A Bit About Me
In my early 20s, I began to understand how deeply family expectations and unspoken boundaries were shaping me. I was trying to earn approval from people who were carrying their own mental health struggles. That experience led me to self-compassion and helped me see how many people quietly blame themselves for things that were never theirs to carry. It’s what inspired me to become a therapist.
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Before entering the field of Counselling Psychology, I spent over a decade in the corporate world, including five years in management. I know what it feels like to live with perfectionism, constant self-doubt, and anxiety while trying to keep everything together. What mattered most to me during that time wasn’t the role or title, but supporting the people around me and watching them grow. That clarity is what brought me here.
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Today, my goal is simple: to create a warm, steady space where you can be yourself without judgment and work toward meaningful change at your own pace. I offer individual therapy, teen therapy, and couples therapy in Mississauga, Milton, Georgetown, Brampton, Oakville, and nearby communities. I also provide virtual therapy across Ontario. If you’re ready to begin, I’m here to walk alongside you.
Puja's Story
Puja Devanand Rao is a warm and thoughtful Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is dedicated to helping individuals and couples feel grounded, understood, and supported as they navigate life’s challenges. With over 10 years of experience in the corporate sector, Puja understands the weight of workplace stress, burnout, and high-pressure environments. Her background allows her to connect deeply with professionals who are juggling demanding careers while managing anxiety, perfectionism, or emotional exhaustion.
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Puja works with teens, adults, and couples experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, panic attacks, grief, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions. She has a special interest in maternal mental health, cultural and family conflict, intimacy concerns, and childhood trauma. Her approach is trauma-focused and rooted in creating emotional safety from the very first session.
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She believes therapy works best when it feels collaborative and respectful. Every client’s story is unique, and Puja tailors each treatment plan to fit individual needs and goals. She draws from evidence-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Brainspotting, Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness-based practices. Her work also recognizes the important connection between the mind, body, and nervous system in healing.
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Puja is a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). She is committed to ongoing professional development to ensure her clients receive thoughtful, up-to-date care.
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She provides individual therapy, teen counselling, and couples therapy in Mississauga and surrounding areas, with secure online therapy available across Ontario. If you are looking for compassionate, evidence-based therapy in Mississauga or virtually in Ontario, Puja offers a space where you can begin to feel more like yourself again.
Important Information About Puja Devanand Rao Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying):
Languages:
Insurance:
English, Hindi, and Kanada
Please check with your insurance if you have coverage for a Registered Psychotherapist or Psychological Services
Session Fees:
Individual Therapy | Individual Counselling $150/50 min
Teen Therapy | Teen Counselling $150/50 min
Couples Therapy | Couples Counselling $160/50 min
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Our psychotherapy services provide sliding scale fees on a limited basis. We offer affordable mental health support to individuals in need. Our goal is to make therapy accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. Please contact us to learn more about our services and availability.
Workshops:
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Brainspotting Phase 1 and BIPOC Brainspotting Phase 5, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Externship (EFT), Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Foundations of Perinatal Mental Health, Queering Mental Health, and Compassionate Suicide Risk Assessment.