New Perspectives Psychology
Children I Adolescents I Adults I Families
About
Meet Jessica Arruda
Jessica is is a Registered Social Worker who received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from York University. She has extensive experience in providing support to children, youth, and their families as they navigate complex mental health needs and family conflict. Her expertise lies in assisting individuals and families in managing challenges related to anxiety, low mood, life transitions, and peer/family relationships.
Jessica adopts a considerate and collaborative approach, emphasizing the strengths and resilience of youth and families. Jessica's practice is trauma-informed and compassionate, ensuring individuals feel supported throughout the therapeutic process. Therapy will focus on strengthening coping skills and managing intense emotions, with the aim of effectively navigating difficult situations both within and outside of sessions.
What Jessica Offers
Jessica’s approach emphasizes the connection between feelings, thoughts, and behaviours, with the goal of cultivating skills to cope with life's challenges. In collaboration with clients, a plan will be developed to foster a deeper understanding of past experiences and their impact on daily life, promoting positive change and healing. Jessica employs an integrative approach with formal training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focused Therapy. Additionally, she integrates Mindfulness, self-compassion, and Narrative Therapy into her approach.
"All feelings are okay. It’s what we do with them that matters.” – Mr. Rogers
Work Experience
Jessica brings over twenty years of experience in various roles within children’s mental health and the education system. Jessica has worked for seven years as a school social worker within the Toronto District School Board providing clinical interventions to a range of students with mental health needs. Prior to this, she worked in the counselling and wellness centre at the University of Toronto, and as a youth and family counsellor at Central Toronto Youth Services. In these diverse roles, she has gained extensive experience implementing interventions founded on the needs of each person, drawing upon people’s own resiliency to elicit their strengths and skills and encourage change.
