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Michael Adia

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Registered Social Worker
he/him
Sessions start at
$160.00

Michael is here to support you with anxiety, gender identity, and addictions.

Headshot of Michael Adia from waist up smiling in a business casual top.

Michael provides counselling and psychotherapy to adults aged 18 years and older. He can help you learn practical skills to manage mood challenges and deal with oppression. Michael can help you work through grief and loss, non-traditional relationships (i.e., open, polyamorous), your gender journey, and complex health or mental health challenges, including addictions. Michael is a goal-oriented therapist and works to ensure that each session is productive.

Michael brings compassion, collaboration, connection, and humour to build a positive therapeutic relationship with you. He believes that a healthy therapeutic relationship leads to better mental health outcomes. Michael aims to create a safe and comfortable space where you can share difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations and receive care, kindness, and acceptance.

Michael grounds his practice in anti-oppression, anti-racism and harm reduction frameworks. As a racialized queer and bilingual speaker (English and Tagalog), Michael uses a culturally sensitive and responsive approach to support you in therapy.

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Michael can provide sessions in English and Tagalog.
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Right for you if:

You are looking for support with gender dysphoria.
You are a recent immigrant experiencing stress related to acculturation, deprofessionalization, and/or family separation.
You have received an HIV diagnosis, and are experiencing isolation or hopelessness because of stigma and discrimination.
You are seeking support navigating substance use and/or addictions.

Right for you if:

You are looking for support with gender dysphoria.
You are a recent immigrant experiencing stress related to acculturation, deprofessionalization, and/or family separation.
You have received an HIV diagnosis, and are experiencing isolation or hopelessness because of stigma and discrimination.
You are seeking support navigating substance use and/or addictions.

More about

Michael

Michael Adia standing in front of the Brooklyn bridge.

Q&A

How do you describe therapy?
Therapy is like showing kindness to yourself and your mental health. It is the same kindness that we show our loved ones in need.
What does good mental health look like to you?
Good mental health for me is being able to engage with life in meaningful ways regardless of how I am feeling.
What do you do to take care of your own mental health?
I spend time with my loved ones and share good food with them while watching an escapist tv/film. The unconditional love from our dog always makes me feel better. And seeking therapy myself.

Master of Social Work, University of Toronto (2018)

Bachelor of Arts in Health & Society (Honours), York University (2015)

Interpersonal Psychotherapy – Level A (IPT Institute)

Trauma-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – Beginners & Advanced (Psychwire)

LGBT2SQ Foundations Course (Rainbow Health Ontario)

Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for LGBTQ+ Youth (University of Toronto)

Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Certificate (Provincial Health Services Authority)

Mental Health First Aid for Adults Interacting with Youth (Mental Health Commission of Canada)

Trauma-Informed Care (Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute)

GAIN Q3 MI Certification (CAMH & Chestnut Health Systems)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (University of Toronto)

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (LivingWorks)

Motivational Interviewing (Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance)

Community Services Certificate (George Brown College)

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers

Ontario Association of Social Workers

@theshiftcollab

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