About Me

sudha picture

Sudha Vavilla M.Phil MSW RSW

Welcome! I'm glad you're here.

Many clients like you come to work with me at a time in their lives when they feel stuck due to trauma, intense loss, have relationship challenges or going through a major life transition. If you are one of them, you've come to the right place!
I'm Sudha (pronounced Su-dha) an Ontario based psychotherapist with 15 + years of experience specialized in working with individuals dealing with anxiety, trauma, grief and relationship challenges.

“You may not always be exactly where you want to be, but chances are you’re not where you used to be either.”
-Joyce Meyer

My Story

I’m a first generation immigrant of Canada from India. I have lived and worked in 5 different countries (Canada, USA, England, Switzerland, and India). Moving every couple of years, I became all too familiar with the process of making yet another country my home, starting new jobs, making friends, ending relationships and dealing with the recurring feelings of loss. As a woman of colour, I’m intimately aware of the added pressures placed on people of colour and being an immigrant and having to prove my worth everywhere I went.

I have been through several life transitions, trauma, racism, inequities, grief and uncertainties and also have had moments of joy, connections and nurturing relationships. It’s these experiences that have helped me grow and I’ve come to know and see the value of both painful and joyful life events.

sudha smiling

My Approach

My approach is gentle, interactive, collaborative, and we work together with curiosity, and self-acceptance as a foundation for genuine growth and change.

Truly meeting every new client like YOU is a process of discovery. Being open to uncovering ever deeper layers of relational meeting in therapy, responding compassionately to even the most painful layers of human experience and discovering ways of staying fresh in the work is something I enjoy and care about.My modalities include:
EFIT(Emotionally focussed Individual therapy), AEDP(Accelerated Experiential Psychodynamic Psychotherapy), EMDR(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), DBR(Deep Brain Reorienting),Ego State, IFS informed, Schema Therapy, Somatic approaches, Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness and CBT(Cognitive Behaviour Therapy). All of this means-that in our work together – you will get comfortable knowing your emotions, seek to build connection with yourself, your body and others and you will operate from a stronger sense of self-worth, and a renewed sense of hope for the future.

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What Can You Expect

Many moments – of YOU and I in that intimate space where you bring all of your parts-the vulnerable, sad, the messy, the angry, funny, or joyful parts. I promise to bring my authenticity, curiosity, compassion to create a space that would honour all the experiences you come with.

If you are looking for me to nod/say yes all the time or be a therapist that just allows you to vent for 50 minutes, once a week..I’m not what you are looking for. My approach is to undo your aloneness and join you on your path of discovery, healing and growth and help you uncover your internal wisdom. We set goals, we work towards meeting them.

My core values are authenticity, kindness, honesty, connection and respect. Hence my therapeutic relationship with you will be a combination of compassion, respect, directness, humour and stability-so you will get to experience all and more of that in our time together!

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Why Clients Trust And Love Working With Me

trees outside on sunny day

You shouldn’t have to wait any longer to feel better.
If you’re ready to jump in, take action and make some real changes, I might be the therapist for you.

Education

  • Master of Philosophy (M. Phil) – Psychiatric Social Work (Honors) – National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India
  • Master’s degree (M.A) in Social Work (Honors)- Stella Maris College, Chennai, India (Accredited by Canadian Association of Social Workers as equivalent to MSW)
  • Bachelor’s Degree (B.A) in Psychology (Honors) – JBAS College, Chennai, India

