Marla Klinck

Registered Psychotherapist & Canadian Certified Counsellor

You may be facing some big challenges, or you may feel you just need a bit of help with something specific - whether you are struggling a little or a lot, I am ready for you because I believe everyone deserves to have someone in their corner. As you invite me into your story, I look forward to helping you hear yourself more fully and explore your concerns without any fear of judgement. My commitment is to help you uncover hope as we work towards your goals together. I will hold and protect our time together, I will bear witness to your pain without flinching, and I will care about what you care about.

If you are pursuing therapy for you and your loved one, I offer a rich experience in learning how to have meaningful communication and safe arguments that lead to connection rather than disconnection. As your couples therapist, I can help you learn how to reconcile and heal from emotional ruptures as you grow to truly understand the others point of view. Whether you and your important person are needing a tune up, an overhaul or anything in between, the investment is worth it. Paying attention to this relationship is never wasted time and I take very seriously the prospect of helping you do this. Some of my most cherished work is with couples - I am deeply honoured when invited into what might feel like total chaos, and I am privileged to be given the opportunity to witness healing right before my eyes.

Marla Klinck R.P., C.C.C. Individual Therapist Couples Therapist Sparrow Counselling & Consulting

Time and time again, research reveals the same outcomes - nothing is more critical to effective therapy than the relationship between you and your therapist. Understanding that our relationship is fundamental to change, my foremost priority is to build a strong relationship where you are prioritized and feeling safe enough to grow.

My ethos in the therapeutic setting is to consistently offer you the three pillars of person-centred care; authenticity (you get to be you, I get to be me), empathy (you will be met with a compassionate response and I'll catch your point of view), and unconditional positive regard (no matter what you tell me, I’m still on your side and I still accept you).

While it’s imperative to have a strong bond with your therapist, this relationship within counselling therapy cannot be to the exclusion of competence, education and experience. After all, a great therapist is not "just" a great listener. It's crucial to have someone in your corner that has competence with treatment protocols that will practically address your concerns, while fostering movement towards your personal flourishing.

Within our established and secure relationship, I am committed to using evidence-based methods for addressing emotional, relational, and mental health concerns. As your registered psychotherapist, I will frequently draw from the following treatment modalities to specifically match the approach that takes into account your strengths, and makes the most sense for what you need:

Trauma Informed

Person Centred

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Strengths Based Therapy

Mindfulness Based

Cognitive Processing Therapy

Grief Counselling

Positive Psychology

The Gottman Method Couples Therapy

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

Imago Couples Therapy

ADHD Adapted Couples Therapy

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Experience

Over the past twenty years, my experience has included non-profit and private practice work with adolescents, young adults, couples, and families. These experiences add a richness to my life that can only be described as a beautiful and chaotic masterpiece of laughter, tears, sweat, and refining the art of truly listening.

I have been given unique opportunities to support clients with a wide range of presenting concerns at high levels of complexity. Broadly speaking, the themes that tend to surface most frequently are anxiety, trauma, and interpersonal relationships, which is how I developed my niche. However, I have experience with many presenting concerns outside of these - I have never had a “straightforward” client, I’m not sure such a human exists. Each client arrives into my care with several dynamics that compound to create what might feel overwhelming or confusing at times. My honour is to help unearth hope amid this messy, beautiful life and journey together towards clarity and health.

Being a couples therapist has always been a natural fit for me and I count it a privilege to be invited into this important relationship. I have experience with a wide range of couples concerns but the main themes that arise most regularly seem to be poor communication (two people who don’t hear or understand each other), painful conflict (wounds without repair or resolution) and lack of intimacy (although committed - emotionally and physically disconnected). These big themes are always peppered with additional concerns including (but not limited to) in-laws, financial tension, betrayal, divisions of labour, parenting, life stage changes, trauma, the impact of ADHD, and family of origin.

Education

Experience

As a therapist, I have an unwavering commitment to my clients’ wellbeing, and because of this, I engage with regular education to improve my skills and stay current. My clients deserve the best, which is why I am dedicated to utilizing research-based approaches that have a proven efficacy in fostering change, developing strengths, and supporting healing.

In addition to my formal education, an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration, and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, I have received supplementary training in suicide prevention, SafeTALK, suicide intervention, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, through Living Works, the Canadian Mental Health Association and Suicide Prevention with the Mental Health Academy. I am also certified in mental health first aid. I have received training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, and Emotion Focused Therapy. I have training in Conflict Dynamics and Strategies with the Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation, and in Companioning Complicated Grief through the Tyndale Centre for Grief and Loss. I am certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy for trauma work and take a Trauma Informed approach. For my work with relationships, I have training and experience with Imago Relationship Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples, The Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and ADHD Adapted Couples Therapy.

I am a licensed practitioner in independent practice with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) as a Registered Psychotherapist. I am fully certified with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) as a Canadian Certified Counsellor.

I am a member in good standing with the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA) and an Occupationally Aware Healthcare Provider with Wounded Warriors Canada.

Marla Klinck

Registered Psychotherapist & Canadian Certified Counsellor

Experience

Experience

Experience

Education

Experience

Experience

Marla Klinck M.A., R.P., C.C.C.