Charlotte Johnston

In today’s world, parents and young people face growing demands on their attention, emotions, and energy. Parents can feel the pressure to find the “correct” way to support their children, which can erode confidence in their own instincts and strengths—this can especially be true for those who may not have experienced attuned attachment in childhood. At the same time, young people are navigating a landscape of increasing academic, social, and internal/external pressures that can contribute to anxiety, low mood, self-esteem concerns, and uncertainty about relationships or the future.

I believe therapy is a space for learning how to meet ourselves—at any stage of development—with compassion, curiosity, and openness. Starting therapy, or beginning again with someone new, can stir up a range of emotions for both young people and the adults who care about them. My goal is to create a therapeutic space where your strengths are seen, your experiences are heard, and your values guide our work together

I draw on an integrative approach that is informed by evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, IFS, and ACT, years of experience working clinically and educationally with young people, and your family’s goals and lived experience. My therapeutic style is grounded in warmth, non-judgment, empathy, and acceptance, with a focus on empowering young people and families to move toward relational attunement and meaningful change.

Clients I’ve worked with often share that my approach helps them feel more confident, self-compassionate, and better able to navigate challenges, transitions and overwhelming emotions. Parents, children, and teens alike have reported stronger communication, increased emotion literacy, and a renewed sense of connection in their relationships.

Charlotte is a Registered Social Worker who completed a Masters of Social Work at the University of Toronto. She has supported children, adolescents, young adults, and families in the education, social services, and mental health sectors. Most recently, Charlotte worked in a National Health Service (NHS) child and adolescent eating disorder team in England, where she studied and provided systemic family therapy under supervision. Before that, Charlotte worked as a mental health clinician at Stella’s Place in Toronto, providing assessment and DBT/ACT-informed therapy to young adults ages 16–29. Charlotte has a particular interest in group therapy, and strives to apply a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, attachment-oriented lens to her work with individuals, families, and groups.