Tom Walpole

BSW, MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker

Works With

Areas of focus

session fees

Appointment Times

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

Hello, I’m Tom, a Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work and over a decade of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families as they navigate life’s challenges. I approach our work together with warmth, curiosity, and deep respect for each person’s lived experience and consider it a privilege to be invited into your story.

My approach to therapy is grounded in the belief that meaningful change grows out of a safe, trusting, and authentic relationship. I see myself not as an expert who has all the answers, but as a partner in the process; someone who can sit with you when things feel heavy, confusing, or stuck, and support you as you move toward the life you want to live. Together, we focus on your goals, at your pace, and what feels most important and meaningful to you.

I support people through various challenges related to anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, neurodiversity, anger management, shame, relational dynamics, narcissistic relationships and gaslighting, caregiver support, and more. When working with couples, I help partners strengthen communication, trust and safety, navigate conflict, and develop greater connection and intimacy. I also bring personal and professional insight into the nuances experienced by neurodivergent couples and the unique influence this can have on a relationship.

My approach is rooted in relational, psychodynamic, attachment, and trauma-informed principles, and I draw from a range of evidence-based approaches including, but not limited to, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, emotionally focused couples therapy (EFCT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based practices. I take an eclectic and collaborative approach, adapting therapy to fit your needs rather than expecting you to fit into a particular model.

Above all, I believe therapy should feel human. It should be a space where you can speak openly, explore your experiences without judgment, and begin to reconnect with your strengths, values, and sense of direction. My goal is to make you feel empowered, supported, and in control of your own story, and work to surround your life with meaning and a sense of fulfillment.

My Therapeutic Style

Therapy Modalities

Trainings & Education

Master of Social Work, Laurentian University
Bachelor of Social Work, Laurentian University
Registered Social Worker (RSW) with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
Trauma Certification, Janina Fisher
Working with Narcissism in Relationships, Terry Real Institute
Neurodiversity Training Certificate, Sonderly
ADHD & Couples Training, Dig A Little Deeper
Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), Cambridge Core Skills
CBT and ERP for OCD, Anxiety & Phobias Training, PESI
ADHD Training, PESI
Harm Reduction Training
Becoming an Ally for the LGBTQ2IA+ Community, The Gilbert Centre
Ongoing Supervision and Professional Development

More than Just My Work

In my personal time I focus on family, relaxation, and surrounding myself with things that allow me to find a place of meaning and peace in my life. I enjoy the outdoors and can be found fishing, kayaking, playing and coaching sports, and spending time with my child and partner.

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.

Do you work with couples where one or both partners have ADHD?

Yes. ADHD affects relationships in ways that are specific and often misunderstood such as missed responsibilities, emotional dysregulation, hyperfocus that comes and goes, and a communication dynamic where one partner frequently feels like the manager and the other feels constantly criticized. Over time that pattern creates real damage: resentment, shame, and a growing distance that neither person wanted. Therapy helps both partners understand what ADHD is actually doing in the relationship versus what’s a character issue, and builds a dynamic that works with how both people are wired instead of against it.

I feel intense shame when my partner is upset with me, can therapy help?

Yes. What you’re describing is common, and it often runs deeper than the relationship itself. For many people, a partner’s disappointment or frustration triggers something disproportionate not just discomfort, but a collapse, a need to fix it immediately, or a shutdown that makes the original issue worse. That reaction usually has roots: in how conflict was handled growing up, in attachment patterns, in rejection sensitivity that may be tied to anxiety or ADHD. Therapy helps you understand where that shame response comes from, separate your partner’s feelings from your worth as a person, and show up to difficult moments without being flooded by them.

I want to express myself more confidently as a man, can therapy help with that?

Yes. A lot of men come to therapy not in crisis, but carrying something they’ve never had a space to put down unexpressed needs, difficulty with vulnerability, a sense that they should be handling things better than they are. Learning to express yourself more confidently isn’t about becoming louder or more assertive in the conventional sense. It’s about getting clear on what you actually think and feel, and developing the language and safety to say it — in relationships, at work, and with yourself. Many men find that the biggest shift isn’t learning to speak up, it’s realizing they had something worth saying all along.

What if I don’t know what to talk about in therapy?

That’s completely okay and more common than you’d think. You don’t need to arrive with answers or the right words. We start wherever you are.

Can you diagnose me with ADHD?

No. As a Registered Social Worker MSW, RSW, I’m not able to provide a formal diagnosis. That process goes through a physician or psychologist. What I can do is work with you on the very real challenges you’re experiencing right now, whether or not you have a diagnosis. If pursuing a formal assessment feels important to you, I’m happy to help you think through what that path might look like.

Can therapy help ADHD?

Absolutely. A lot of what we’d explore together, like how your brain processes information, why knowing what to do and actually doing it can feel worlds apart, and how you relate to yourself when you fall short of your own expectations, is useful regardless of whether ADHD is part of the picture. You don’t need a label to deserve support.

Do I need therapy if I’m on medication?

Medication can be incredibly helpful for managing ADHD symptoms, but it doesn’t rewrite the stories you’ve spent years telling yourself about who you are. It doesn’t undo the impact of years of masking, struggling, or being misunderstood. Therapy works alongside medication to help you understand your brain, rebuild your relationship with yourself, and develop strategies that actually fit how you’re wired. For many people, it’s the piece that makes everything else start to click.

How does therapy help me with stress and burnout?

You’re right, and I’d never suggest that as the answer. Burnout isn’t solved by a vacation or a single boundary. Therapy helps you understand how you got here: the patterns, the people-pleasing, the belief that your worth is tied to how much you produce. We look at what’s driving the exhaustion, not just the symptoms. We work on reconnecting with what actually matters to you and finding small, sustainable ways to stop bleeding out in the meantime. The goal isn’t to change your whole life overnight. It’s to help you stop disappearing inside it.