Hi there,

My name is Maor Bernshtein,

I am a social worker and a therapist, and I specialize in relational, collaborative, and trauma-focused counselling.

It’s true that many people living with trauma and mental health often feel stuck, lost, and hopeless.

Some of the most common issues I hear when I meet with clients include feeling “like nothing helps” or “I’ve tried everything and I’m still stuck”. I hear how, despite all the time and effort, despite the deep desire to be free of emotional pain, we sometimes find ourselves drowning in it.

To me, understanding your pain is the first step..

That’s why I offer a counselling approach that puts you in its center, so that you can find stability, heal wounds (like emotional pain and trauma), and reclaim whole-being. In a word, I help want to help you get un-stuck.

Above all else, I value trust, wisdom, and out-of-box thinking. This has been true for me in both my personal and professional life.

I will not try to fit you into a theoretical box, moving beyond a one-method-fits-all type of therapy.

My promise is to work with you to co-create a modality that works for you, one that has you at its center.

Pathway to Self was created to bring just that: a path back to where you know you deserve to be.

And this path cannot be created without you.

My approach borrows from a variety of modalities that

help us find calm, stability, and meaning.

Hover over or click each image for more information

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS is a type of therapy that helps you understand and heal different parts of yourself. Imagine your mind as a team of different characters, each with its own feelings and roles. Some of these parts may be protective or hurt, but your core Self is always there, capable of guiding and healing these inner aspects. IFS helps you connect with your core Self to better understand and support these parts, leading to personal growth and improved relationships. It's not just for therapy; it’s also used in various fields to promote understanding and well-being.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy is a counselling approach that sees you as the expert on your own life. Instead of blaming you for problems, it focuses on separating the issues from who you are. This method believes you have the skills, values, and strengths needed to lessen the impact of these problems. It involves a curious and open-minded attitude, asking questions to uncover new insights and perspectives. It values your unique story and abilities, aiming to empower you and reduce the hold of problems in your life.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

SFBT is a practical, future-oriented therapy that helps you identify and build on your strengths to create meaningful change. Instead of dwelling on problems, we focus on solutions—like uncovering times when the issue wasn’t happening and expanding those successes. Through guided questions and goal-setting, you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and tools to move forward quickly. Ideal for overcoming obstacles, improving relationships, or navigating life transitions.

Polyvagal Theory Informed Therapy

This approach focuses on understanding how your nervous system responds to stress, trauma, or everyday challenges. By exploring the body’s natural "fight, flight, or freeze" reactions, we work to help you feel safer and more grounded. Through mindfulness, breathing exercises, and gentle body awareness, you’ll learn to regulate emotions, build resilience, and reconnect with a sense of calm. It’s especially helpful for anxiety, trauma recovery, and improving relationships.

Trauma-Focused Therapy

This approach is designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences in a safe, supportive environment. We’ll gently explore how past events may still affect your emotions, behaviors, or relationships today, while teaching coping skills to manage triggers and reclaim a sense of control. Techniques may include mindfulness, emotional regulation strategies, and rebuilding trust in yourself and others. It’s tailored to empower survivors to move from “just getting by” to thriving.

Emotionally Focused Therapy

EFT is a research-supported therapy that enhances connections with yourself and others by focusing on emotions and attachment. It helps individuals, couples, and families recognize and change negative patterns in their interactions, improving relationships and emotional well-being. By developing emotional awareness and fostering secure bonds, EFT enables clients to communicate their needs more effectively and respond to loved ones in healthier ways.

Systems Theory

Systems theory is a unique approach in social work that focuses on understanding individuals within the context of their broader environment. This therapeutic modality examines how various interconnected factors—such as family dynamics, social relationships, and economic conditions—affect a person's behavior and well-being. Social workers use systems theory to explore and address these complex interactions, recognizing that changes in one part of the system can impact the whole. By situating individuals within their environmental context, this approach allows social workers to create more comprehensive and effective strategies for supporting clients and improving their overall quality of life.

Feedback-Informed Treatment

Feedback-Informed Treatment (FIT) is a client-centered approach that emphasizes using direct feedback from clients to guide and enhance therapy. Unlike traditional methods where feedback might be informally gathered, FIT involves systematically and formally collecting client input about the therapy process, the therapeutic relationship, and overall well-being. This approach helps therapists adjust their methods based on real-time client experiences, leading to improved therapy outcomes, increased client satisfaction, and reduced dropout rates. FIT fosters a "culture of feedback," where clients are encouraged to share honest opinions without fear, allowing therapists to continuously refine and improve their practice.

Want to change your life?

Let's Work Together

Education and qualifications

Master of Social Work

Western University

Concurrent Disorders Post-Graduate Diploma

Mohawk College

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (honours)

York University

Education and qualifications

Master of Social Work

Western University

Concurrent Disorders Post-Graduate Diploma

Mohawk College

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (honours)

York University

My name is Maor Bernshtein,

To me, understanding your pain is the first step..

My approach borrows from a variety of modalities that

help us find calm, stability, and meaning.

Let's Work Together

Education and qualifications

Master of Social Work

Concurrent Disorders Post-Graduate Diploma

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (honours)

Education and qualifications

Master of Social Work

Concurrent Disorders Post-Graduate Diploma

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (honours)

Get In Touch

Please consider leaving me a review on Google:

My name is Maor Bernshtein,

To me, understanding your pain is the first step..

My approach borrows from a variety of modalities that

help us find calm, stability, and meaning.

Let's Work Together

Education and qualifications

Master of Social Work

Concurrent Disorders Post-Graduate Diploma

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (honours)​

Education and qualifications

Master of Social Work

Concurrent Disorders Post-Graduate Diploma

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (honours)

Get In Touch

Please consider leaving me a review on Google:

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (honours)