Healing After a Toxic Relationship: Therapy for Young Women in Burlington, ON

Let’s be real... leaving a toxic relationship doesn’t mean everything instantly starts feeling better. Often, it’s after the relationship ends that the hardest emotions start to show up: guilt, confusion, self-doubt, and even missing the person who hurt you.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And no, it doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human!

At Guiding You Counselling and Psychotherapy, I support young women here in Burlington and across Ontario who are healing after emotional abuse, gaslighting, control, or just feeling lost in a relationship that didn’t feel good. Therapy can be a space to come back to yourself — without pressure or judgment — and to start feeling grounded again.

What Does Healing Actually Look Like?

Healing isn’t about being “over it.” It’s about rebuilding your safety, emotionally, mentally, and even physically.

Here’s what healing might start to look like:

• You feel more connected to your gut and intuition

• You stop blaming yourself for things that weren’t your fault

• You catch red flags earlier (and trust yourself when you see them)

• You start to feel like you again, not the version of you that was always shrinking or apologizing

You don’t need to be “fixed.” You were never broken to begin with.

Why It’s So Hard to Heal After Toxic Love

Toxic relationships tend to disrupt how you see yourself. Even after they end, you might:

• Second-guess whether it was really abuse

• Feel guilty for leaving or going no-contact

• Miss someone who caused a lot of pain

• Struggle to trust your own thoughts or decisions

These are all normal responses to emotional manipulation and control. What you went through mattered, and therapy can help you sort through those mixed feelings without shame.

How Therapy Can Support Your Healing

Therapy is a space where you don’t have to explain or justify what happened. It’s just about you, your truth, and what you need now to move forward.

In our work together, we can:

• Unpack what the relationship really looked like

• Explore the emotional and psychological impact it had

• Rebuild your sense of self and self-worth

• Strengthen your boundaries and self-trust

• Help you feel more confident, grounded, and safe in your body, your relationships, and your choices

My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and always led by what feels most important to you. You don’t need to show up with a clear plan, just curiosity and care for your own healing.

You’re Allowed to Choose Peace

You can love someone and still know they weren’t right for you.
You can miss them and still not want to go back.
You can take your time, and still be growing.

There’s no “right” timeline for healing, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you're in Burlington or anywhere in Ontario and looking for support, I'm here to walk alongside you.

Therapy That Meets You Where You Are

📍 In-person therapy sessions in Burlington, ON — in a modern, private, and welcoming space
💻 Virtual therapy across Ontario — from the comfort of home
💬 $140 per 50-minute session (no HST), with receipts provided for insurance reimbursement

Whether you’re still in the thick of it or finally ready to breathe again — therapy can help. Email Cierra DoCouto to book your free 20-minute consultation at guidingyoutherapy@gmail.com.