I.
Schema therapy as a primary framework
This isn't an occasional technique — Ghazal pursued advanced schema therapy training in Germany and uses it as the foundation of her clinical work.
Schema Therapy · Waterloo
Schema Therapy in Waterloo
You keep ending up in the same painful cycles — in relationships, at work, with yourself. Schema therapy gets to the root of those patterns. Virtual sessions across Ontario.
Ghazal Sheikhtaheri
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), RP
Sound Familiar?
Signs Schema Therapy could help
- ✻You keep ending up in the same painful relationship dynamics — different person, same hurt, same pattern.
- ✻You have a harsh inner critic that tells you you're not good enough, no matter what you achieve.
- ✻You feel emotionally disconnected — from your partner, your friends, or even yourself.
- ✻You sacrifice your own needs to keep others happy, then feel resentful or invisible.
- ✻You intellectually know your life is "fine" — but something deeper feels fundamentally wrong.
These patterns aren't random — and they aren't your fault. Schema therapy can help you understand where they come from and begin to change them.
Book a Free 15-Min ConsultationAbout the Approach
What is Schema Therapy?
Schema therapy addresses the deep emotional patterns — called "schemas" — formed in childhood that continue to shape your relationships, self-image, and reactions to stress. It goes beyond surface-level symptoms to work with the root causes, combining cognitive, emotional, and experiential techniques.
Schema therapy is especially relevant for:
- ✻Recurring relationship difficulties
- ✻Chronic self-criticism and low self-worth
- ✻People-pleasing and difficulty setting boundaries
- ✻Emotional avoidance or numbness
- ✻Patterns that haven't responded to other therapy
Curious whether schema therapy could help with what you're experiencing?
Book a Free 15-Min ConsultationYour Therapist
Trained, regulated, and experienced
Training
Advanced Schema Therapy Training
CASMH Health Institute, Germany. Ghazal pursued advanced, specialized training in schema therapy at one of Europe's recognized centres — bringing a depth of expertise to her work with clients in Ontario.
Education
Dual Master's Degrees
MSc Clinical Psychology (Kharazmi University, Iran) and MA Counselling & Psychotherapy (Yorkville University, Canada). A clinical foundation built across two countries and training systems.
Registration
CRPO Registered
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Practicing under active clinical supervision — the standard path for all new CRPO registrants.
Experience
10+ Years Clinical Experience
Over a decade of work with individuals and couples across diverse backgrounds. Ghazal brings experience with trauma, relationship patterns, self-worth, and the unique pressures of immigration and cultural identity.
Why NoorMinds
Why choose NoorMinds for Schema Therapy
II.
Root-cause focus
Rather than managing symptoms, schema therapy addresses the underlying patterns — creating the possibility of deep, lasting change.
III.
Bilingual sessions
Available in English and Farsi (فارسی). Emotional work is most effective in the language your feelings live in.
IV.
Warm, structured approach
Schema therapy is both compassionate and systematic — balancing emotional depth with clear therapeutic direction.
A free consultation is the easiest way to see if this is the right fit.
Book a Free 15-Min ConsultationHow It Works
How to Start Schema Therapy
I.
Free consultation
15 minutes to discuss what you're experiencing and whether schema therapy might be a good fit.
II.
Assessment & pattern mapping
In early sessions, we identify your core schemas and the coping strategies you've developed around them.
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Ongoing therapy
Weekly 60-minute sessions combining cognitive restructuring, experiential exercises, and compassionate re-parenting techniques.
What to Expect
What Schema Therapy Looks Like in Practice
In the early phase, we work together to map out the core patterns — or schemas — that are shaping your life. This might include patterns like abandonment, emotional deprivation, self-sacrifice, or defectiveness. Most people recognise their patterns quickly once they have a framework for them.
From there, sessions move into deeper emotional work — understanding where these patterns formed, what needs went unmet, and how your coping strategies developed. Schema therapy uses a combination of cognitive techniques, chair work, imagery, and guided reflection to work with these patterns at both a thinking and feeling level.
Over time, the goal is to develop what schema therapists call the "Healthy Adult" mode — a stronger internal voice that can meet your own needs, set boundaries, and respond to old triggers differently.
Related reading: Why We Keep Repeating the Same Relationship Patterns · When Crisis Activates Our Inner Schemas
Pricing
Simple, transparent pricing
$180Individual Session
$225Couples · 60 min
$350Couples · 90 min
Free15-Min Consultation
Insurance receipts provided — most extended health plans in Canada cover sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist.
Questions
Schema Therapy FAQ
What's the difference between schema therapy and CBT?
CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviours in the present. Schema therapy goes deeper — it addresses the childhood origins of your patterns and uses emotional and experiential techniques alongside cognitive ones. Many clients find schema therapy reaches places that CBT alone didn't.
How long does schema therapy take?
It depends on the complexity of your patterns. Some clients see meaningful shifts in 3-6 months. Deeper, more entrenched patterns may take longer. We'll discuss realistic expectations during your consultation.
Is schema therapy right for me?
If you notice recurring patterns in relationships, struggle with self-worth, or feel stuck despite previous therapy, schema therapy may be an excellent fit. A free consultation can help us determine this together.
Are sessions online?
Yes — all sessions are virtual and available in Waterloo and across Ontario.
Do you offer sessions in Farsi?
Yes — sessions are available in Farsi (فارسی), English, or both.
In Waterloo's intense tech-and-campus culture, I'm burning out and feel I'm never enough. Can schema therapy help?
Waterloo's startup-and-campus intensity moves fast, and that pace can deepen burnout and the belief that you're never enough. Schema therapy explores the early patterns, called schemas, behind these relentless standards, and works to ease them over time. Ghazal Sheikhtaheri, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), CRPO #21300, specializes in this approach and offers online sessions across Ontario in English and Farsi, fitting around high-pressure work.
Next Step
Ready to understand your patterns?
A 15-minute call to talk about what you're experiencing — no commitment, no pressure.
Book a Free ConsultationOr call (647) 699-5142 · WhatsApp · Email
Schema Therapy Across Ontario
NoorMinds provides virtual schema therapy to residents throughout Ontario. Select your city to learn more: