Halie Merlin, MA

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Verified

“I work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or disconnected. Whether you’re navigating school avoidance, family struggles, relationship challenges, or simply finding life harder than it feels like it should be, I offer a supportive space to make sense of what’s happening and find a path forward together.”

About Me

Hi I'm Halie, I support children, teens, adults, couples, and families across Ontario through virtual therapy. I work with people who may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from the people around them. I have a particular focus in supporting children and teens experiencing anxiety, school avoidance, emotional overwhelm, and challenges with family connection, as well as the parents who are trying to support them while navigating their own stress and uncertainty. I also support adults, couples, and families working through anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, communication difficulties, life transitions, and feeling disconnected. Whether you’re a parent who feels like you’re constantly battling with your child, a teen who doesn’t know how to explain what they’re feeling, or an adult who has been holding everything together for everyone else, you don’t have to figure it all out before reaching out. My goal is to create a space where you can show up as you are and feel understood, supported, and genuinely listened to.

Approach

I believe therapy works best when it feels like a partnership, not a lecture. You know yourself, your child, or your family better than anyone, and my role is to bring clinical knowledge, curiosity, and another perspective to help you make sense of what’s happening and figure out what comes next. My approach is warm, collaborative, practical, and trauma-informed. I draw from CBT, DBT, EFT, IFS, and other evidence-informed approaches, adapting our work to your needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all formula. For parents and families, I focus on understanding what may be underneath the behaviour rather than simply trying to stop it. We can work on things like anxiety, emotional regulation, school avoidance, communication, boundaries, and connection while finding strategies that are realistic for your actual life, not just ones that look good on paper. I also believe that progress doesn’t always look like a huge breakthrough. Sometimes it looks like a calmer morning, a difficult conversation going a little differently, asking for help sooner, or feeling a little more confident in what to do next. We’ll work together to notice those steps and build from there.

Contact Halie

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Book Now

Kingston, Canada

Online Only

Services

Children & Teens I support children and teens who are experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, school avoidance, low confidence, big emotions, or challenges with relationships and communication. Therapy can provide a space to better understand what they’re experiencing, build coping and emotional regulation skills, and develop confidence in navigating everyday challenges. Parents & Families Parenting a struggling child or teen can leave you feeling unsure about what to say, what to do, or whether you’re helping. I work with parents and families around school avoidance, anxiety, emotional regulation, parent-child conflict, communication, boundaries, and family disconnection, helping you understand what may be underneath the struggle and find practical ways forward. Adults I support adults experiencing anxiety, stress, emotional overwhelm, relationship difficulties, life transitions, self-esteem concerns, and feeling stuck or disconnected. Therapy can be a space to slow things down, understand patterns, and work toward changes that feel meaningful and manageable. Couples I work with couples who want to improve communication, emotional connection, conflict patterns, intimacy, and their overall relationship. Whether you feel stuck in the same arguments or have become disconnected over time, therapy can help you better understand each other and create new ways of relating. Family Therapy & Support Family relationships can become complicated, especially when everyone is overwhelmed and trying to be heard. Family therapy provides a space to work on communication, understanding, conflict, boundaries, and connection while making room for each person's experience. Virtual Therapy Across Ontario I offer virtual psychotherapy across Ontario, making it possible to access support from the comfort and privacy of your own space.

Services Offered:

CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured, evidence-based approach that identifies and changes unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.
Learn more about CBT
Child / Adolescent Therapy
Therapy for children and teenagers using age-appropriate methods, such as play, art, or adapted talk therapy, to address emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Learn more about Child / Adolescent Therapy
Couples Therapy
Therapy for partners working on communication, conflict, intimacy, and trust, with both people seen together rather than individually.
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
A structured therapy that combines cognitive behavioural techniques with mindfulness, designed to help people regulate intense emotions, tolerate distress, and improve relationships.
Family Therapy
A form of therapy that works with family members together to improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen relationships within the family system.
Learn more about Family Therapy
Free Consultation
A no-cost initial session to meet the therapist, discuss needs, and decide whether they are the right fit before committing.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.
Learn more about Individual Therapy
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy
Relationship Counselling
Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.
SFT (Solution-Focused Therapy)
A goal-oriented approach that draws on a person's existing strengths and resources to build practical, future-focused solutions, rather than dwelling on the causes of difficulties.

Works With:

Adolescents
Adults
Children
Couples
Families
Individuals
Parents

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
Family Issues
Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.
Intimacy Issues
Difficulties with emotional or physical closeness in relationships, including fear of vulnerability, avoidance of connection, or sexual concerns.
Learn more about Intimacy Issues
Parenting Support
Guidance for the psychological challenges of raising children, including discipline, communication, co-parenting, and managing the emotional demands of parenthood.
Postnatal or Perinatal Depression
Depression occurring during pregnancy or in the months following childbirth, affecting mood, energy, bonding with the baby, and daily functioning.
Learn more about Postnatal or Perinatal Depression
Relationship Issues
Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.
Learn more about Relationship Issues
School Refusal
A child or adolescent's persistent inability or unwillingness to attend school, typically driven by anxiety, social difficulties, bullying, or emotional distress.
Self-Harm
The deliberate act of hurting oneself, such as cutting or burning, as a way to cope with overwhelming emotional pain or distress.
Learn more about Self-Harm
Young Adult Issues
The unique psychological challenges of emerging adulthood (18–25), including identity formation, independence, relationship navigation, and finding direction.
Learn more about Young Adult Issues
Suicidal Thoughts
Thoughts about ending one's own life, ranging from passive wishes to active plans. This is a sign of severe emotional distress that requires professional support.
Learn more about Suicidal Thoughts