the vine grows

hey there, i'm amy

thanks for visiting!

I’m an msw therapist offering supportive
& intuitively focused counseling sessions.

I strive for heart-based connections, meaningful experiences & joy –
in both my personal & professional life.

learn more about me

Amy Johnston, MSW, RSW

amy@thevinegrows.com

counseling

$180 per 60 min

my approach

schedule an intake session

reach out: amy@thevinegrows.com

let's connect!

about me

my path

.

I’ve known that counseling was my calling since I was young.

As a teenager & young adult I worked at an overnight camp supporting mothers & youth from marginalized populations.

For 13 years I developed heart-centered relationships
& became inspired to pursue Social Work.

.

I had the privilege of working in a West Toronto organization
for the first decade of my career.

Offering long-term supportive counseling & advocacy
to an incredible population of clients. 

Finding moments to escape to nature on breaks & days off.

.

In the Spring of 2021, my partner Geoff & I made a big move
to an acreage property in Northern Ontario.

Our intention in the coming years
is to hold space for community & nature-based offerings.

Fostering connection with self, others & the natural world.

.

To support my inner world & capacity to hold space,
I’ve sought out mentorship & self-practice.

I’ve learned that self-care & routine allows me to
first fill my cup up, & then let it flow over. 

.

I believe we each have a voice of wisdom (often a whisper)
communicating with us when we take space to listen.

It’s my intention to hold space for your inner wisdom to be heard.

I love nothing more than connecting with others about their life story –

if you feel called to connecting, drop me a line.

Amy Johnston, MSW, RSW

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career history

  • therapist | private practice
  • psychotherapist & client advocate | community health
  • workshop facilitator | self-care & MBSR
  • volunteer | women’s shelter art program
  • volunteer | community hub
  • program coordinator | children’s oncology
  • research assistant & contributing author | child welfare
  • social skills group facilitator | adult services (ASD)
  • leadership director | marginalized youth

education, training & achievements

  • master of social work | university of toronto
  • bachelor of social work | ryerson university
  • hypnotherapy certification | hypno healing institute toronto
  • treating complex trauma w/ internal family systems | frank anderson
  • working with complex trauma | bessel van der kolk & linda thai
  • unresolved trauma & addiction | janina fisher
  • empowering resilience through havening | colleen carney
  • EMDR: going from protocol to treatment | roy kiessling
  • restorative yoga certification | andrea peloso yoga
  • psychedelic exposé| atma journey centers
  • secondary assessment training (WPATH informed) | sly sarkisova
  • trauma training – flashbacks & nightmares | natalie zlodre
  • motivational interview training | continuing ed credits
  • guest speaker on mental health | ontario trial lawyers association
  • stress management presenter | college of physicians & surgeons
  • mindful eating presenter | association of family health teams
  • code of ethics guest speaker | seneca college social service work
  • mindfulness training | the mindfulness clinic
  • buddhist compassion award recipient | ryerson university
  • leadership conference facilitator | ontario camps association
  • facility auditor | ontario camps association
  • research assistant | canadian incidence study
  • contributing author | johnston, a., felstiner, c., van wert, m. (2010) the 2008 canadian incidence study of reported child abuse and neglect (cis); review of study to date, canada’s children, centre for excellence for child welfare research edition, vol, 16, n 3

inspiration & things that resonate