Donnalee Schwammle
MSc., Member CAOT, COTO and ABCT

My Approach

Most clients come to me because they want to regain some control in their lives.  They often feel other people, circumstances or events in their life are in control.  Their emotions and/or their behaviours appear to be directing their lives and they are not able to accomplish what they really want too.  Some are also looking for clarity, direction and a sense of being comfortable with themselves and their world.

 I work with you to firstly identify what would make your life worth living and then to target dysfunctional behaviours and identify effective skills that will help you to accomplish your goals.  You will be learning new skills, refining existing ones, and practicing those skills in the real environment.  Throughout you will receive coaching and together we will continually be analyzing how your internal system works, how it interacts with your world and how it can be enhanced.  We will be working towards integrating what you feel with what you think and how you behave in a supportive and nurturing environment. 

My approach is focused on outcomes and process with an emphasis on effectiveness.  An important target will be learning to accept yourself while at the same time making significant changes.  Along the way you will gain a deeper understanding of yourself, and be able to implement your new skills in your environment.

My Background

During my career I have been intensively trained in Psychodrama, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).  As a Psychodramatist I received training under Ann Hale and was involved in the initial development of the Toronto Psychodrama Centre.  I have participated in Cognitive Behavioural Training from a variety of trainers with more intensive training completed by Christine Padesky in California.  My training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy was with the originator of the therapy, Marsha Linehan in Seattle, Washington.  I have had a private practice since 1989 assisting clients with a variety of disorders.   As well I provide training workshops for other therapists and clinicians in these modalities as well as consultation to agencies and programs. 

For a very long time I felt that people with Personality Disorders were not being treated effectively by clinics, hospitals or emergency rooms.  In order to be able to provide more skilled interventions that work I pursued intensive training in DBT and developed the first Assertive Community Treatment Team to provide treatment for this disorder within a community agency.  DBT incorporates the four main components of Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance.  Sessions involve a combination of analysis of specific situations or issues, the teaching of skills in the four areas and then implementation/generalization of the skills.  Many clients find the skills extremely useful whether they have the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder or not.  I personally have found them to be very effective and useful in my life. 

Throughout my training and career I have worked with clients who are dealing with Substance Use issues and Eating Disorders.  In working with these particular issues I use a combination of DBT and CBT along with dietary instruction and monitoring for the eating disorder.   I believe it is important to understand what drives the behaviour and work not only on changing the behaviour but also desensitization to triggers.  Skills are taught to overcome urges and maintain desired behaviour. 

I have also started to work with clients suffering with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. This disorder causes significant dysfunction in daily activities due to the client's preoccupation with an aspect of their features and the compulsive behaviours that are part of the disorder. Medication along with CBT has shown to be effective in allowing these clients to develop a more satisfying approach to their looks and self care.

Mood and Anxiety Disorders can stand alone but are often present with other disorders.  CBT has a well researched history of effectiveness for these disorders.  There are very specific protocols for such problems as panic attacks, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, etc.   Again it is important to understand how your system works and then make interventions that are effective for you. 

Sometimes people do have a full diagnosis of a particular disorder but they may not have some of the traits or symptoms and that can be just as troubling.  Treatment can be effective for persons struggling with such situations, and helps to ensure they are not overwhelmed by these problems. 

I was originally trained as an occupational therapist and have worked in the mental health field for over 25 years.  My background in occupational therapy has given me a very practical approach to therapy in that to be useful it must be immediately applicable to the person’s daily life.  I am therefore focused on skill development and implementation of skills.

Some time ago I decided to return to school as I wanted to have a more firmly established base in theory to support my practical skills.  I completed my Masters in Rehabilitation Science in 1997.  My strong background in rehabilitation allows me to provide assistance with issues such as return to work/school, improving daily function, engagement and overcoming barriers.  As an occupational therapist I am familiar with various types of physical impairments and how they interact with emotional and psychological issues.

The key to all these disorders and the various interventions is hope.  I believe that essentially people are doing the best they can and that with support and training things can change and new options will emerge.

Please feel free to set up a free consultation with me to explore your issues.

I now have two offices.  I am in Toronto 4 days a week and in Thornbury 3 days a week. The Thornbury office is near Collingwood, Ontario and serves the Georgian Bay area. Here's a handy map to my office in The Beaches area.