Marina Mazer, RP

About Marina

I believe therapy is a space to better understand yourself and the experiences that have shaped your life. The ways we think, feel, and respond to the world are not random; they develop in response to our circumstances and often reflect the best ways we knew to cope at the time. Together, we can explore these patterns with curiosity and compassion, making sense of where they came from and considering whether they still serve you today. Sometimes change comes from learning something new; often it comes from seeing yourself and your experiences in a different light. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach—every person brings in their unique history, challenges, and strengths, and so I tailor therapy to fit your individual needs and goals. I try to bring honesty, warmth, and authenticity into our conversations, creating a space where you can speak openly and feel genuinely heard. It is a privilege to be trusted with people’s stories and to walk alongside them as they navigate change and growth.

I have been doing this work for 30 years, and living and working across different cultures has taught me that there’s no single approach that works for everyone. Therefore, I draw from various modalities I have seen work, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy. Together, we will figure out what best suits you and your needs.

Therapy works best when you feel comfortable, understood, and supported. If you’re curious about working together, I encourage you to explore my profile and reach out with any questions. You can also book a session or a free 15-minute phone consultation with me using the links on this page. Finding the right fit matters, and I’d be happy to help you determine whether working together feels right for your goals and needs. Even if you and I are not the right fit, I would be happy to help you find the right therapist for you.

Marina’s Story

I think there were a few contributing factors that led me to choose psychotherapy as a career. Growing up in a family that constantly debated philosophy and human nature, I was always asking why people think and act the way they do. Ever since I can remember, my household was a swirl of debates and clashing points of view around the dinner table. I became endlessly curious about why people think, feel, and act the way they do. But the real turning point came during a study abroad program. My host “mom” was a psychotherapist who worked with children with selective mutism, and she would occasionally take me along to her workplace. Watching their non-verbal behavior, the small gestures, glances, and silences, I found myself forming hypotheses about why they couldn’t speak. In addition, I moved around and lived in several countries growing up, which helped me understand how deeply culture shapes behaviour. Becoming a psychotherapist felt like the only way to keep answering the questions that had followed me since childhood; choosing this career was the natural result of a lifetime spent asking what really makes us who we are.

Therapy with Marina

Starting therapy is a meaningful step, and I want you to feel informed and at ease about what to expect from the moment we begin working together. In our early sessions, I take time to really get to know you, not just your presenting concerns, but the full picture. We’ll explore what brought you to therapy at this moment, the context and circumstances that led you here, and what you’re hoping your life will look and feel like once our work together is done. What would be different? What would have changed? We’ll also look honestly at the barriers that have been standing between you and the life you want, and what you’ve already tried on your own to help yourself. From there, we collaboratively develop a treatment plan that makes sense for you and your goals. I’ll also walk you through what’s expected between sessions, because meaningful change often happens outside of our time together. Throughout the process, we’ll regularly check in on how therapy is going: what’s been helpful, what hasn’t, and where we are in relation to where you want to be.

About Marina’s Training and Credentials

I am a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario and a licensed Psychologist in Brazil, where I have been practicing since 1997. Since registering with the CRPO in 2016, I have continued to support adults facing a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, and life transitions. I am also an Associate Member of the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals (OAMHP). My work is informed by extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed approaches. With over 30 years of clinical experience across Brazil and Canada, I strive to provide a thoughtful, collaborative, and evidence-based approach tailored to each client’s unique needs.