Leigh Hunter, MSW
Hello, World!
Leigh Hunter, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker/Psychotherapist
She/They
Specialties: LGBTQIA+ inclusive therapy, PMDD, substance use/addiction, grief/loss, complex trauma, post-traumatic growth anxiety, depression, identity exploration, relationships, and navigating life changes.
What clients like about me: I’m compassionate, empathetic, straight forward and relatable. I am able to meet you where you are, and empower you through your self-identified challenges. I will always listen with an open mind and non-judgemental approach, and provide focus points for your week until we meet again.
Modalities: Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Existential Therapy, Strengths-Based, Trauma-informed and Anti-Oppressive.
Availability: Virtual
Schedule: Weeknights & Saturdays
Languages: English
More About Me
Hi! My name is Leigh Hunter, and my pronouns are she/they. Over the past ten years, I have worked as a clinical social worker in various mental health settings.
Through heart-led and compassionate care, I've supported people through anxiety, relational trauma, life's stuck points or patterns, and grief/loss. As a queer woman, I am passionate about identity navigation, joy, love/liberation, and health. As a person living with PMDD, and supporting others through this experience, I understand the impact it has on your sense of self and your relationships, and the lengths to which you go to in order to find reprieve or connection. Lastly, as a human, I am in awe of our shared experience and I am passionate about making others feel seen, valued and understood.
I provide individual psychotherapy in a virtual setting to those facing the natural, and often, overwhelming complexities of life. Whether you face interpersonal challenges with friends, family, or work; struggle to set boundaries for yourself or in your relationships; manage new or recurring mental health symptoms like anxiety or depression; question your relationship to substances; cope with unexpected loss and change; grow through trauma; or struggle to find peace in yourself and your identity - every part of you is welcome in the therapy room.
When working with me, I want you to know that I see you as a person who is capable. I believe that you are the driver, and I am the passenger with the map - guiding you through the twists and turns that life presents. I am highly skilled at empathetic-boundaries, and provide hard truths when necessary. Previous clients have come to appreciate this as a cornerstone of our work.
I practice from an integrated approach that incorporates various modalities, such as Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and narrative therapy. My practice is deeply human and informed by queer theory, existentialism, lived experience and strengths-based approaches.
If this resonates with you, feel free to reach out for a complimentary consultation.
Education & Certifications
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Master of Social Work - University of Waterloo, 2025
Diploma in Addictions & Mental Health - Humber College, 2019
Bachelor of Social Work - Ryerson University, 2016
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ACT for Beginners (Psychwire - 2025)
EMDR Basic Training (Elevate Academy - 2025)
Embodied Relationships Summit: Building Secure love & Healing Attachment Wounds (Embody Lab - 2025)
IFS Foundations (2025)
Mastering IFS: Therapy for Trauma, Depression, Addiction & More with Dr. Richard Schwartz & Dr. Frank Anderson - Online Intensive - PESI (2025)
Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems (IFS) (2025)
Working with Borderline Personality Disorder - CRTI 2023
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy - PESI 2023
Non-Violent Crisis De-escalation and Crisis Intervention - Crisis Prevention Institute, 2022
Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness based practice - Humber College, 2018
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training - Living Works (2022), Canadian Mental Health Association (2015).