Approach to Therapy
We know that the therapeutic relationship between client and clinician is one of the best predictors of positive treatment outcomes. This is why, as helpers, we strive to embody the qualities that support trusting relationships, including warmth, compassion, and genuinely ‘showing up’ alongside clients.
We want people to feel that they can connect with us easily and quickly. We’re all just human beings at the end of it all, trying our best, every (sometimes very difficult) day. Therefore, it is important that we offer warmth and compassion, as well as kindness, empathy, humour (when appropriate), and a judgment-free space.
When we show up with these qualities, we are co-creating a space for clients to be vulnerable and speak openly about the issues that have brought them to therapy. We want our clients to feel a sense of safety and freedom to be their authentic selves in the space.
Why pick us? Click here to check out our FAQs.


The How
Together, we’ll turn down the volume of all the noise and take the heat off so that you can settle into the therapeutic process. Exhale. We want you to feel comfortable, held, and seen.
Together, we’ll build an understanding of the origin story for your presenting concern. What are the patterns of thought, feelings, and behaviours, early life experiences, relationships, and external structures that have influenced your understanding and experience of self?
Together, we’ll take steps towards the life that you want to live by shifting long-held narratives, doing things differently while starting small, and building resiliency.
Therapeutic Modalities
In addition to and of course (!!!), it is just as important that clients are offered clinical skill and experience. Our approaches use an integrated model of care to bring together counselling frameworks, interventions, and evidence-based modalities, dependent on the client and their needs. We regularly engage in professional development in celebration of life-long learning and human evolution.
Molly and Olivia are both certified in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), while also drawing from compassion-focused therapy, skills from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), somatics (body-based interventions), attachment-based therapy, and consideration of early life experiences. Both Molly and Olivia are trained and experienced in working with trauma, utilizing strategies from internal family systems, the attachment, regulation, and competency (ARC) framework, and trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy (TF-CBT).
Our work is really determined by whatever is the best fit for you and your goal.
More about the modalities we draw from…
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Attachment-Based Therapy
ARC Framework
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
We look forward to hearing from you!
© 2023 Heffernan Counselling
Offering in-person counselling in Burlington, Ontario and virtual counselling across Ontario, Canada.
Location: The Therapy Commons
3425 Harvester Road, Suite 213
Burlington, ON L7N 3N1
Contact Molly: (226) 779-4493
Contact Olivia: (289) 401-5174



Proud ally and 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming care provider
Neurodivergent affirming care provider