Liya Shalmiev Photo
Liya Shalmiev
Pre-Licensed Professional
Low Cost Rate
$45
Sliding Scale
$65–$90
Standard Rate
$90
Location
Toronto, M6E 3C6
Currently Practicing
Online
Liya Shalmiev
Pre-Licensed Professional

About…

Coming home to yourself through compassionate, embodied therapy

Are you longing to understand yourself more deeply, shift long-standing patterns, or feel more secure in your relationships? These longings often arise when something in you knows you’re ready for change, even if the path isn’t clear yet. Therapy offers a grounded space to slow down and listen inward. As a Pre-Licensed Professional and an Expressive Arts Therapy student under clinical supervision, I accompany you with warmth and curiosity as we explore the experiences that shape how you relate to yourself and others, including the nervous system patterns that shape connection and safety. I offer affordable therapy, including sliding scale options, with virtual sessions available across Ontario. 

My Approach

My work integrates Expressive Arts Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Coherence Therapy, Parts-work, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Relational Therapy. My approach is anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and rooted in nervous system regulation.

No matter what modality we use or what you choose to bring into session, these principles guide the work:

Relational – healing happens in connection. I strive to create a warm, attuned, grounded therapeutic relationship where you feel seen and met as you are.
Here and Now – we work with what arises in the present moment: your sensations, emotions, thoughts, and relational patterns as they naturally reveal what needs attention.
Somatic – your body holds insight and wisdom. Together we listen to its cues, build capacity, and gently begin to shift patterns that have felt stuck. 

Qualifications

I am a Pre-Licensed Professional and an Expressive Arts therapy student under clinical supervision. I hold a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy and am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in Training.

I also have experience as an HR professional, where I supported people through workplace transitions. This experience strengthens my ability to hold space with clarity, attunement, and deep respect for each person’s story.

About Me

My pull to this work originates from my own lived experience. Having lived in multiple countries, I bring an understanding of what it can feel like to live between cultures, carrying questions of belonging and identity. I also know what it’s like to feel at odds with parts of yourself, and how difficult it can be to find a way toward something that feels easier and more aligned. Learning the language of my body and building a consistent connection to my inner world led to subtle and eventually profound changes in how I relate to myself and others. I also engage in personal therapy, which I believe deeply supports my integrity and effectiveness as a therapist.

If this resonates with you, you are welcome to reach out to book a complimentary 30-minute consultation.

“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.”
— Peter A. Levine

Telephone - (647) 931-1596
Community Focus:
Women, BIPOC, Kink Aware, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergent, New To Canada, Non-Binary, Polyamorous, Sex Work Positive, Spiritual
Issues:
Anxiety, ADD/ADHD, Body Image, Break-Ups, Burnout/Stress, C-PTSD, Childhood Abuse, Chronic Illness, Codependence, Depression, Family of Origin, Grief/Loss, PTSD, Relationships, Self Esteem, Trauma
Modalities:
Trauma Informed, Anti-Oppressive, Art Therapy, Attachment Focused, Expressive Arts, IFS, Inner Child Work, Mindfulness, Narrative, Relational, Somatic, Spiritual, Strengths Based
Other Languages Spoken:
English
* Available Virtually (Online) in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, PEI, Saskatchewan
Phone:
(647) 931-1596
Location:
Toronto, M6E 3C6

* Talk to your therapist about their approach, training, credentials, and experience to ensure the best fit for your needs.

* Inquire about Online Availability in your Province