About
about
Why Ascent CBT?
Hi, I'm Cristian — a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. I’m passionate about helping individuals uncover their inner strength and develop the tools they need to reach their goals and create lasting, meaningful change.
I provide counselling under clinical supervision in Vaughan, Woodbridge, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Toronto, and across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). I hold a Master of Social Work and am certified in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) through Wilfrid Laurier University.
My primary therapeutic approach is CBT, but I also integrate Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VERT), and other evidence-based modalities to tailor support to your unique needs.
With over 22 years of experience in social work and psychotherapy, I’ve supported children, youth, and families facing challenges related to trauma, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and depression. I have served in both clinical and supervisory roles within Ontario’s child welfare system.
My approach is strength-based and trauma-informed, grounded in equity, inclusion, and cultural sensitivity. I bring extensive experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and strive to create a therapeutic space where every client feels seen, safe, and respected.
I am especially dedicated to helping individuals reduce symptoms of OCD, ADHD, ASD, depression, anxiety, and trauma. My integrative approach combines psychodynamic insight with evidence-based strategies, all while remaining mindful of multicultural perspectives.
I approach therapy with kindness, curiosity, and a genuine commitment to understanding your unique story. Together, we’ll foster honest reflection, build emotional resilience, and move toward positive, conscious change.
Taking the step toward support can be uplifting—and even life-changing. If you're ready to manage anxiety or depression more effectively, improve emotional regulation, or simply begin a healthier relationship with yourself, I invite you to reach out.
I am currently offering services through partner agency York Region CBT. Click the button below for a free consultation session.
Ready To Help One Session At A Time
My approach is highly personalized, integrating innovative, evidence-based techniques to help individuals achieve powerful change. Contact us now to schedule a free 15 minute session to discuss your situation. .
How I Can Help
Sometimes, the cause of anxiety is easy to spot, while other times it may not be. Everyone feels some level of anxiety at times, however overwhelming, recurring, or unexpected anxiety can deeply impact individuals. I specialize in treating anxiety that can stem from different life transitions such as divorce, bereavement, career troubles as well as other cumulative causes.
We use a combination of specialized approaches for OCD called Exposure and Ritual Prevention (ERP) and Inference Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (I-CBT). This treatment is designed to break the types of associations that occur in OCD, in particular, the association between distress and situations that produce this distress.
I work with individuals who suffer from depression of various levels of severity. Depression affects the way you think and feel, and can be detrimental to your job, your ability to maintain a healthy social life, and to enjoy life. Whether your depression is attributed to traumatic events or other perceivable cause I can help you find relief.
The childhood years can be challenging and some of the struggles are a normal part of growing up.But in some situations, children and youth and their families may need extra support to help them navigate through challenges. Some of these can be related to diagnosis such as ADHD and OCD, bullying or abuse, anxiety, illness, tragic events, changes in mood, weight, problems at school. Other issue can be related to changes in live such as divorce, moving, death or serious illness of a parent.
Drinking in large amounts, daily drinking or feeling like you cannot control how much you drink may be a sign that you may need to look into seeking help to regain control. There are professional intervention and evidence based therapies that can help you achieve your goal. Whether you are planning to quit or learn to control your drinking, I am here to help.
Certain events in life change things forever. Many individuals report experiencing at least one traumatic event thought their lives. Traumas can be experienced first-hand, witnessed or learned about. Symptoms of trauma can present as nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive and negative thoughts, avoidance, trouble concentrating. Whether you have experienced one traumatic event or several, I can help.
testimonials
Cristian's kind and empathetic nature always made me find our sessions a safe and happy place. I gained a new perspective on so many things that had been causing me anxiety by learning about the CBT framework of anxiety
I have referred many people to York Region CBT - Cristian over the last year and would support anyone any parent who's child is dealing with OCD to make that initial appointment and start working with Cristian.
Cristian is methodical and will take you through the CBT steps without any judgment and drama so soon you will find new ways of looking at things in a different light without changing your personality or things you believe in.
