Patric Plesa

Patric is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a Masters in Counseling Psychology and an MA and Ph.D. in Historical, Theoretical, and Critical Studies in Psychology. Patric currently teaches psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University and is the author of the book Subjectivity and Neonihilism, along with many publications on topics in existentialism, psychedelics, and ecofeminism.

Patric’s focus is on existential psychotherapy, and combines psychodynamic psychotherapy, person-centered therapy, and aspects of cognitive-behavioural therapy. He takes an integrated approach, combining fundamental existential questions around meaning, values, mortality, and identity with an intersectional approach characterized by empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness. Working with clients of all backgrounds, they have a special focus on those in the queer, polyamourous, kink, and sex positive communities.

Drawing from a philosophical and critical psychological academic background, Patric takes a relational approach to help clients explore questions of meaning and meaninglessness at the intersections of their identity, find ways to reassess and affirm personal values, and collaborate with clients in re-writing the narratives that we've been implicitly told to follow so that we may discover personal liberation, resolve relational conflicts, and build solidarity and community with others. Patric's view is that therapy is a reciprocal and collaborative healing relationship and that clients are, in the words of Irvin Yalom, "fellow travelers."

Having struggled with ADHD, anxiety, and depression, Patric combines their lived experience and theoretical work to extend empathy to their clients so they can build solidarity and collaboratively create meaning in a world suffering from a meaning and mental health crisis. What Patric wants to stress most is that you're not alone because that is what has helped heal him.

Patric’s work has also contributed to psychedelic research in psychology from a critical perspective acknowledging both the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics as well as the risks and some of the questionable research practices surrounding these substances. He can assist clients with post hoc integration psychotherapy session, but does not offer psychedelic therapy or sessions involving any substances.

Psychology Today link: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1444238