Lisa Ghilarducci | Psychotherapy in Waterdown and virtually across Ontario
Do you ever wonder why something that happened years ago still affects you today? Perhaps you find yourself overthinking conversations, feeling deeply affected by how others perceive you, struggling to trust, or reacting more strongly than you would like in certain situations. Maybe you have worked hard to move forward, understand your past, or tell yourself that what happened is over. From the outside, your life may look fine, yet inside, you still feel anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, or caught in familiar patterns that are difficult to change.
Sometimes, the experiences that affect us most are the ones we learned to live with early in life. Childhood experiences, difficult relationships, emotional neglect, loss, or prolonged periods of stress can shape how we see ourselves, relate to others, and respond to the world around us. You may understand intellectually why you feel or react a certain way, but understanding alone does not always bring the relief or change you need.
I work with adults and teens experiencing the ongoing effects of trauma, difficult childhood experiences, relationship challenges, anxiety, mood difficulties, and struggles with emotional regulation. My integrative approach draws on different therapeutic perspectives and methods, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), psychodynamic, relational, and existential approaches. This allows us to consider not only what you are experiencing today, but also how past experiences, relationships, beliefs, and emotional patterns may be influencing your present life.
For individuals, therapy can help you: • Understand how past experiences may be influencing your present emotions, relationships, and sense of self. • Recognize emotional triggers and respond to difficult feelings with greater awareness and confidence. • Develop healthier boundaries, stronger self-trust, and more compassionate ways of relating to yourself. • Reduce the impact of old patterns so you can feel more grounded, connected, and able to make choices that reflect who you are today.
For couples and families, therapy can help you: • Understand recurring patterns of conflict, withdrawal, misunderstanding, or emotional disconnection. • Improve communication and learn to express needs and emotions more constructively. • Recognize how past experiences influence current relationships and family interactions. • Build greater emotional safety, strengthen connection, and develop healthier ways of responding to one another. The goal is not to assign blame or dwell endlessly on the past. It is to understand what is happening, create meaningful change in the present, and help you move toward relationships and a life that feel more fulfilling and authentic.
You do not have to simply get over it, and you do not have to figure everything out on your own. If something from your past still hurts, affects your relationships, or leaves you feeling stuck, there may be a reason it continues to matter. You deserve the opportunity to explore those experiences with care and curiosity, understand your emotions, and develop new ways of moving forward.
In my work with clients, I use an integrative, trauma-informed and strengths-based approach, with the help of several evidence-based modalities, to support your growth and healing. My approach to psychotherapy is rooted in:
Client-centered Counselling
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Attachment-Based Interventions
Family/Marital Counselling
Psychodynamic
Solution-Focused
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
With advanced training in counselling psychology, Lisa takes a holistic approach to healing. A committed life-long learner, she continues to deepen her expertise in evidence-based practices while offering clients care that is both personalized and responsive to their needs.
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University, 2024-2026
HBA, University of Toronto, 2003
Building on a foundation in counselling psychology, I am dedicated to continuous professional growth to enhance my capacity for culturally sensitive and compassionate care. My ongoing training covers anxiety and mood disorders, chronic stress, and life transitions, enabling me to provide youth, adults, and couples with support that is both evidence-based and attuned to the real-world challenges they encounter.
EMDR Foundational Training, October 2026, (Envision, 40 hours)
Complete Internal Family Systems (IFS) Immersion Training, June 2026, PESI Trainings (Dr. Richard Schwartz & Dr. Frank Anderson, 35 hours)
EMDR from Start to Finish Training, May 2026, PESI Trainings (Dr. Arielle Shwartz & Stacy Ruse, 34 hours)
The Foundation of Sexual Wellness: A Holistic Approach, November 2025 (AASECT, Trainer: Taylor McConnachie, 2.5 hours)
L1 Gottman Method Training for Couples Counselling, October 2025, (The Gottman Institute, 11 hours)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Training, September 2025, PESI Trainings (Dr. Richard Sears, 15 hours
Addictions-Informed Clinician Training, September 2025, PESI Trainings (Dr. J Eric Gentry, 12.5 hours)
Certified Trauma Professional, September 2025, PESI Trainings (Dr. Robert Lusk, 12.5 hours)
Certification Training, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, August 2024, PESI Trainings (Dr. Lane Pederson, 26 hours)
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills Training for Children and Adolescents: Rescuing the Dysregulated Child, August 2024, PESI Trainings (Dr. Jean Eich, 7 hours)
Telehealth and DBT: Best Practices, Essential Skills and Ensuring Safety, August 2024, PESI Trainings (Dr. Lane Pederson, 3 hours).
“Healing takes time, and it does not require you to have all the answers before you begin. Wherever you are in your journey, therapy can offer a supportive place to reconnect with yourself, make sense of what you have been carrying, and create space for something different. Your past is part of your story, but it does not have to define what comes next.”
