Every Journey Begins With A First Step
At First Step Psychotherapy, we offer compassionate support to help you heal, grow, and thrive through life’s challenges.
WELCOME
At First Step Psychotherapy, we provide a compassionate space where healing begins. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by fear, guilt, or anxiety, we’re here to help you process emotions, heal from past experiences, and develop healthy coping skills. Our specialized therapies, including CBT and trauma-informed care, are tailored to your needs, fostering meaningful and lasting change.
We believe everyone deserves access to mental health care, so we offer flexible options to ensure finances aren't a barrier.
Take the first step toward healing today—book a free consultation with us.
At First Step Psychotherapy, you'll work one-on-one with our dedicated therapist
Meet Your Therapist
M. Luisa Amenta
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Pronouns: She/Her
I offer a unique perspective in therapy—one shaped by life experience, a deep passion for learning, and the healing rhythm of nature. Having moved to Canada at a young age, I understand the challenges that come with starting over in a new culture, and I bring that empathy into my work with fellow newcomers and those navigating life transitions.
As a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), I blend evidence-based approaches with a grounded, nature-informed style rooted in authenticity, warmth, and compassion.
🌿 Curious if we’re a good fit? Book your free 30-minute consultation today and take the first step toward healing.
Our Unique Approach
At First Step Psychotherapy, our goal is that one day, you won’t need us.
We believe therapy should empower—not create dependency. Our aim is to help you build the tools, insight, and resilience needed to navigate life’s challenges with confidence, even after our work together ends. Healing begins by addressing the root causes of your struggles and moving toward meaningful relief with each step.
Our approach blends empathy with gentle challenge. We support you in working through issues like low self-esteem, anxiety, stress, and relationship difficulties, while enhancing your emotional and physical well-being. We also integrate evidence-based methods—including EMDR—to help you process trauma and release stuck emotional patterns.
Using a holistic framework, we combine solution-focused and acceptance-based therapies with grounding techniques that draw on nature’s healing energy. Together, we’ll strengthen your coping strategies, regulate your nervous system, and support lasting change—mind, body, and spirit.
🌱 Ready to take the first step?
Book your free 30-minute consultation today—let’s see if we’re a good fit.
Book Now
-
Consultation
Every journey begins with a first step. During your free consultation, we’ll have a friendly chat about your path and see if we’re the right fit for you. We’ll explore your concerns and what you’re looking for in a therapist, ensuring we’re aligned for your journey ahead.
-
Your First Session
During our initial session, we’ll discuss consent and confidentiality, review your intake form, and start collaboratively planning your treatment. You are the expert of your own life, and together, we'll manage your mental health, regulate your nervous system, and coping skills - all tailored to your unique needs. Our goal is to support you during every step on your path to healing.
-
Continued Care
Together, we'll explore the root causes of the issues negatively affecting your life and relationships. Our focus is to help you navigate challenging emotions, express yourself authentically, and reach your goals. We’re committed to supporting your mental health and overall well-being for the long term.
our wellness services
🌿 Now Offering EMDR Therapy 🌿
EMDR is a structured, evidence-based approach proven to help individuals process trauma, anxiety, and distressing memories. By engaging the brain’s natural healing ability, EMDR helps shift painful experiences into a place of resolution. It’s a powerful step forward in healing, and we’re here to walk that path with you.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Trauma-informed therapy recognizes the profound impact of trauma and provides a compassionate, safe space for individuals to explore and heal from difficult emotions, offering tools for emotional regulation, resilience, and empowerment.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution-focused therapy is a short-term, goal-oriented approach that emphasizes building on clients' strengths and resources to achieve their goals through practical solutions.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is an evidence-based therapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors, effectively managing anxiety, depression, and stress while improving emotional well-being.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy empowers individuals to "re-author" their life stories, fostering a strengths-based perspective and helping them move beyond feeling stuck or defined by their past.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
IFS is a transformative therapy that helps clients heal by addressing and integrating the various "parts" within them, such as inner critics or protectors, leading to greater self-awareness and emotional balance.
Existential Therapy
Existential therapy helps individuals explore meaning, purpose, and freedom, guiding them to reflect on their values and make conscious choices, particularly during life transitions or existential crises.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy(ACT)
ACT helps clients accept difficult emotions and thoughts through mindfulness and behavioral changes, enabling them to live in alignment with their values while managing chronic stress, anxiety, and emotional pain.
New: Now Offering EMDR Therapy
For when you are “sick and tired of being sick and tired.
🌿 EMDR Therapy 🌿
We are excited to share that EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is now available at First Step Psychotherapy. EMDR is a powerful, evidence-based approach designed to help individuals process and heal from trauma, anxiety, and distressing life experiences.
This therapy works by engaging the brain’s natural healing processes through guided eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation. It can be especially helpful for those who feel “stuck” in their healing journey.
Whether you’re seeking support for past trauma, phobias, anxiety, or negative self-beliefs, EMDR offers a pathway to relief and resolution.
🧠 Begin your healing journey with EMDR—your first step starts here.
