What is EMDR therapy and how does it work?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based trauma therapy that uses gentle bilateral stimulation — such as guided eye movements, tapping, or buzzers — to help the brain process and desensitize distressing memories. The goal is to reduce the emotional weight of past experiences and help the brain store memories more adaptively, so they no longer trigger intense reactions in daily life.

Do I need a PTSD diagnosis to access the Trauma Clinic?

No. You do not need a specific diagnosis to work with the Trauma Clinic at The Cove Therapy. The Trauma Clinic supports anyone living with the ongoing effects of trauma — including experiences that don't fit neatly into a diagnosis or a single event. If you feel stuck, disconnected, on edge, or as though talk therapy hasn't fully helped, the Trauma Clinic may be right for you.

What is the difference between EMDR and regular talk therapy?

Talk therapy primarily works through conversation and insight. EMDR works by directly engaging the brain's memory processing system using bilateral stimulation, allowing trauma memories to be reprocessed without the need to retell every detail. Many people who find that talk therapy hasn't fully resolved their trauma symptoms benefit from EMDR or other body-based approaches offered at The Trauma Clinic.

Is trauma therapy covered by insurance in Ontario?

Many extended health insurance plans in Ontario cover sessions with a Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW) or Registered Psychotherapist (RP). Coverage varies by plan — check with your provider for these specific designations. Therapy fees may also be claimed under the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) at tax time.

How long does trauma therapy take?

There is no fixed timeline for trauma therapy — it depends on the nature and complexity of your experiences, your goals, and how your nervous system responds to the work. Some people notice meaningful shifts within a few months; others benefit from longer-term support. At The Cove, all trauma therapy plans begin with preparation and stabilization before moving into deeper processing, ensuring the work feels safe and manageable at every stage.

Is The Trauma Clinic available online?

Yes. The Trauma Clinic at The Cove Therapy is available both in person at 175 Longwood Rd S, Suite 102, Hamilton, ON, and virtually for residents anywhere in Ontario.

Therapy & Counselling Services in Hamilton, ON

At The Cove Therapy, we offer a range of evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy services for individuals, couples, families, and groups — available in-person at our Hamilton office and virtually across Ontario. Whatever brings you here, our team is committed to showing up with curiosity, warmth, and care.

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Where Would You Like to Start?

Therapy for Adults

Support for wherever life has brought you, and wherever you want to go.

Couples Therapy

Rebuild trust, deepen connection, and find your way back to each other.

Family Therapy

Strengthen the relationships that matter most, together.

Therapy for Preteens & Teens

A safe space for young people to be heard, understood, and supported.

Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy

Therapy that works with how your brain is wired, not against it.

EMDR Therapy

For those ready to move beyond what talk therapy can reach.

Group Therapy

Heal in community. Practice new ways of relating.

Clinical Consultation

For therapists seeking supervision to tend to their own clinical well-being.

Therapy for Adults

At The Cove Therapy, we offer a space where adults can slow down, feel supported, and work toward meaningful change. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, burnout, relationship challenges, grief, trauma, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the weight of everyday life, therapy can provide space to better understand yourself and move forward with greater clarity and care.

We believe therapy works best when you feel genuinely connected to the therapist sitting across from you. Our therapists bring warmth, curiosity, attuned presence, and compassion to the therapy space while working collaboratively with you toward your goals.

As a team, we are committed to trauma-informed, culturally responsive, anti-racist, neurodiversity-affirming, and gender-affirming care. We welcome the full complexity of who you are and aim to create space for honest conversations, emotional healing, self-understanding, and growth.

Areas of Focus:

Anxiety
Depression
Perinatal Mental Health
Grief and Loss
Anger Management
Stress and Burnout
Eating Disorders
Life Transitions
Sport Performance

Career Guidance
General Mental Wellness
Cultural Identity
ADHD Support
Relationship Issues
2SLGBTQI+
Perimenopause and Menopause
Fertility & Perinatal Mental Health

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Our Therapists

Danielle Hulan

(she/her)
Registered Social Worker

Lex Burger

(she/they)

Registered Social Worker

Jordan Virtue

(she/her)
Registered Social Worker,

Registered Psychotherapist

Lydia Nimbeshaho

(she/her)

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Meg Makins

(she/her)
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Shauna Cassidy

(she/her)

Registered Social Worker

Uswah Niaz

(she/her)
Registered Social Worker

Anna Southall-Millward

(she/her)

Registered Psychotherapist

Couples Therapy

Sometimes relationships can become places where people feel stuck, disconnected, overwhelmed, or hurt. Whether you’re navigating communication challenges, conflict, intimacy concerns, parenting stress, betrayal, life transitions, or simply feeling distant from one another, couples therapy can provide space to slow down, better understand the patterns shaping your relationship, and ultimately develop or strengthen a deeper connection with one another.

At The Cove Therapy, we work to create a space where partners feel heard, respected, and supported. Our therapists help couples strengthen communication, rebuild trust, deepen emotional connection, and move toward healthier ways of relating to one another.

We understand that relationships are complex, and we approach this work with compassion, curiosity, and care. Whether you are hoping to reconnect, navigate a difficult season, or better understand one another, therapy can help create meaningful healing and change.

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Areas of Focus

Communication Challenges
Conflict Resolution
Emotional Disconnection
Trust & Betrayal
Parenting & Co-Parenting
Life Transitions
Intimacy & Sexual Concerns
Stress & Burnout Within Relationships
Premarital Counselling
Separation & Discernment Counselling
Attachment Patterns
Infertility & Perinatal Stress
Neurodiversity Within Relationships
2SLGBTQI+ Relationships
Blended Family Dynamics