Kate Lawton

Kate is a psychotherapist and Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). She is qualified to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy under the Regulated Health Care Professionals Act (1991). Kate has been in private practice since 2016 and a mental health clinician at several downtown Toronto hospitals for 12 years.

Kate helps people seeking therapy for anxiety, depression, complex PTSD, stress injuries, burnout as well as chronic illness, relationship conflict and low self-esteem. Kate offers a warm and authentic therapeutic approach that helps individuals feel safe and affirmed in session. Individuals experience Kate as compassionate, thoughtful, patient, kind and perceptive. Kate supports individuals on a therapeutic journey to greater self-compassion and self-confidence.

Individuals are assessed and provided regular measurable tools to identify effectiveness of the therapy and therapeutic alliance. Kate draws on a range of modalities personalized to each individual, including Interpersonal Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioural and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Gentle exploration of relational patterns from the past may offer insight into current areas of difficulty. Working in a measured and cautious manner helps Kate support individuals to progress in treatment at a comfortable pace.

Kate has taught and worked at Ontario universities before embarking on a second career in social work fifteen years ago. She was inspired to train in psychotherapy after years of volunteering with crisis lines, victim services with Toronto Police, homeless shelters and women’s domestic violence shelters. She is a rostered provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD and is experienced in treating first responders, nurses, psychiatrists, police and veterans.

Kate holds a Master of Social Work degree (mental health specialization) and a Bachelor of Arts (history and political science) from the University of Toronto. She completed a Master of Arts degree (history) from Concordia University focusing on women’s history and social history. In 2019, Kate received the Award for Excellence in Social Responsibility from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.