Alexandra Duz

Hi, I’m Alex! (she/her) 😊

Welcome to my bio! I am a registered psychotherapist who approaches therapy from an integrated and holistic approach. I believe the mind, body, and environment are interconnected and our relationship with the self, loved ones, community, the earth, and our sense of purpose, define our lived experience and well being.

I practice from a relational psychodynamic approach that is attachment based, trauma informed, culturally sensitive, and systemically aware. I believe we experience everything in the context of a relationship and the quality of our relationships and the relational trauma many of us sadly but inevitably experience directly impact functionality, embodiment, authenticity, and connection throughout our life. I believe how we relate to ourselves, the world, and how we navigate our thoughts, sensations, emotions and beliefs, as well as the capacity to be neutrally self-aware, are skills that can be relearned through practicing courage, detachment, open curiosity, non-judgement, acceptance, compassion, and hopefulness. Lastly, our ability to be present, completely in our body and attuned with our inner and outer world, is essential for true well being which is why my therapeutic approach emphasizes education and skill building for nervous system regulation and encourages that clients spend some time exploring their defenses, trauma, and whatever else may be blocking you from really showing up in your body and life.

In my therapeutic practice, I spend time getting to know YOU, not simply your issues, diagnoses, or symptoms. In my practice, I combine approaches from both Western and Eastern perspectives and practices (evidence-based) on mental health and well being. I am fascinated and spend much of my time learning about neuroscience, trauma, developmental psychology, sex and intimacy, Buddhist psychology and mindfulness, somatics, and energy work. I am also a certified meditation and breathwork teacher, and incorporate these practices into sessions if desired and appropriate. I also incorporate movement, art, and writing in addition to talk therapy as sometimes, it can be challenging and limiting to verbalize our complex experiences. I also draw on CBT, DBT and Internal Family Systems Therapy.

In my free time I love my alone time, working on home projects, being with loved ones, my two dogs, nature, and exploring my community. I am deeply passionate about what I do and am fascinated by philosophy, human behaviour, and spirituality. I strive to live as close to the earth as I can and am dedicated to my own self-healing. Presently and in the future, I aim to become certified in EMDR and deepen my education in somatic and relational psychoanalytic therapy. I have a background in sexuality and gender studies from U of T and support people who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. Also, neurodivergent folks are close to my heart as people very close to me live with ADHD and I am quite educated in this area!

If you think we could be a good fit I would love to meet you :)