stress, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, Workplace stress, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Self-Regulation, Stress, Empowerment, BIPOC, Identity and Self-Exploration
Anxiety, Depression, Transitioning into Adulthood, Life transitions, Break-up recovery, Financial Stress, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, Workplace stress, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Self-Regulation, Stress, Empowerment, BIPOC, Identity and Self-Exploration
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Lisa Schwartz

Registered Social Worker
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Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in NS and ON.
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Lisa Schwartz

Lisa Schwartz

Registered Social Worker
she/her
$180/session
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Children/Teens, Familial and social relationships, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Dating challenges, Childhood trauma, Family Conflict, Highly Sensitive Person, Navigating challenging relationships, Parental divorce, Parenting, Meaning and purpose, Life transitions, Low mood, People pleasing, Self-esteem, Workplace stress, School challenges, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Children/Teens, Familial and social relationships, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Dating challenges, Childhood trauma, Family Conflict, Highly Sensitive Person, Navigating challenging relationships, Parental divorce, Parenting, Meaning and purpose, Life transitions, Low mood, People pleasing, Self-esteem, Workplace stress, School challenges, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration
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Tanya Beattie

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Seeley's Bay, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Tanya Beattie

Tanya Beattie

Registered Psychotherapist
She/her
$160/session
Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Childhood trauma, Intergenerational trauma, Attachment trauma, Trauma processing
Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Childhood trauma, Intergenerational trauma, Attachment trauma, Trauma processing
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Amanda Warr

Registered Social Worker
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Offers In-Person (Bowmanville, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Amanda Warr

Amanda Warr

Registered Social Worker
She/Her/Hers
$150/session
Self-esteem, Learning disabilities, ADHD, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Depression coping skills, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Managing ADHD symptoms, Pregnancy, Trauma processing, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Neurodiversity, Parenting, Trauma, Grief and Loss
Self-esteem, Learning disabilities, ADHD, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Depression coping skills, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Managing ADHD symptoms, Pregnancy, Trauma processing, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Neurodiversity, Parenting, Trauma, Grief and Loss
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Halyna Polityka

Registered Psychotherapist
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Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON, BC, AB, SK, MB, NL, YT, NT, and NU.
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Halyna Polityka

Halyna Polityka

Registered Psychotherapist
$190/session
Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, Anger, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Attachment, Behaviour, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Couples, Decision making, Early childhood, Familial and social relationships, Family Conflict, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mind-body connection, Mindfulness, Negative thinking and ruminating, Nervous system regulation, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Supervising qualifying therapists, Stress, Trauma, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Break-up recovery, Childhood trauma, Family issues, Relationships, Goal Setting, Emotional regulation, Career Performance, Work-Life Balance, Substance Use, Somatic Therapy, Sleeping difficulties
Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, Anger, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Attachment, Behaviour, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Couples, Decision making, Early childhood, Familial and social relationships, Family Conflict, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mind-body connection, Mindfulness, Negative thinking and ruminating, Nervous system regulation, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Supervising qualifying therapists, Stress, Trauma, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Break-up recovery, Childhood trauma, Family issues, Relationships, Goal Setting, Emotional regulation, Career Performance, Work-Life Balance, Substance Use, Somatic Therapy, Sleeping difficulties
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Courtney Doherty

Registered Clinical Counsellor
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Offers In-Person (Vancouver, BC)
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
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Courtney Doherty

Courtney Doherty

Registered Clinical Counsellor
She/Her
$175/session
Adjusting to a diagnosis, Aging, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Brain injury, Caregiver burnout, Caregivers, Chronic Illness, Chronic and acute illness, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Trauma, Supervising qualifying therapists, Stress, Sleeping difficulties, Social anxiety, Self-esteem, PTSD, Pregnancy, Parkinson's disease, Depression, Family issues, Anger Management, Parenting, Grief and Loss
Adjusting to a diagnosis, Aging, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Brain injury, Caregiver burnout, Caregivers, Chronic Illness, Chronic and acute illness, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Trauma, Supervising qualifying therapists, Stress, Sleeping difficulties, Social anxiety, Self-esteem, PTSD, Pregnancy, Parkinson's disease, Depression, Family issues, Anger Management, Parenting, Grief and Loss
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Calum Ramsay

Registered Clinical Counsellor
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Victoria, BC)
Virtual Sessions in MB, NT, YT, NU, BC, and SK.
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Calum Ramsay

