Mahta Kakvan
Masters in Counseling Psychology, Masters in Developmental Psychology
Registered Psychotherapist (RP Qualifying)
Mahta is a registered psychotherapist (RP qualifying) and a doctoral student in Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy at University of Toronto. She holds two master’s degree in Counseling Psychology (M.Ed) and Developmental Psychology (M.A) from University of Toronto, and York University, respectively; and completed a Specialized Honors Bachelor of Science (Spec.Honors.BSc) in Psychology at York University.
Mahta’s areas of focus in psychotherapy include trauma (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-PTSD), vicarious trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, anger, emotion regulation, as well as grief and loss.
Currently, she works as a psychotherapist providing psychotherapy to clients who have been involved in motor vehicle accidents. Concurrently, she works as a Psychometrist and Clinical Research Analyst at Toronto Western Hospital where she conducts a broad range of psychological assessments and explores the impact of a medical condition (lupus) on cognitive functioning. Her past clinical involvement at Toronto Rehabilitation Institution (TRI) with athletes who experienced multiple concussions and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) honed her skills in conducting neuropsychological/cognitive assessment. Furthermore, her past therapy experiences in providing support to suicide survivors enriched her counseling skills.
Throughout completing her clinical practicum at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at University of Toronto, she had the great opportunity to work with clients from diverse minority groups including LGBTQ+ and immigrants who presented broad range of issues such as trauma, sexual/emotional abuse, vicarious trauma, anxiety, and depression.
Mahta’s professional experience coupled with her personal experience as a first-generation immigrant has shaped and enriched her motivation to work with people with a wide range of backgrounds in terms of ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and social status. Her therapeutic style is warm, empathic, non-judgmental, collaborative, and anti-oppressive. She advocates that each client deserves individualized care which addresses their unique needs and goals.
Therefore, she tailors treatment to each client’s particular needs by drawing primarily on Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Mahta’s goals are to establish an authentic alliance with her clients and to create a safe space where they can feel heard, supported, and validated. She helps clients identify their distressing thought patterns, navigate their emotional processes, and develop effective coping skills
