Carolyn Ralph, BA, BSW, MSW, RSW

I'm Carolyn Ralph, a registered social worker and psychotherapist with almost 20 years of experience working in community and human services. I work primarily from an Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, woven together with mindfulness, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), somatic and body-based approaches, and a deep respect for nature as a healing space. My approach is parts-based and polyvagal-informed, meaning I'm interested in how your body holds your story and how we can work with your nervous system, not against it.

I love supporting individuals and couples who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in patterns they can't seem to shake. Whether you're navigating relationship dynamics, parenting, creative or non-mainstream life paths, spiritual exploration, or the aftermath of a psychedelic experience, I offer a space that is boundaried, warm, and genuinely non-judgmental. I'm comfortable with the full range of human experience, including diverse relationship structures, sexuality, and alternative lifestyles. I believe every part of you has a positive intent, even the ones causing you the most pain right now.

Nature is central to my practice and my life. Breathing in Trees Counseling was born from a connection to trees that started in grade 4, and I've been building on that ever since, from tree planting summers to co-founding We Learn Naturally, a nature-based program for children and families. My SSHRC-funded master's thesis explored practitioner perspectives on nature-based therapy for mental health, and I've been a guest lecturer at McMaster University on nature-based and posthuman approaches to therapy. I'm also a Mindfulness Ambassador with Global MINDS Collective and an active member of Mindfulness Hamilton.

I'm a proud unschooling mother, a certified tree-hugger, and yes, I play pennywhistle in the forest. If you're ready to start, I offer a free consult because client-therapist fit is everything. Let's talk.