I specialize in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, people-pleasing tendencies, difficulties with assertiveness, and challenges around setting healthy boundaries in relationships. My approach is rooted in creating a compassionate, honest, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel safe to explore their inner worlds. In today’s fast-paced world, therapy offers a rare and valuable opportunity to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with yourself in a meaningful way.
My name is Allie Huggins, and I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor.
I have over 13 years of experience as a mental health professional for various non-profit organizations.
Payments accepted by Mastercard, Amex, Visa, Wire
These approaches support clients in reconnecting with their bodies, processing unexpressed emotions, and exploring unconscious biases and cognitive distortions that may be hindering their progress. My approach is both gentle and direct. I provide honest feedback and ask challenging questions.
People-pleasing often looks like kindness, but underneath, it’s usually a fear of conflict, rejection, or not being enough. It’s the habit of putting others’ needs ahead of your own to feel safe, valued, or in control. Over time, constantly ignoring your own needs can leave you feeling anxious, resentful, or numb. When your sense of worth depends on keeping others happy, it becomes both exhausting and isolating. Chronic tension and hypervigilance can show up as anxiety. The disconnect from your wants and boundaries can deepen into depression. Healing isn’t about becoming selfish. It’s about becoming more honest with yourself and others. In therapy, we begin by exploring the origins of our people-pleasing patterns. Often, they started as strategies to stay connected, avoid conflict, feel safe in a chaotic or abusive environment, or earn love and approval. Together, we explore the roots of these patterns and how they show up in your current relationships. We examine the cost of always prioritizing others—emotionally, physically, and mentally—and how to develop assertiveness and establish boundaries.
I blend different modalities with a humanistic and existential approach built on trust and understanding as our relationship develops. My framework incorporates depth psychology, emotion-focused therapy, Gestalt therapy, and somatic experiencing. A strong therapeutic alliance creates an environment that encourages you to be yourself, tell the truth, laugh, cry, and explore a full range of human emotions in a safe, supportive, confidential space. Therapy provides a space to establish boundaries, cultivate self-trust, and reconnect with your desires and limits without guilt. My ultimate aim is to guide you in reconnecting with your truest, highest self and clearing the way for you to move forward.
I offer video or phone counselling sessions. I see clients Canada-wide, and am covered by most extended health benefits. I do not offer direct billing. You will be reimbursed if you have coverage.
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empathy without boundaries is self destruction