Calum Ramsay

Registered Clinical Counsellor
He/Him
$150/session
Anxiety, Self-esteem, Life transitions, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anger, Behaviour, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Couples Therapy, Depression, Emotional regulation, Imposter syndrome, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Masculinity, Men's issues, Mental performance, Meaning and purpose, Negative thinking and ruminating, Perfectionism, Sports Performance, Attachment, Self-Criticism, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration
Anxiety, Self-esteem, Life transitions, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anger, Behaviour, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Couples Therapy, Depression, Emotional regulation, Imposter syndrome, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Masculinity, Men's issues, Mental performance, Meaning and purpose, Negative thinking and ruminating, Perfectionism, Sports Performance, Attachment, Self-Criticism, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration
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Kimberly Crossman

Registered Social Service Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
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Kimberly Crossman

Kimberly Crossman

Registered Social Service Worker
She/Her
$175/session
Trauma, Boundaries and boundary setting, Attachment, Addiction, Anger, Stress, Anxiety, Self-esteem, Goal Setting, Negative thinking and ruminating, Self Destructive Behaviour, Court Mandated Counselling
Trauma, Boundaries and boundary setting, Attachment, Addiction, Anger, Stress, Anxiety, Self-esteem, Goal Setting, Negative thinking and ruminating, Self Destructive Behaviour, Court Mandated Counselling
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Margarita Iarovaia

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
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Margarita Iarovaia

Margarita Iarovaia

Registered Psychotherapist
She/Her/Hers
$150/session
Trauma, Sexuality, Relationships, Sex therapy, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Boundaries and boundary setting, Building Self-Care Routines, Dating challenges, Relationship anxiety, Sexual issues, Trauma processing, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Mindfulness, Identity and Self-Exploration
Trauma, Sexuality, Relationships, Sex therapy, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Boundaries and boundary setting, Building Self-Care Routines, Dating challenges, Relationship anxiety, Sexual issues, Trauma processing, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Mindfulness, Identity and Self-Exploration
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Viktoria Vigh

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Mississauga, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Viktoria Vigh

Viktoria Vigh

Registered Social Worker
She/her
$180/session
ADHD, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, College or University Coaching, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Dating challenges, Decision making, Effective communication, Giftedness Issues, Learning disabilities, Nervous system regulation, Self-Regulation, Sleeping difficulties, Neurodiversity, Attention and Impulsivity
ADHD, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, College or University Coaching, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Dating challenges, Decision making, Effective communication, Giftedness Issues, Learning disabilities, Nervous system regulation, Self-Regulation, Sleeping difficulties, Neurodiversity, Attention and Impulsivity
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Therapy is hard work.

Finding the right therapist shouldn’t be. Over 10,000 Canadians found their new therapist with First Session.
About First Session
What is self-compassion therapy?

Self-compassion therapy incorporates practices that help you treat yourself with kindness, especially during difficult times. Based on research by Dr. Kristin Neff, it involves three core components: self-kindness instead of self-judgment, common humanity instead of isolation, and mindfulness instead of over-identification with thoughts. Many therapists integrate these principles into their work.

How can self-compassion therapy help?

Many people find self-compassion approaches helpful for reducing self-criticism, managing anxiety and depression, building resilience, and improving overall well-being. It can support you in developing a healthier inner voice, bouncing back from setbacks, and treating yourself with the same care you show others. Self-compassion is particularly useful for those who tend to be hard on themselves.

What happens in a self-compassion session?

In self-compassion sessions, your therapist may guide you through exercises to develop a kinder inner dialogue. You might explore patterns of self-criticism, practice responding to yourself with warmth, and learn specific self-compassion techniques. Sessions often include mindfulness practices and reflection on how you relate to yourself during challenging moments.

How do I find a self-compassion therapist?

On First Session, you can filter by specialty to find therapists who incorporate self-compassion into their practice. Each therapist has a profile with an intro video so you can get a sense of their warmth. You can book a session directly online or request a free consultation first. All therapists on the platform have their credentials verified during onboarding.

Is self-compassion therapy right for me?

Self-compassion therapy may be a good fit if you tend to be hard on yourself, struggle with perfectionism, or want to develop a kinder inner voice. It's helpful for those who notice harsh self-talk or difficulty accepting their own imperfections. Consider booking a consultation with a therapist to discuss whether this approach resonates with you.

How do I get started?

Getting started is simple. Browse self-compassion therapists on First Session and watch their intro videos to find someone whose warmth resonates with you. Once you've found a match, you can book your first session directly online. Many therapists offer a free 15-minute consultation if you'd like to connect first. Learn more about how to find a therapist in Canada.