Justin the Therapist

03/27/2026

Hey therapists, listen up!!

I know it can feel like a lot, especially at the start of this journey. These are the things I wished I’d heard at the start of mine. 💙

New Therapist | Ontario Therapist | Psychotherapy

03/26/2026

When life gets loud, most couples don’t fall apart because they stop loving each other.

They fall into “stress mode.”

You’re both tired, both stretched, both trying to keep everything moving… and without meaning to, you start treating each other like the problem instead of the person you’re doing life with.

That’s the shift Sarah and I focused on with

Your partner is your teammate in stress.

A lot of the time, the stress isn’t coming from them.

It’s coming from the season you’re in, a newborn, grief, work pressure, family stuff, money stress, the endless to-do list.

The relationship just starts feeling the impact, and suddenly you’re arguing about dishes when the real issue is that you’re both running on fumes.

When you can name what’s actually happening, something softens.

🤝 You stop blaming.
🤝 You start sharing the load.
🤝 You remember you’re on the same side.

And in the middle of all of it, don’t underestimate the “unproductive” moments.

Those tiny pockets of connection remind you that the relationship isn’t another job to manage, it’s the place you’re meant to land. 💙

03/24/2026

It can be a strange mix of feelings watching other people hit milestones you thought you’d reach by now.

You can be genuinely happy for them and still feel that quiet ache of “what about me?” at the same time.

A lot of us carry an unspoken timeline in our heads.

By this age I should be here.
By then I should have that.

When life doesn’t follow that script, it’s easy to turn it into a personal failure instead of a reflection of how complex life actually is.

Different paths don’t mean you’re behind.

They mean your life has taken shape in ways that don’t always show up on a checklist.

Growth, resilience, friendships, heartbreaks you survived, risks you took, lessons you learned… those count too, even if they don’t come with a mortgage or a baby photo.

You’re allowed to want those things and still trust that your story is unfolding in its own time.

We talked more about this on the Mental Health Matchmaker Podcast if you feel like listening in. 🎧💙

Ontario Therapy | Mental Health Support | Therapist Insight

03/18/2026

Sometimes people come into therapy convinced they already know what the problem is.

“My partner needs to work on their anger.”

“My partner doesn’t communicate.”

“My partner is the one who needs to change.”

And sometimes, they’re not wrong.

But the part that can be harder to sit with is that when you only have one perspective, the story is always going to make sense from your side.

I’ve had moments where I worked with someone individually for a while and really believed their partner was the main issue.

Then the partner came in, shared their experience, and suddenly there was a whole other layer I couldn’t see before.

Not because anyone was “lying.”

But because we’re all limited by our own point of view.

In relationships, it’s easy to slip into opposition. We start building a case instead of building a connection.

The shift I often invite people to make is this:

💭 Instead of only asking, “How do I get them to change?”

💭 Also ask, “How can I grow here?”

That doesn’t mean you’re the only problem and it doesn’t mean you take all the blame.

It means you’re open to looking at yourself, not just your partner.

And when one person starts moving differently, the whole relationship often begins to move too. 💙

03/15/2026

This one hits closer to home for people than they like to admit. 👀

If you’re always reading the room, matching energy, being who you think you need to be… it can start to feel like there’s no solid “you” underneath it all.

But, being adaptable isn’t the problem.

That skill probably helped you build connections, fit into different spaces, and move through life smoothly.

The real question is who you are when no one else is around.

When there’s no one to impress or accommodate:

💭 What actually matters to you?
💭 What do you care about?
💭 What still feels true in private?

That’s your anchor.

You don’t need to stop adapting.

You just need a home base inside yourself to come back to. 💙

This question (and many others like it) come up on the Mental Health Matchmaker Podcast.

🎧 If you feel like diving a little deeper, listen to the full episode on your favourite streaming platform.

03/13/2026

I talk to a lot of new therapists, and the story I hear most is about trying to find their rhythm in the early stages of this work.

It sounds like, “I want to feel more confident in my sessions.”

Or, “I’m doing the work, but I keep replaying everything I said after.”

That in-between stage can really shake your confidence.

You’ve worked so hard to get here, and now you’re stepping into a role that carries a lot of responsibility, emotion, and self-doubt all at once.

And sometimes the challenge isn’t just the number of clients, it’s not having enough space to slow down, reflect, and actually learn from those early sessions.

When I’m working with therapists in supervision, I always come back to the same thing.

✔️ Slow down and focus on the quality of your work
✔️ Make space to really think about your sessions
✔️ Bring in the moments that felt confusing, heavy, or unexpectedly meaningful

That’s where you start to find your voice and build real clinical confidence.

Doing good therapy is still the best “marketing” there is.

When people feel genuinely supported and changed by the work, they talk about it.

If you’re early in your career and want steady, thoughtful support as you build your skills and your caseload, clinical supervision can make a big difference.

You can book a supervision consultation through the link in my bio, or just send me a DM if you want to ask a question or see if we’d be a good fit.

I’m always happy to connect. 💙

https://bbtherapy.ca/services/clinical-supervision/

03/12/2026

03/05/2026

We live in a world where we’re encouraged to find “the one,” our everything…

Our best friend, support system, adventure buddy, and emotional anchor all rolled into one.

But the reality is, no one person can fulfill all of that for you.

What really matters is the balance between what your partner offers and what you seek outside of your relationship.

Having your partner as your rock is incredible, but sometimes they can’t always be everything.

And that’s OKAY.

It's perfectly healthy to find fulfillment elsewhere, in friendships, hobbies, and passions, while continuing to grow together as a team.

The key is knowing that your connection can stay strong without expecting perfection. 🔑

It’s about recognizing that you both have a role in the relationship, but your needs can and should be met in multiple places.

Take a moment to reflect and embrace the fact that your relationship can thrive when you allow space for other meaningful connections to fill in the gaps.

This doesn’t take away from your bond, it strengthens it. 💪

03/04/2026

Staying after infidelity is complicated.

You can see your partner trying, you can want to move forward… and still feel triggered by a wound that hasn’t fully healed.

That push and pull can be exhausting.

Healing is about slowly rebuilding safety, understanding what happened, and giving space to the grief that often comes with it.

Grief for what you thought you had.

Grief for the sense of security that feels different now.

Needing more time doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

Repair takes patience, honest conversations, and sometimes support from someone outside the relationship.

If you and your partner are working through this and want support, you can book a free intake call through the link in my bio. 💙

Couple Therapy | Couple Therapist | Ontario Therapy | Psychotherapist

02/23/2026

Just incase you were wondering 🤔

02/23/2026

Just incase you were wondering 💭😂

02/20/2026

started because I saw two challenges create an opportunity.

People were reaching out for therapy who genuinely wanted help but were under real financial strain, and couldn’t afford to invest in therapy. At the same time, I was meeting passionate student therapists who needed practicum placements and were really hoping to get great quality training..

Affordable Therapy Ontario was my way of bridging those two needs.

It allows people to access therapy at a lower cost while also providing world-class training to student therapists.

It’s simple, human, and built around care.

If you’re curious about ATO or want to understand how it works, head to the link in my bio to learn more.