Laura Kassymova, PhD

Laura completed her Masters in Social Sciences degree in 2010 and her PhD in Psychology in 2016. Laura is a mental health specialist with six years of experience conducting therapy and over ten years of experience as an educator and researcher in psychology, mental health, and education. Laura has gained valuable skills and knowledge, enabling her to make a significant impact in the lives of her clients throughout her career. Laura is deeply committed to providing the highest level of care and support to clients struggling with mental health challenges.

Laura’s passion for psychology drives her to constantly seek out the latest advancements in evidence-based interventions, ensuring that she provides the best possible services to her clients. Her belief in the power of therapy to help individuals overcome their challenges and lead fulfilling lives is unwavering. Laura’s passion for psychology also influenced her interactions with her students while working as a senior lecturer at the Karanda State University in Kazakhstan, where she taught general psychology, psychology of influence, and interpersonal conflict resolution. Laura has also conducted cross-cultural psychological research on social beliefs, values, prejudice, and stereotypes.

Laura currently provides supervised therapy services to individuals and couples ages 18 and older at Toronto Psychological Services & Research Centre. She primarily works with individual clients presenting with clinical concerns such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, substance use, and trauma. She also provides therapy to clients who are interested in prioritizing their self-care, optimal mental health, and personal development.

Laura’s couples therapy work generally revolves around sex and intimacy-related concerns, communication and conflict resolution, parenting on the same page, and identifying ways of enhancing the overall health of the relationship. In her work with individual clients, Laura utilizes evidence-based interventions, including cognitive-behavioural therapy, exposure therapies, and mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies. Laura uses cognitive behavioural couples therapy, solution-focused therapy, and emotion-focused couples therapy in her work with couples. In her previous role as an Assessment Consultant at TPS, Laura also provided supervised assessment services to children, adolescents, and adults.

Clients working with Laura appreciate her calm, composed, and diplomatic demeanour. They also value her profound and empathetic insights. Registered Psychologists Ghia Townsend, MSc. C. Psych and Rosemarie Nardella, MA. C. Psych, supervise Laura’s clinical practice at TPS.