Yordanka Garmenova
(She/her) MEd, RP, CCC
Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Counsellor, Supervisor
Over the years, I have come to believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation of effective psychotherapy. This philosophy shapes both my clinical work and my approach to supervision. I encourage supervisees not to become overly reliant on techniques, but instead to develop the capacity to be fully present with their clients and use the therapeutic relationship as a guide for clinical decision-making.
In supervision, I place a strong emphasis on understanding transference, countertransference, and the therapist’s use of self, helping students learn to reflect on their own experiences in session and use those observations as valuable clinical information. Supervisees often find that this approach helps them feel more grounded and confident, knowing they can always return to the present moment and reconnect with the client, rather than feeling pressured to find the “right” intervention. I also consistently reinforce a slow, thoughtful, and trauma-informed approach to psychotherapy, particularly when working with clients who have experienced relational trauma.
I have been providing clinical supervision for the past four years and enjoy supporting therapists as they develop the clinical thinking that distinguishes psychotherapy from supportive counselling. Together, we focus on deepening case conceptualization, making intentional therapeutic decisions, and understanding how and why interventions are likely to facilitate change. My areas of expertise include trauma—particularly relational trauma—anxiety and anxiety disorders, perfectionism, and the immigrant experience and cultural identity. My clinical practice draws from psychodynamic and relational therapy, EMDR, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), allowing me to support supervisees working from a range of therapeutic orientations.
What I am most passionate about is helping therapists cultivate mindfulness, strengthen their use of self as a therapeutic tool, become deeply trauma-informed, and develop the confidence and clinical judgment needed to become intentional, attuned, and effective psychotherapists.
