Paula Shepard
(she/her) MSW, Social Worker, Psychotherapist
As a social worker, I have had the opportunity to support individuals, families and couples in many different stages of life. I have seen firsthand how important support can be in making transitions feel manageable and fulfilling. In session we will explore different factors that are impacting your life today and how they influence your ability to meet your goals and needs.
I often support people in areas such as: life transitions (pregnancy, postpartum, returning to work, parenthood, empty nesting, retirement and more), eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and exploring how family of origin impacts functioning today.
I use a variety of approaches in my work, however I tend to lean into Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT),
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT).
Becoming a parent is perhaps one of the most transformative life transitions, and change is hard. Each stage, from conception to empty nesting, brings its own joys and challenges. I have experience supporting people as they navigate life’s changes, and my intention is to create a safe space for you to open up and explore yourself. It’s common to feel lost in different stages of life, but there’s value in connecting with others and ourselves.
We’re all in this together.
"As a couple's therapist, I am deeply committed to supporting partners through the unique
challenges that arise in various stages of their relationships. My work focuses on fostering
connection, enhancing communication, and rebuilding intimacy, especially during
transformative life transitions such as becoming new parents or feeling stuck in relational
patterns."
Welcoming a new child can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. The shift in dynamics, roles, and individual identities often brings unexpected stress to a partnership. I provide a compassionate space where new parents can openly discuss their feelings, fears, and
frustrations. Together, we explore strategies to maintain emotional closeness, manage new responsibilities, and nurture the partnership amidst the demands of parenthood.
For couples who find themselves feeling disconnected or stuck, I help identify the underlying issues affecting their relationship. Using approaches like Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), we work collaboratively to understand each partner's experiences and develop healthier ways to communicate and support one another. My goal is to help couples rediscover their strengths and build resilient, fulfilling relationships.
In our sessions, I create a safe, non-judgmental environment where both partners feel heard and valued. Whether navigating the early days of parenting or addressing longstanding patterns, my role is to guide you towards greater understanding, empathy, and connection with each other.
How would you describe your approach/style of this work?
It’s really important for me to be able to collaborate with a client. Although the therapy process can result in persistence, energy and effort, the intention is not to feel like what you’re working towards isn’t obtainable. Part of this process includes determining priorities and needs and balancing the factors impacting those. I like to offer authentic curiosity and reflection and responses.
The straight-faced therapist is not who I am.
How do you know you're the right fit for a client?
When someone feels comfortable in the space and conversation we create together and there is a level of authenticity and truth. Where questions (sometimes hard ones) can be asked from either one of us and together, we determine what we do with it.
What prevents people from getting help?
Time, exhaustion, not feeling like they can prioritize their own well-being and potentially lack of support and/or understanding from others. There is also the potential that having asked for help in the past fell flat or resulted in feeling dismissed.
What prevents people from coming in and doing this work?
There are a few hurdles that have been shared with me by clients. Some include time, fear of the unknown and what change might look like, feeling unsure as to what to focus on and justwhat the therapy process can look like.
There are truly no silly questions and understanding the roles and responsibilities of the therapeutic dynamic can be really valuable to clarify.
What areas of practice and populations do you enjoy working with?
I have worked with everyone across the lifespan and enjoy diversity in my clients.
What's the most rewarding part of your job?
As funny as this might sound, when a client is telling me a story or experience and says “and then your voice popped in my head and said… ” I find that incredible. It shows me that thework we have done together has been integrated into your life outside of the sessions. That is the goal. And my hope is that you now see in yourself, what I’ve seen all along.
When treating a client with an Eating Disorder, what do you feel they need most?
Hope, honesty and a space where vulnerability and fears can be explored.
What made you want to work with CCP?
I have been in awe of this collaboration of women for quite some time. I love the ability to work within a team of various disciplines and experience. Carly has been providing me with clinical
supervision since 2023 and her authenticity, humour and gentleness has been incredibly valuable to me as a clinician.
Some of Paula's relevant experience includes:
- Training in maternal mental health and postpartum support.
-Experience working in various in-patient mental health treatment settings. Including extensive experience in Eating Disorders.
-Experience providing support with geriatric populations. Providing support to enhance and support residents goals pertaining to mental health.
-Certifications in:
-Internal Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (levels 1 and 2)
-Emotionally Focussed Couple's Therapy.
-Breathe in and Play; mindfulness practice with children.
-Fundamentals of Addiction.
