charlotte.horizontherapy

Charlotte Smith

BA, MACP, RPQ

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Appointment times listed reflect the therapist’s typical schedule. Current openings may differ, and some slots may be full. For current availability or a specific time, please go to Charlotte’s online booking page on the Jane App or reach out to our admin team.

Hello, I’m Charlotte.

I believe that therapy can be a powerful space for healing, self-discovery, and meaningful change. Whether you are navigating a difficult life transition, struggling in your relationships, processing past experiences, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of yourself, I am passionate about supporting individuals and couples as they move toward greater well-being, connection, and fulfillment.

Life can be complex, and at times we can find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or uncertain about how to move forward. My goal is to help you develop the insight, resilience, and practical tools needed to navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence, self-compassion, and clarity. Together, we can explore the patterns, experiences, and beliefs that may be shaping your current struggles while also identifying and building upon the strengths that already exist within you.

My therapeutic approach is grounded in a deep respect for your unique experiences, identities, relationships, and personal story. I strive to create a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental environment where you feel safe to explore your thoughts, emotions, and challenges openly. I believe that meaningful growth occurs within the context of a strong therapeutic relationship, and I view therapy as a collaborative process in which we work together to foster insight, healing, and lasting change.

Neurodivergence 
I have a special interest in supporting neurodiverse individuals and couples, particularly those seeking to better understand how ADHD and Autism influence their relationships, communication styles, emotional experiences, and everyday interactions. Neurodivergence can shape the way we connect, communicate, manage conflict, experience intimacy, and navigate the world around us in ways that are often deeply meaningful, yet not always fully understood by ourselves or those around us. My approach is grounded in a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming perspective that honours different ways of thinking, feeling, and relating. Together, we can explore both the challenges and strengths associated with neurodivergence, deepen self-understanding, improve communication and connection, and develop strategies that support healthier and more fulfilling relationships.

I take an integrative, client-centered approach to therapy, recognizing that no two people or relationships are exactly alike. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model, I tailor the therapeutic process to meet your individual needs, goals, values, and lived experiences. My work is informed by a culturally responsive and trauma-informed lens that acknowledges the impact of personal history, family dynamics, social systems, and cultural identities on our emotional well-being and relationships.

I work with individuals and couples experiencing a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship and attachment injuries, family of origin issues, life transitions, stress and burnout, self-esteem and identity concerns, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), ADHD, Autism, emotional regulation difficulties, and the impacts of trauma. I understand that seeking support can feel vulnerable, and I am committed to meeting you with compassion, curiosity, and respect wherever you are in your journey.

LGBTQ+ 
I have a particular passion for working with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, including those exploring questions related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, relationship structures, and the unique experiences that can arise when navigating these important aspects of self and connection. My practice is grounded in an affirming and inclusive perspective that recognizes and celebrates the diversity of human experiences, identities, and relationships. I strive to create a space where clients feel seen, validated, and empowered to explore their identities without fear of judgment. Together, we can navigate challenges related to self-acceptance, relationships, family dynamics, minority stress, life transitions, and identity development while fostering a stronger sense of authenticity, connection, and belonging.

Drawing from a range of evidence-based approaches allows me to adapt therapy to what will be most helpful for you. This flexible and holistic approach enables us to balance deeper self-exploration and insight with practical strategies for managing life’s challenges and creating meaningful, sustainable change.

Whether you are seeking support during a difficult period, hoping to strengthen your relationships, process past experiences, or gain a deeper understanding of yourself, I am committed to helping you cultivate greater self-awareness, emotional well-being, and lasting change.

It is a privilege to walk alongside my clients in their journey toward healing and growth, and I look forward to creating a space where you feel supported, understood, and empowered every step of the way.

Outside of work and counselling, I enjoy connecting with family and friends through shared experiences—whether that’s trying new restaurants around the city, walking our dogs, playing board games, getting creative with crafts, or exploring local hiking trails. I also love getting lost in a good book or film, practicing yoga and Pilates, and spending quiet moments writing, listening to music, and recharging. These activities help me stay grounded, foster meaningful connections, and bring balance to my life.

Questions You May Have

It’s common to come to therapy with questions. Here are answers to some of the most frequent ones I hear.

Repetitive arguments are rarely about the surface issue such as the dishes, the schedule, who forgot what. They’re usually about something underneath: feeling unheard, undervalued, or like your needs don’t register. When the same fight keeps coming back, it’s a signal that something isn’t getting resolved, not just managed. Therapy helps you slow the cycle down enough to see what’s actually happening and to start responding to each other instead of reacting. Most couples are surprised to find that the argument they’ve been having for years isn’t really the argument at all.

Yes. LGBTQ+ couples face relationship dynamics that are genuinely different from what most mainstream couples therapy is designed around navigating coming out at different stages, family rejection, chosen family complexity, minority stress, and the particular pressure of building a relationship without many cultural roadmaps for what it’s supposed to look like. An affirming therapist doesn’t just tolerate these realities they understand them well enough to work with them. This is a space where your relationship is treated as fully legitimate and your specific context is part of the work, not a footnote.

Yes, and this is more common than people realize. When one or both partners are autistic, have ADHD, or are AuDHD, household labour becomes complicated fast not because anyone is lazy or uncaring, but because executive function, sensory load, task visibility, and energy management work differently. One partner often ends up carrying more, resentment builds, and it starts to feel like a character flaw instead of a neurological mismatch. Therapy helps you understand what’s actually happening, have the conversation without it becoming a referendum on who’s doing enough, and build systems that account for how your brains actually work — not how you think they should.

It might be, and it’s worth exploring. Perfectionism in women often doesn’t look like the word suggests, it’s less about wanting things to be perfect and more about a persistent fear that you’re falling short, that your success is fragile, or that slowing down will cost you something. It tends to live alongside anxiety, people-pleasing, difficulty delegating, and a quiet exhaustion that’s hard to explain to people who see you as having it together. Therapy creates space to look at where that standard came from, what it’s protecting you from, and what it might be costing you professionally, relationally, and in terms of how you actually feel about your life.

The core of the work is the same: feeling heard, understood, and supported. What shifts is how we approach it. For younger clients, I pay particular attention to identity development, family dynamics, and the pressure of figuring out who you are while the world is asking you to already have it figured out.

This comes up often, and it’s one of the hardest parts of this work. Changing your patterns doesn’t mean abandoning your relationships or your roots. It means learning to show up in them differently. We move at your pace, and we hold the complexity of loving people while also choosing yourself.

Therapy for neurodivergent youth creates a space where masking isn’t necessary, where you can be honest about how exhausting it is to fit in all day at school. We work on understanding how your brain works differently (not wrong, just different), building emotional regulation skills that actually work for your unique needs, and exploring identity beyond labels. You’ll learn to navigate peer relationships, school stress, and family dynamics while honoring what makes you different. This isn’t about “fixing” you, it’s about helping you understand yourself and find belonging without changing who you are.

Yes. I offer sessions on Monday evenings from 3:30pm to 8pm Online, and Thursday evenings from 3pm to 8pm In-person in Toronto at 455 Avenue Road.  I also offer day time appointments online for clients living anywhere in Ontario.