About Natalie Thomas

Natalie Thomas is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and is currently completing her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. She is finishing her final internship hours at MyLife Counselling June 13th, 2023 under the supervision of our Clinical Director Mark Nixon RP #2331. Natalie is happy to make counselling more accessible to individuals and couples by providing her services at a reduced rate during her internship. Please note, her rates will increase to our regular full rates starting June 13th, 2023 when she completes her internship and becomes a MyLife Associate. 

Natalie graduated from the University of Guelph with a BA and MA in Philosophy and went on to complete her PhD at the University of Waterloo. She specialized in ethics and philosophy of mind and has advocated for animal and environmental ethics in her research, publications, and volunteer work. Her previous experience in philosophy helps her understand and explore her clients’ lives on a deeper level, including being able to explore questions and issues related to life’s meaning and purpose. Her background in ethics helps to ensure her clients are treated with the greatest dignity, care, and respect while supporting them. 

Natalie also worked at the Student Accessibility Services centre at the University of Guelph in various roles including as an individual student advisor where she came to enjoy the individual time spent supporting students with disabilities with their personal and academic challenges. After many years of teaching, she decided to pursue her MA in Counselling Psychology to be able to work with individuals and couples as a psychotherapist. 

Having a family history of mental illness and having gone through many personal losses herself, she has developed compassion for those who have suffered through similar experiences. She has also struggled with burnout, severe anxiety, and stress from academic and advocacy work. Providing individuals and couples with a safe, compassionate space to support them working through their own unique challenges is her main goal as a therapist. 

Natalie plans to continue her research and training in trauma-sensitive, mindful, and compassionate approaches to working with various forms of grief with a special focus on eco and climate loss and anxiety. She presented her current work in this area at a global mindfulness summit in 2022 and is open to including this work into her practice with clients. 

Through her love for learning and desire to grow she has taken several courses and certificates in mindfulness meditation and compassion practices such as Compassion Cultivation Training. She has also taken trainings and courses in grief and trauma counselling through Wilfrid Laurier University as well as Gottman Method couples counselling. 

Natalie continues to teach at Universities and Colleges and enjoys teaching a First Year Seminar on happiness that includes philosophical and psychological research and practices on the subject. Outside the office she loves spending time in nature hiking, gardening, kayaking, and walking with her two beloved dogs. She also practices meditation, yoga and creative arts and crafts.