Shanuja

Shanuja Manoratnam

Registered Psychotherapist

“I help adult children of immigrants navigate between multiple cultures and their mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, and interpersonal issues. I work from a culturally sensitive and integrative approach with clients to allow them to be seen, heard, and understood.”

About Me

I understand the unique complexities adult children of immigrants face when balancing different cultural worlds. My culturally sensitive approach creates a space where you can feel truly seen, heard, and understood. We will work together to navigate anxiety, depression, and interpersonal concerns, finding ways to integrate your experiences. This approach helps you build resilience and a stronger sense of self.

Approach

Navigating life between cultures often shapes what we bring to each session, so I hold space for curiosity and small, concrete steps you can try between meetings. In my Markham office or online, sessions move at a steady, collaborative pace—short experments, targeted reflection, and values-based choices drawn from ACT and CBT to reduce anxiety and clarify priorities. Homework is practical and tied to your cultural context. People balancing family expectations and personal growth often find this approach grounding and useful.
Contact Shanuja

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

In-person & Online

Services

Services Offered:

  • ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)

    A form of therapy that teaches acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while guiding action aligned with personal values.

    Learn more about ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
  • Counseling

    A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.

    Learn more about Counseling
  • Online Therapy

    Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.

    Learn more about Online Therapy
  • CBT

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured, evidence-based approach that identifies and changes unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.

    Learn more about CBT
  • 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

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Individuals

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

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  • Phobias

    Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations, such as flying, heights, or spiders, that lead to avoidance and limit daily life.

    Learn more about Phobias
  • Mood Disorder

    A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.

    Learn more about Mood Disorder
  • Life Transitions

    Major life changes, such as relocation, retirement, parenthood, or career shifts, that disrupt routine and require psychological adjustment.

    Learn more about Life Transitions
  • Personal Development

    The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.

  • Self-Esteem

    A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.

    Learn more about Self-Esteem
  • 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

Professional Title:

  • Registered Psychotherapist

    A psychotherapist who is formally registered with a regulatory body to provide psychotherapy.

Credentials

Registrations

College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)

Registered Psychotherapist

Registration: 11701

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Qualifications

Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology

Yorkville University

Year: 2022

Service Areas

Blooming Stories Therapy

In-person & Online

Markham, Ontario

Canada

Markham, Canada