Dr. Leyla Javam, PhD, C.Psych.
Psychologist.
Dr. Leyla Javam completed her PhD at the University of Toronto and is a registered clinical psychologist. At Toronto Psychology Centre, Dr. Javam provides therapy to children, adolescents, and adults, as well as support for parents through our parent coaching services. She also conducts comprehensive mental health assessments for a range of mental health difficulties. She has extensive experience working with individuals and families in school, community mental health, university, and private practice settings through both her clinical and research training.
Dr. Javam is compassionate, non-judgmental, trauma-sensitive, and diversity-informed in her approach to understanding clients. Her warmth and patience help clients feel safe enough to engage in therapy. She strives to understand the unique strengths and needs of each person and adapts evidence-based treatments accordingly.
Dr. Javam’s approach to treatment is integrative and she draws from several well-researched therapeutic modalities, such as relational psychodynamic psychotherapy, attachment based therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), emotion focused therapy approaches (EFT, EFFT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), trauma-focused therapies, and play therapy. She has also been trained in Watch, Wait, and Wonder, and Reflective Family Play, two evidence-based treatments for infants/preschoolers and their families.
Dr. Javam has gained experience in diverse clinical settings that serve people with complex needs. These enriching environments have provided her with the opportunity to work with individuals presenting with a wide range of mental health challenges including: Anxiety and Depressive Disorders, Developmental/ Complex Trauma, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning difficulties, social/peer difficulties, suicidality, low self-esteem, perfectionism, emotion dysregulation, behavioral challenges, fertility and perinatal issues, and other mental health challenges. Dr. Javam has also worked with parents/caregivers with mental health challenges and trauma histories.
Over the course of her residency and prior practicum at SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health, Dr. Javam provided therapy for children, adolescents, teens, parents/caregivers, and families, as well as co-facilitated a group DBT skills training for adolescents. She also completed psychoeducational and psychodiagnostic assessments. Dr. Javam trained on the Infancy and Preschool Team, Trauma Team, Child & Adolescent Assessment Team, and Psychoeducational Assessment Team at SickKids CCMH. Prior practicums included the George Hull Centre where she provided assessment services, CBT and Family Systems therapy to youth, and at the Toronto District School Board where she completed psychoeducational assessments and facilitated MindUp groups. MindUp is an educational program based in neuroscience and mindful practice that teaches skills for regulating emotions and stress, forming positive relationships, and acting with kindness and compassion. Dr. Javam also provided trauma-focused therapy during a placement at the University of Toronto. In private practice, Dr. Javam has been working with children, adolescents, adults, and parents for the past two years.
Dr. Javam’s doctoral research at the University of Toronto focused on the impact of parental childhood maltreatment/trauma experiences on their emotion regulation and emotion co-regulation abilities within their parenting and co-parenting relationships. Her research has been published and she has presented widely at conferences.
Dr. Javam regularly engages in professional development through workshops and other formal training.
She is a member of the Ontario Psychological Association .
Online therapy available