Emily Hiram (She/Her)

Approach Description: My practice is grounded in the belief that the ways we struggle often make sense when we understand the context in which they developed. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable, and self-aware, yet feel stuck in patterns they don’t fully understand — patterns related to anxiety, body image, food, relationships, or major life transitions. Often, they’ve spent years trying to manage or override these experiences, only to feel frustrated, discouraged, or self-critical when those strategies don’t bring lasting relief. In therapy, I focus on helping clients understand how their patterns developed and why they may still be showing up, rather than treating them as problems to be fixed. I approach these patterns with curiosity and compassion, recognizing that they often began as adaptive responses to earlier experiences, stress, or roles clients had to take on. By making sense of these patterns together, therapy becomes less about self-improvement and more about building understanding, choice, and self-kindness. My work is trauma-informed and draws primarily from psychodynamic therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS). While you don’t need to be familiar with these approaches, they guide how I think about therapy. Rather than focusing solely on symptom management or coping strategies, we pay attention to emotional experiences, relational patterns, and the different “parts” of you that may hold conflicting needs, fears, or beliefs. This allows for a deeper and more integrated understanding of yourself over time. Sessions are collaborative and paced. We talk things through, but we also slow down to notice what’s happening internally — emotions, bodily responses, and reactions that can be difficult to access in everyday life. Therapy is not about forcing change or pushing yourself to feel differently before you’re ready. Instead, change often emerges naturally as understanding and self-compassion grow. I have a particular interest in working with concerns related to body image and difficult relationships with food. Many clients come to therapy feeling preoccupied with food, weight, or their bodies, even if they don’t identify with diagnostic labels. In our work together, we explore how these concerns developed, what they may be helping you cope with, and how to move toward a more supportive and respectful relationship with your body and yourself. I also work with pregnant people and new parents who are navigating the emotional and identity shifts that often accompany this stage of life. The transition to parenthood can bring up anxiety, overwhelm, grief for earlier versions of oneself, and changes in relationships. Therapy can provide space to process these experiences, make sense of new roles and expectations, and reconnect with yourself during a time of significant change. People who tend to find my approach helpful are often those who want to understand themselves more deeply, are curious about their inner world, and are open to reflecting on past and present experiences. Some clients come to me after trying more structured or skills-based approaches and are looking for something that goes beyond symptom management. Others are new to therapy and are simply looking for a thoughtful, supportive place to begin. I offer psychotherapy to adults and provide sessions virtually across Ontario, as well as in person in Guelph. I aim to create a space where clients feel heard, respected, and not rushed — a space where it’s possible to explore difficult experiences at a pace that feels safe and collaborative. All this being said, the relationship between client and therapist is one of the most important factors in therapy, which is why I offer a free 20-minute consultation to help you get a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit.