Online in
Ontario (Online Only)
Very little about human experience surprises me anymore — yet people continue to move and inspire me.
I am deeply open-minded, curious, and grounded in a strong sense of relational and community responsibility. My work is shaped by decades of clinical practice and by a lived understanding of complexity, resilience, and care under pressure. I bring steadiness, intuition, and a thoughtful sense of humour into the therapeutic space, creating an environment where people can feel safe enough to speak honestly and begin to heal.
I am also attentive to the spiritual, cultural, and meaning-making dimensions of people's lives, including experiences of spiritual or religious harm, loss of community, and the search to rebuild identity after trauma. Therapy is not about fixing what is broken, but about creating space for integration, dignity, safety, and renewed choice.
Professionally, I have worked within provincial mental health and welfare systems and continue to support charitable and community-based initiatives focused on intimate partner violence. I have also been involved in a federally funded research project examining coercive control and the challenges faced by culturally insular communities, work that informs my clinical and supervisory practice.
My therapeutic approach is integrative, relational and responsive to each person's inner world and culture. I draw primarily from psychodynamic and relational traditions, alongside somatic and trauma-informed approaches, adapting therapy to the pace, needs and lived experience of the individual. This includes support for individuals affected by intimate partner violence, spiritual abuse, and trauma within religious or culturally insular communities.
Client Focus
Session Format: Individual sessions.
Age Specialty: Adult
Demographic Expertise: Christian, Hindu, Jewish, LDS/Mormon, LGBTQ+, Men, Muslim, Women clients.
Languages: English
Treatment Approach
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Helps people accept difficult thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them, while committing to actions that reflect their values. It blends mindfulness with practical behavior strategies.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) One of the most widely used approaches, CBT helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier patterns. It is effective for anxiety, depression, and many other concerns.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Combines CBT with mindfulness to help regulate emotions, tolerate stress, and build stronger relationships. Originally designed for borderline personality disorder, it’s now used more broadly.
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Focuses on strengthening emotional bonds in couples or families. It helps people identify negative cycles and create more secure connections.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Combines mindfulness practices with CBT to prevent depression relapse. It helps people notice thoughts without judgment and respond more calmly.
- Multicultural Therapy Acknowledges the role of culture, race, and identity in mental health. It values diversity and adapts treatment to each person’s background.
- Psychodynamic Therapy Explores unconscious thoughts and patterns that influence current behavior. It builds insight into how the past impacts the present.
- Psychosocial Therapy Looks at how social and environmental factors affect psychological health. It emphasizes relationships, community, and resilience.
- Social Constructionist Therapy Looks at how social and cultural context shapes identity and problems. It helps clients create new narratives of meaning.
- Somatic Therapy Helps clients notice how emotions are stored in the body. It uses breath, movement, and awareness for healing trauma and stress.
Approach Description: My work is trauma-informed, relational, and collaborative, meaning we move at a pace that prioritizes safety, emotional stability, and the realities of daily life. Therapy is not about “fixing” people, but about creating space for integration, understanding, resilience, and meaningful change.
I draw from psychodynamic, attachment-based, relational, somatic, mindfulness-informed, meaning-centered, and systems perspectives, thoughtfully adapting therapy to each person’s needs, personality, cultural background, spiritual framework, and life circumstances.
I also work with individuals navigating spiritual abuse, religious trauma, identity disruption, and the loss of community after harmful relational or institutional experiences.
At the center of my work is a grounded, compassionate, and ethically attentive therapeutic relationship that supports deeper self-understanding and sustainable healing over time.
Fees & Insurance
Fees
- Average Session Fee $150.00
- Accepts Insurance
- Many extended health insurance plans cover services provided by a Registered Social Worker (RSW). Payment is made at the time of the session, and a receipt is provided for reimbursement submission. Clients are encouraged to confirm coverage with their individual insurance provider.
Education & Credentials
Lauren Kalvari PhD, MSW, RSW
- Female
- License # 800396
- Licensed in ON
- Practicing Since 1992
Education: I hold an Honors Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and a Master of Social Work (MSW), and I have completed a PhD in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy at Wilfrid Laurier University (convocation pending).
Lauren Kalvari Practice Details
Therapy Sessions
- Available Online for residents of Ontario
- Online Therapy Details: Secure encrypted online therapy sessions conducted through Jane.
Very little about human experience surprises me anymore — yet people continue to move and inspire me.
I bring over 30 years of clinical experience supporting adults through trauma, coercive control, grief, emotional overwhelm, major life transitions, and experiences of spiritual or religious harm. My work is grounded in steadiness, openness, curiosity, and relational care.
I strive to create a therapeutic space where people feel safe enough to speak honestly, make sense of difficult experiences, and begin moving toward greater clarity, dignity, and renewed choice.
Alongside private practice, I have worked within provincial mental health and welfare systems, supported charitable initiatives focused on intimate partner violence, and participated in federally funded research examining coercive control and culturally insular communities. This work continues to inform both my clinical and supervisory practice.