Rachel Alencar
PSYCHOTHERAPY
About me
Rachel (she/her) is a Brazilian-Canadian Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who holds a Master's degree in Counselling Psychology and works with evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She brings over a decade of experience in research, consulting, and client-centred work to her therapeutic practice.Fluent in English and Portuguese, Rachel views well-being holistically, recognizing how biological, psychological, and social factors shape each person's experience. She works from an intersectional framework that honours the structural influences affecting clients' challenges and strengths.Rachel supports youth (12+) and adults who are navigating intense emotions, relationship patterns, and life transitions. Her work focuses on strengthening emotional regulation, improving communication, processing trauma, and supporting clients in making authentic, values-aligned choices. She offers culturally responsive, 2SLGBTQI+-affirming, and compassionate care, creating a space where clients feel understood and empowered.
Certifications
• Somatic Experiencing (present - 2029)
• Developmental Trauma (2026)
• Logotherapy and Existential Analysis (2026)
• Substance Use Disorder (2026)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (2025, 2026)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (2025)
• Focused Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Interventions (2025)
• Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention (2025)
• Risk Identification and Safety Assessment for survivors of Gender-Based Violence (2025)
My Approach
You may be seeking deeper self-understanding or hoping for a life that feels more connected, balanced, and manageable. I support clients in working through a range of concerns, including but not limited to:
Anxiety
Anxiety can feel like your mind and body are always on high alert. Racing thoughts, tight muscles, or steering clear of certain situations can slowly wear you down and make everyday life feel overwhelming. If anxiety is taking up more space than you’d like, I support clients in making sense of these patterns and in exploring coping strategies that can be practiced and adjusted over time.
Depression
Depression doesn’t exactly come with a neon sign, but when it hits, it hits hard. It’s more than feeling down for a day or two; it’s a heavy fog that lingers, sapping your energy, motivation, and enjoyment of the things you love. If these moods are making daily life feel harder than it should, I’m here to help clients find their footing and start feeling more like themselves.
Trauma & PTSD
Everyone’s experiences with trauma and PTSD look different. For some, they appear through changes in mood, coping behaviours, or a sense of feeling on edge or disconnected. These experiences can be confusing and hard to manage on your own. I support individuals with single-event and complex developmental trauma, focusing on building safety, understanding triggers, and supporting day-to-day life at a pace that feels respectful and manageable.
Neurodivergence
Being neurodivergent can shape how you think, feel, relate, and move through the world. At times, this may bring clarity and creativity, and at other times, frustration or fatigue, especially when your environment isn’t built with you in mind. I support clients in exploring how their cognitive, sensory, and social experiences interact with everyday life, energy, and focus, and in identifying approaches that feel respectful, realistic, and aligned with who they are.
Life Transitions
Life changes can shake your sense of direction and bring up mixed emotions; they can also open doors you didn’t even know were there. During these periods, it’s common to feel unsure or stretched in new ways. Whether it’s a new country, identity, relationship, career, health issues, or parenthood, I support clients in noticing what is shifting beneath the surface, making sense of new experiences, and finding ways to move forward with intention, effective coping strategies and self-compassion.
Gender-based violence
Experiences of abuse and violence whether within intimate relationships or shaped by broader power dynamics such as gender, race, or culture can have lasting emotional and relational impacts. These effects can be complex and difficult to handle on your own. I support survivors in understanding the impact of these experiences, accessing practical resources when needed, and reconnecting with their inner strength, boundaries, and sense of agency. There is never an excuse for abuse, and the survivor is never to blame.
Contact
Ready to get started? Still have questions? Schedule a free virtual or telephone consultation, and let’s explore what support could look like for you. Emails are answered within 48 hours.