Mysha Tonge
I’m Mysha, a licensed therapist, and I believe therapy should be a place where you can speak honestly without feeling like you have to have everything figured out. You may be used to showing up for everyone else, questioning yourself, or finding yourself in patterns you want to understand and change.
Sometimes you can recognize that something needs to change without knowing where to begin. What have you been carrying, and what might life look like if it felt a little lighter?
Together, we’ll explore how your experiences shape your thoughts, emotions, and relationships while building confidence in your ability to express your needs, set boundaries, and make meaningful changes.
First session
I hope you leave our first session feeling that you were able to say what’s really been going on, without having to find the perfect words. In individual therapy, I want you feel understood, especially when it’s been difficult to explain what you’re going through. From there, we can begin to make sense of it together and find a place to start. For couples and families, that first step may be feeling heard and beginning to understand what keeps getting lost in conversations at home. For children, it may be feeling comfortable enough to share a little more and want to come back. Whatever brings you in, I hope you leave feeling that we have a place to begin together.
Strengths
I help you connect what happens in everyday life to the deeper beliefs, experiences, and relationship patterns that may be influencing you. I ask questions that help you pause and consider things you might usually move past—what you needed in a moment, why saying no feels uncomfortable, or whose expectations you’re trying to meet. I’m an active participant in our conversations: I’ll reflect what I notice, offer another perspective, and help you put your insights into practice. We’ll work toward expressing your needs, navigating difficult emotions, and making choices that feel right for you.
Ideal clients
You may find yourself overthinking conversations, putting your needs last, or reacting in ways you later struggle to understand. Perhaps past experiences still affect how you see yourself and trust others, or you’re navigating changes that feel overwhelming. I work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families who want to better understand what they’re experiencing and find ways to move forward. This may mean managing anxiety, depression, PTSD, working through trauma, building self-esteem, or learning to communicate without conversations becoming arguments. You don’t need to know exactly what to say or feel ready to share everything. We can begin with what feels most important to you.
Origin story
I was drawn to this profession by a desire to understand people beyond their behavior—the experiences, relationships, and unmet needs that influence how they move through the world. My work with children, families, and adults has strengthened my commitment to helping people feel heard and better understand themselves. I value creating a space where people can speak openly about what they are carrying, make sense of their experiences, and begin to see new possibilities for themselves.
Ongoing work together
Our sessions will connect what is happening in your life now with the patterns and experiences we’re working to understand. We might unpack a difficult interaction, question a belief you hold about yourself, practice a boundary, or explore how you respond when emotions become overwhelming. Together, we’ll choose practical ways to apply what you’re learning between sessions. We’ll regularly revisit your goals and discuss what is helping and what needs to change. Progress may look like recovering more quickly after stress, speaking up with less guilt, responding differently during conflict, or feeling more confident making your own decisions.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help you notice how your thoughts affect the way you feel and respond to situations. We’ll look at real moments from your life—replaying a conversation, expecting the worst, or feeling guilty for saying no—and explore the meaning you give them. Together, we’ll examine those thoughts, consider other perspectives, and practice different responses. This also means taking small steps outside of sessions, so you can use what we discuss when those familiar situations come up again.
Trauma-Focused CBT
I use Trauma-Focused CBT with children and teens to help them make sense of difficult experiences and how those experiences affect their feelings, thoughts, and reactions. We start with ways to manage overwhelming emotions and build a sense of safety before gradually working through memories and beliefs connected to what happened. This can include addressing self-blame, recognizing reminders of the experience, and learning that remembering something frightening is different from being in danger now. I also involve supportive caregivers to help them understand their child’s responses and practice ways to support healing at home.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
I use solution-focused therapy to help you define what you want to be different and identify steps that feel possible now. We’ll pay attention to moments when the problem feels less overwhelming and explore what helped. Whether you want calmer mornings, a healthier work environment, clearer boundaries, or fewer arguments, we’ll build on what is already working and choose small changes that move you toward your goals.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I draw on DBT skills to help you navigate strong emotions and difficult interactions. We’ll explore what happens before you lash out, shut down, or act on an urge, then practice ways to get through those moments without adding to your distress. This may include grounding your attention, tolerating discomfort, communicating clearly, and setting boundaries while respecting yourself and others.
Attachment-based
I use an attachment-based approach to help you understand how your experiences in relationships shape what you expect from others and how you respond to closeness or conflict. We might explore why distance feels like rejection, why you put your needs aside to keep someone close, or why you pull away when you want support. Together, we’ll work on expressing your needs, building trust, and staying connected without losing your sense of self.
Location
Virtual sessions