Certifications / Training

  • Deep Brain Reorienting-Level 1 (Healing of the shock at the core of traumatic experiences) & Level 2 (Healing of Attachment shock & wounding; and their impacts on the seeking of connection) -Dr.Frank Corrigan & Dr.Jessica Christie-Sands
  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy in Action: harness the wisdom of the body to treat trauma and relational wounds-Pat Ogden
  • Understanding Dissociation-Beyond Healing Institute
  • EMDR Reprocessing of Chronic Pain & Medically Unexplained Symptoms-Dr.Mark Grant
  • Self-Trust and Integrated Resilience: A Framework for Synthesizing Therapy Level 1: Working Experientially with Clients with Julianne T Shore
  • Befriending the Nervous System: Strategies for Trauma, Sensory Processing, and Developmental Wounds with Linda Thai-Therapy Wisdom 
  • Understanding Dissociation:An insider’s view of helping dissociative clients-Dr.Jamie Marich-Therapy Wisdom
  • Interpersonal Neurobiology-Mindsight Institute
  • Attachment and Relational Resilience across the Lifespan-Mindsight Institute
  • Schema Therapy-Building the Healthy Adult Mode-Schema Therapy Online
  • Fine tuning chair work in Schema Therapy-Schema Therapy Online
  • When There Are No Words -The Steve Frankel Group LLC
  • Neuroaffective Embodied Self-system Therapy – Toward an Integrated Approach -The Steve Frankel Group LLC
  • 31 Secrets of the Embodied Self: Hearing Baby’s Story in EMDR for Trauma in Implicit Memory –The Steve Frankel Group LLC
  • Looking Through The Eyes -The Steve Frankel Group LLC
  • An Introduction to the Integration of Ego State Therapy Structural Dissociation, and EMDR Therapy- Farnsworth Lobenstine, LICSW
  • Somatic Attachment Therapy Certificate- The Embody Lab
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Basic Therapy Training (EMDR) – Sue Genest, Life Journeys Counselling & Training Inc.
  • Developmental Trauma (ECHO Ontario Psychotherapy)
  • Essentials of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy(AEDP) Immersion- AEDP Institute
  • Basic Principles of Somatic Experiencing for BIPOC- Somatic Experiencing International
  • Windz Centre- Narrative Therapy Certificate Program
  • Psychological Therapies & Work-Related Stress
  • Prejudices That Impact LGBTQ+ People
  • Introduction to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
  • Healing Intergenerational Trauma
  • Perinatal Mental Health -Culturally Informed Approaches to Screening, assessment and Treatment
  • Embodied Healing and Social Action
  • Productive Emotional Processing in Psychotherapy
  • Transcending trauma series workshop using an IFS lens
  • Introduction to IFS
  • Pieces and perspectives on living with DID
  • Finding Safety in Your Nervous System-Deb Dana
  • Dr.Dick Schwartz-Introduction to IFS-Masterclass
  • Dr.Sue Johnson’s EFIT: Attachment-based Interventions to treat Trauma, Anxiety and Depression
  • An Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care for 2SLGBTQ+ Clients
  • Dr.Janina Fisher-Transforming the legacy of trauma
  • The power of showing up-Dr.Tina Payne Bryson
  • Attachment Theory in Clinical practice-Dr. Dan Siegel
  • Positive Parenting Approach(Triple P)
  • Safe Spaces for workplaces 
  • Racial Equity Training 
  • Unconscious bias training 
  • GPA, San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, CCM And HPG training, and Conflict resolution training 
  • ASIST – Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training 
  • Geriatric Addictions Clinical Complexities in Geriatric Care training 
  • Delivering Palliative Care in a Changing Landscape
  • Understanding Dementia MOOC Certificate-University of Tasmania 
  • Behaviour Skills Training program (BSTP) P.I.E.C.E.S(2014) and Dementia care training Program (DCTP)
  • CARERS Training Program – Reitman Centre, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto
  • Cognitive Behaviour Institute- Exposure and Response Therapy for OC

Awards

  • Dr.M.D.Govindasamy Memorial Prize for securing the highest marks in M.Phil Degree in Psychiatric Social work
  • University second rank in Masters in Social Work
  • University second rank in Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Professional Memberships

  • Licensed Member of The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
  • Licensed Member of The Ontario Association of Social Workers(OASW)
  • The Commonwealth of Massachusetts -Division of Professional Licensure Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)

Collaborations & Affiliations