Joanna Machado
Registered Psychotherapist
I became a therapist because I believe in the healing power of presence, connection, and being deeply seen. Like many in this field, my path was shaped by my own lived experiences—by witnessing how pain, resilience, and transformation often coexist in the same story. I’ve always been drawn to the emotional undercurrents in people’s lives—the parts we hide, the wounds we carry, and the ways we long to come home to ourselves.
What Being a Therapist Means To Me
To me, being a therapist means honoring the sacred trust someone places in you when they invite you into their inner world. It means listening not just to words, but to silences, body language, and what’s beneath the surface. It’s about being attuned, compassionate, and willing to sit with discomfort—without rushing to solve or explain it away.
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Being a therapist also means believing in people’s innate capacity to heal. I don’t see my role as an expert who has all the answers, but as a guide who helps you access your own inner wisdom. Nature has been a powerful teacher in this work, reminding me that the healing process often requires space, patience, and a deep reconnection with the self.
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For me, being a therapist is about creating a space where you can feel grounded—whether that’s through conversation, somatic practices, or simply reconnecting with the natural world. It’s about reminding people that they already have within them everything they need to heal, to grow, and to find their way back to their own peace.
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Most of all, it means showing up fully: grounded, curious, and human. This work humbles me daily, and I carry deep gratitude for every person who allows me to be part of their process.
Why I Became a Therapist
I’ve always been drawn to the emotional undercurrents in people’s lives—the parts we hide, the wounds we carry, and the ways we long to come home to ourselves.
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Nature has always been a place of healing and reconnection for me. It’s where I feel most aligned with myself, where I can breathe deeply, slow down, and find that inner calmness that’s often hard to access in the rush of daily life. That connection to the earth—its rhythms, its quiet wisdom—has been a source of strength for me, and I’ve seen it work its magic for others too. Becoming a therapist felt like a natural extension of that belief: offering others the same space to reconnect, to heal, and to find peace within themselves.
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I became a therapist not to fix, but to accompany, guide, and hold space for others as they rediscover their own inner resources and capacity for healing.
My Background
Education:
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Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
Yorkville University, 2022
Focus: Trauma-Informed Therapy, Attachment Theory, Somatic Practices
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Bachelor of Arts Honours Psychology
Brock University, 2020
Emphasis in Human Development & Psychology
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Certificates:​
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Perinatal Mental Health Certificate ​
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Attachment-Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) Certification Level II
Trained under Laural Parnell, PhD
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Certified Somatic Therapy Practitioner
Training in body-based trauma healing techniques
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Walk and Talk Therapy Training
Mind-body integration and outdoor therapy techniques
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