Intern Therapist (Starting this May)

My name is Maria Brigantino (she/her), and I am an emerging psychotherapist, seasoned educator and executive coach who believes that people are far more resilient, wise, and capable than they often feel in their hardest moments. For nearly two decades, I have walked alongside individuals and teams in health care, municipal government, and higher education, helping them navigate stress, transition, and the deeply human work of being their authentic self.

Through my private work, I have supported women in unlearning diet culture, softening self criticism, and reconnecting with their bodies and inner wisdom - treating them as trusted guides rather than problems to be fixed. These experiences shape the space I offer in therapy: grounded, collaborative, and deeply respectful of your lived experience.

In our work together, I see us as partners: you bring the expertise of your life, and I bring a compassionate presence, thoughtful questions, and evidence informed tools drawn from humanistic, Adlerian, cognitive behavioural, and solution focused approaches. My style is gentle but honest. I will move at your pace, while also inviting you to notice patterns, stories, and beliefs that may be keeping you stuck in old roles or rules that no longer fit. Whether we are exploring anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, body image, grief, or relationship challenges, I aim to create a “safe” space where all your feelings are welcome, and where we can hold both your pain and your strength at the same time.

Together, we will look at what is and what matters now, with curiosity and compassion, and experiment with new ways of relating to yourself, others, and your life that feel more aligned with your values. Clients often tell me that what helps most is feeling seen, heard, and not judged. There is room in our conversations for tears, humour, frustration, and relief. I work particularly well with people who have spent years taking care of everyone else, performing at a high level, or trying to “get it right,” and are now ready to turn some of that care back toward themselves, even if they are not sure how. If we choose to work together at SoulScape, I hope that you experience therapy as a soft-landing place and a steady launching pad. It’s a place to catch your breath, make meaning of your story, and slowly build a life that feels more spacious, honest, and truly your own.