Lauren Kozak

Registered Social Worker & Psychotherapist

I hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor's degree in Child Development from Brock University. I'm a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), and a professional member of the Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT). 

I have always had a passion for understanding and supporting the well-being of children and their families. I have extensive clinical experience working with individuals and their respective support systems in home, hospital, educational and community-based settings. I also have experience teaching in the Social Service Worker program at Sheridan College. Before deciding to start my own private practice, I worked as the primary pediatric social worker within a large Family Health Team in the Greater Toronto area.

I believe that everyone has the potential to heal, grow, and change, and with the right support or guidance anyone can learn to navigate barriers and live more freely. 

My Approach

I draw from a variety of frameworks and practices, including: Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Developmental Psychotherapy.

I pride myself on developing playful, creative, and engaging strategies that are designed with each specific child in mind. Building upon each child's and family’s natural strengths, I create an environment that feels welcoming and collaborative.

I help children better understand themselves and their feelings, learn what triggers their big emotions, and support them in developing effective coping strategies. Equipped with increased self-awareness and tools for navigating their complex emotional worlds, children and teens are empowered to take risks, manage their reactions to difficult situations, and bounce back from challenging events.

I believe that parent involvement in the therapeutic process is invaluable. By offering guidance to caregivers that complements the work being done in their child's sessions, I help ensure that skills are nurtured outside of the office. Parents gain a new perspective on what their child is experiencing and learn how to best support their growth.

While I tailor my approach to fit the needs, personalities, and self-identified goals of the particular children and families I'm working with, I commonly support those experiencing difficulty with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, perfectionism, emotion regulation, defiant behaviour, problem solving, attention, impulsivity, anger and irritability, and communication and social skills.