SJ Thiessen
(He/they) MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist 

During our time together, I will invite you to find growth, change, meaning, and connection. Rather than utilising formulaic or rigid approaches, I use invitation, collaboration, and creativity to meet you where you are at and facilitate connection, change, and meaning-making. Together, we can strategize, experiment, and address the challenges you’re facing.  

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The identities, labels, and stories we use can have both liberatory and unintended consequences. Whether you're interested in unraveling these to deepen your relationships with others, or you'd like to connect more deeply with your own sense of self, I can support you. Using trauma-informed practices, empathy, and humour, I hold space for your experiences of distress, joy, and everything in between and can support you to find an approach to help you meet your goals and live your preferred life.

 

I use trauma-informed, harm reduction, anti-oppressive, and politicized practices that hold space for your experiences of distress, joy, and everything in between. This means we can work together toward your goals and preferences in ways that account for both individual and systemic factors.

 

My specialisations are working with experiences of trauma and violence (CPTSD), trans/queer identities and gender dysphoria, neurodivergence (Autism, ADHD, BPD, etc.), dissociation, and suicidal ideation and self harm. I also work with lots of folk experiencing anxiety, chronic illness and stress, and navigating interpersonal dynamics (including polyamory).

 

SJ holds an undergraduate degree in psychology where he concentrated on mad studies, feminist and queer theories, and the pathologization of trans identities. He graduated with a master’s degree in Social Work from York in 2020. His graduate work focused on critical suicidology, medical assistance in dying, queer liberation, transformative justice.

 

SJ is a member in good standing of the Ontario College or Social Workers and Social Service Workers, Ontario Association of Social Works, and the Canadian Association of Social workers. He has spent many years counselling at social service agencies working primarily with survivors of violence and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. SJ has additional certifications and training in a breadth of practices and modalities including: Narrative therapy, Internal Family Systems, somatic interventions, and harm reduction.

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Lived experience: trans and genderqueer, 2SLGBTQIA community member, psychiatric consumer, neurodivergent, polyamorous