Sudha Vavilla MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker/Psychotherapist

I help parents to unburden, make sense of new changes, process past traumas and identify and transform limiting beliefs that may be getting in your way. I want you to know that you do not have to do this alone. 

In addition to being a clinician, I am a mother of 2 children (each one born in a different country and with very different experiences). With my firstborn, I found myself completely unprepared for coping with a traumatic delivery and the adjustment to the roles and responsibilities as a new parent. Having the support of caring professionals supporting me for the birth of my second child helped me to cope, survive and experience motherhood in a completely different way from my first. 

It has also transformed the support that I offer as a therapist, as I focus to ensure that you get the support you deserve at this time. 

Thank you for considering this important step in your personal growth. I am honoured to be part of this process with you and hope that we can find a space together that will enable you to stretch, grow, and learn. I firmly believe in your inherent resilience and capacity to change, heal and overcome. I look forward to being with you on this journey.

I speak and can provide sessions in Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam

Why Work With Me? 

Mothers were not meant to do this alone.

My goal is to help you feel supported, make sense of and manage any confusing or disturbing thoughts and feelings, support you to strengthen your existing relationships and build your support network and your confidence.

I want to help you not just survive but to thrive in your new role. 

My Approach 

I help to create a safe therapeutic space that will enable you to stretch, grow and learn. I firmly believe in your inherent resilience and I use trauma-informed, evidence-based tools like EFIT (Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy) and Cognitive Behavior Solutions Focused Therapy to help you to unlock your resilience and to feel your best. I also provide individuals and couples with concrete parenting support using the Triple P Positive Parenting Model as well as an attachment-based lens for working with parents.

Techniques Used 

  • EFIT (Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy) 

  • CBT(Cognitive Behavior Therapy)

  • Triple P Positive Parenting Model 

  • Solutions Focused Therapy 

  • Mindfulness and Compassion focussed approaches

  • Exposure and Response Therapy for OCD (ERP)

  • Eye Movement Desentization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Somatic approaches

  • IFS (Internal Family Systems)

Education 

  • Master of Philosophy (M. Phil) – Psychiatric Social Work (Honors) - National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India

  • Master’s degree (M.A) in Social Work (Honors)- Stella Maris College, Chennai, India (Accredited by Canadian Association of Social Workers as equivalent to MSW)                                                                                   

  • Bachelor’s Degree (B.A) in Psychology (Honors) -  JBAS College, Chennai, India

Certifications / Training

  • An Introduction to the Integration of Ego State Therapy Structural Dissociation, and EMDR Therapy- Farnsworth Lobenstine, LICSW

  • Somatic Attachment Therapy Certificate- The Embody Lab

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Basic Therapy Training (EMDR) - Sue Genest, Life Journeys Counselling & Training Inc.

  • Developmental Trauma (ECHO Ontario Psychotherapy)

  • Psychological Therapies & Work-Related Stress

  • Prejudices That Impact LGBTQ+ People

  • Introduction to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

  • Healing Intergenerational Trauma

  • Perinatal Mental Health -Culturally Informed Approaches to Screening, assessment and Treatment

  • Embodied Healing and Social Action

  • Productive Emotional Processing in Psychotherapy

  • Transcending trauma series workshop using an IFS lens

  • Introduction to IFS

  • Pieces and perspectives on living with DID

  • Finding Safety in Your Nervous System-Deb Dana

  • Dr.Dick Schwartz-Introduction to IFS-Masterclass

  • Dr.Sue Johnson's EFIT: Attachment-based Interventions to treat Trauma, Anxiety and Depression

  • An Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care for 2SLGBTQ+ Clients

  • Dr.Janina Fisher-Transforming the legacy of trauma

  • The power of showing up-Dr.Tina Payne Bryson

  • Attachment Theory in Clinical practice-Dr. Dan Siegel

  • Positive Parenting Approach(Triple P)

  • Safe Spaces for workplaces 

  • Racial Equity Training 

  • Unconscious bias training 

  • GPA, San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, CCM And HPG training, and Conflict resolution training 

  • ASIST – Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training 

  • Geriatric Addictions Clinical Complexities in Geriatric Care training 

  • Delivering Palliative Care in a Changing Landscape

  • Understanding Dementia MOOC Certificate-University of Tasmania 

  • Behaviour Skills Training program (BSTP) P.I.E.C.E.S(2014) and Dementia care training Program (DCTP)

  • CARERS Training Program – Reitman Centre, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto

  • Essentials of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy(AEDP) Immersion- AEDP Institute

  • Basic Principles of Somatic Experiencing for BIPOC- Somatic Experiencing International

  • Windz Centre- Narrative Therapy Certificate Program

  • Cognitive Behaviour Institute- Exposure and Response Therapy for OCD

Awards

  • Dr.M.D.Govindasamy Memorial Prize for securing the highest marks in M.Phil Degree in Psychiatric Social work, University second rank in Masters in Social Work, and University second rank in Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Professional Memberships

  • Licensed Member of The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)

  • Licensed Member of The Ontario Association of Social Workers(OASW)

  • The Commonwealth of Massachusetts -Division of Professional Licensure Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)