Status of In-Person Appointments
We are pleased to offer both in person and virtual appointment options for new and returning clients.
Registered Psychotherapist, Registered Marriage & Family Therapist
Welcome to Pal Counselling & Associates. Anita Pal is a registered Psychotherapist and registered Marriage and Family Therapist, providing private practice services in the community of Barrie, Ontario.
While we are often able to cope with the challenges of life, there are times when things can feel overwhelming or stuck. Professional services can help us to get unstuck and expand our abilities to cope with the challenges that life brings us. Our team strives to offer a respectful, safe, supportive space for clients to heal, recover, and grow from.
We offer individual psychotherapy for adults and youth, couples therapy, and family therapy. Psychotherapy services are offered both online and in person. We are located in central Barrie and are wheelchair accessible.
Our Team
Anita Pal
Owner | Registered Psychotherapist, RMFT
Anita is a Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Marriage and Family Therapist. She has over 25 years of clinical experience assisting individuals, couples, youth and families to cope with and grow from the adversities that life can sometimes bring.
Anita is trained in:
- EMDR
- Emotionally focused therapy
- Narrative therapy
- Cognitive behavioural approaches
- Accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy
Anita offers individual and couple therapy with a focus on assisting with learning disabilities, healing from the aftereffects of trauma, and living beyond the confines of anxiety and depression.
Anita also provides clinical supervision and consultation services for qualifying and registered psychotherapists. All services can be provided in either in person (in Barrie) or via video-based platforms. Please use the contact form below if you are interested in seeing if Anita is a good fit for your needs
Cara Gilewicz
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Cara is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and provides individual therapy to teens and adults. Cara brings a passion for helping individuals to live their best lives to her practice.
Some areas Cara can assist with:
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- Challenges connected to life transitions (i.e., navigating the transition to post-secondary education, challenges associated with young adulthood, changing careers)
- Understanding and overcoming anxiety
- Developing healthier ways to cope with stressors (i.e. parenting , caring for aging parents, job related stress and burnout)
- Learning how to trust yourself and become more assertive
- Learning ways to identify and change thoughts, feelings, and somatic symptoms associated with depression
- Developing better emotional self regulation skills
- Developing healthy boundaries
- Developing better communication and relationship skills
Cara offers a safe environment in which to explore sometimes complex feelings and offers a compassionate grounded approach to help clients navigate their way to a better emotional space. Cara draws on mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Narrative therapy approaches to help clients achieve their goals. Let us know in the contact form if you are interested in meeting with Cara or email her directly at c.g.psychotherapyoffice@gmail.com for a free consultation to see if her services are a good fit for your needs.”
Phoebe
Furry Friend
Phoebe is part of our animal assisted therapy program. She will be happy to attend in-person sessions if you request her.
Amy Makar
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Amy is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) providing individual therapy to teens and adults. She is pleased to be able to provide in-person and virtual appointments.
Some areas that Amy can assist with include:
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- Expanding and strengthening coping tools for emotional regulation
- Fostering understanding and developing tools for anxiety management
- Navigating life challenges or transitions
- Understanding and changing feelings of depression
- Providing support and avenues to heal as you navigate grief and loss
- Finding healthier ways to understand and manage feelings of anger
- Exploring and strengthening interpersonal skills (i.e., communication, self-advocacy, boundary setting)
- Working to improve sense of self-esteem or self-worth
- Developing helpful routines and strategies for wellbeing
- Providing resources and strategies for stress management
- Fostering self-confidence, highlighting strengths, and navigating life with ADHD
Amy has a passion for work in the mental health field and providing a space in which individuals feel safe to explore challenges and access support as they move through life. She works to provide an environment that is compassionate, comforting, and supportive for her clients. Her strong drive to provide clients with tangible resources and tools helps individuals outside of, and beyond, the therapeutic relationship. Some of the therapeutic orientations that Amy works from include Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based approaches. If you are interested in connecting with Amy for a consultation, you may email her directly at amyellenmakar@gmail.com.
Available Services
We offer a variety of therapy options based on your needs. For details about counselling and therapy services, please visit our services page by clicking the button below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.