Justine Bourak

Therapy does not have to look the same for everyone. Whether I am working with an adult processing experiences from years ago, a teenager who isn't quite sure what they want to talk about yet, or a child communicating through play rather than words, my starting point is the same: creating safety, building genuine connection, and meeting you where you are.

You can expect me to be warm, curious, relational, and flexible. I believe meaningful change happens through process, not pressure. You do not need to arrive at therapy knowing exactly what to say, where to begin, or even what you need yet.

There is room for depth in therapy, but there is also room for humour, personality, curiosity, creativity, and simply being human.

Adults & Young Adults
Sometimes you understand why you feel the way you do, but understanding it hasn't necessarily changed how it feels.

You may find yourself overthinking, feeling overwhelmed or stuck, repeating familiar relationship patterns, or carrying experiences from childhood, relationships, loss, family dynamics, or other difficult periods that continue to affect you in the present.

I work with adults and young adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, relationship and attachment concerns, stress, and emotional overwhelm. Together, we can explore not only what has happened in your life, but how those experiences continue to shape the way you think, feel, relate, and respond today.

EMDR
I offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with adults, young adults and children to help process distressing or unresolved experiences that may continue to feel emotionally present.

EMDR is an evidence-based approach that works with memories, emotions, beliefs, and body sensations connected to difficult experiences. I also incorporate grounding, mindfulness, and somatic awareness to help you better understand and respond to what is happening within your body throughout the therapeutic process.

For me, EMDR is not about rushing into difficult memories. Safety and preparation come first. We take time to build trust, develop strategies for regulation, and move through the work at a pace that feels manageable.


Teens
Teenagers deserve therapy that doesn't feel like another place where an adult is analyzing, lecturing, or telling them what they should be doing. My priority is creating a relationship where teens can gradually feel comfortable being themselves. Some want to talk; others connect more naturally through games, creativity, humour, movement, or simply having something to do while we talk.

I support teens with anxiety, school stress, emotional overwhelm, self-esteem, family changes, grief, trauma, relationships, and life transitions, drawing from EMDR, attachment-based therapy, mindfulness, creative approaches, and developmentally appropriate strategies.

I don't expect a teenager to walk into my office and immediately tell me everything that's going on. Trust is something we build.

Children
Children communicate differently than adults, and sometimes their behaviour tells us what they don't yet have the words to explain.

My work with children is grounded in child-centred play therapy. Rather than expecting children to sit across from me and talk about their feelings, I meet them through the language that often comes most naturally to them: play.

I bring curiosity, creativity, flexibility, and plenty of personality into the therapy room. Sometimes that means getting on the floor, being a little silly or goofy, entering an imaginary world, playing the same game repeatedly, or paying close attention to something that may seem small to an adult but is incredibly important to your child.

Through play, children can explore emotions, relationships, fears, confidence, boundaries, experiences, and connection in ways that feel natural rather than forced. I integrate Child-Centred Play Therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy, attachment-based approaches, sandtray, storytelling, movement, sensory experiences, and creative interventions.

I can also incorporate EMDR with children when appropriate, adapting the approach through play, drawing, storytelling, movement, imagination, and other developmentally appropriate strategies.

Above all, I believe healing happens through process, not pressure. My goal is to create a space where your child feels safe, understood, and free to be themselves.

Working With Parents & Families
Children don't exist separately from the relationships and environments around them, which is why I value collaboration with parents and caregivers throughout the therapeutic process.

My role is not to assign blame or provide a weekly report of everything that happens in the playroom. Instead, I help caregivers better understand what their child may be communicating through their emotions and behaviour while exploring practical ways to strengthen connection, regulation, and attachment at home.

I approach parents with the same curiosity and compassion I bring to children. We can look at patterns that may be contributing to challenges while also recognizing the strengths already present within your family.