ABOUT ME

Holistic and Heart-led Virtual therapy across Ontario.

Hello and Welcome!

I didn’t always know how to slow down, listen inward, or honour what my body was trying to tell me. For years, I pushed through—driven by perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the quiet belief that I had to earn my worth by doing more, caring more, achieving more. On the outside, I looked capable and composed. On the inside, I often felt overwhelmed, anxious, and disconnected from myself.

The turning point came when I could no longer outrun the exhaustion. What I’d always relied on—logic, productivity, and powering through—just didn’t work anymore. I realized I had spent years caring for everyone else while abandoning myself and I was lost behind the protective patterns I was using to cope and “just survive” in life. That moment of truth wasn’t easy—but it was the beginning of real healing. Slowly, I found my way back to my deeper truth and the courage to reclaim the me that had been hiding.

What I learned through my own journey informs what I now offer to my client’s today. My approach is trauma-informed and holistic — offering a supportive blend of compassionate counselling, nervous system healing, and somatic awareness. To learn more about My Approach click Here.

I’ve walked the path I now help others travel. I know the courage it takes to let go of old survival patterns. I know what it’s like to feel stuck in anxiety and compulsions, to crave calm—and light, but not know how to make a shift. And I also know what it’s like to come out the other side—more grounded, more self-trusting, and more whole.

Survival patterns may have once helped you cope, but now they steal your peace, and keep you in a cycle of exhaustion, disconnection, and self-doubt.

Now, as a Nurse Psychotherapist, I’m honoured to walk alongside adults and seniors on their healing journeys.

Your wellness is not just mental or emotional—it’s also physical, spiritual, and energetic. That’s why I offer a supportive and holistic path that honours the whole of you - mind, body, soul.

This is more than symptom management, it’s about meaningful and lasting change.

Reclaiming You —beyond Anxiety, OCD, & Depression.

With over 35 years of nursing experience, a deep personal healing journey, and training in evidence-based modalities, I provide a compassionate, trauma-informed, and somatic approach that’s personalized for your needs.

Born in Toronto and raised in the Beaches area, and from there Scarborough, I have lived in various places across Ontario—from Toronto to Brockville—and now call Quinte West, in the Bay of Quinte, home. Whether you're in Trenton, Brighton, Cobourg, Belleville, Kingston, Ottawa, Toronto, or anywhere in Ontario, I offer convenient and private virtual counselling to meet you where you are.

A first-generation Canadian with Irish roots, I was raised Roman Catholic but have since adopted my own spiritual beliefs. I’ve been studying spirituality, mindfulness, and metaphysical teachings for over 30 years.

I welcome the integration of spirituality into therapy for those who feel called to it, honouring all faiths, spiritual paths, and those with none. My approach is inclusive, grounded, and non-dogmatic—supporting the soul’s healing in whatever way is supportive for you.

My Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)

• Over 30 years of experience in Nursing

• Certified Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Practitioner (currently advancing toward Master’s Level certification)

I have completed Certification in the following:

• Compassionate Inquiry

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Mental Wellness Nurse

• Trauma-Informed Coaching

• Breathwork and Meditation

• Indigenous Cultural Safety

• Mental Health First Aid

  This combination of professional expertise and lived experience enables me to guide you with deep empathy, skill, and understanding.

  Inclusivity:

  I strive to create a welcoming, inclusive healing environment for everyone, including members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Healing is a personal journey, and I am here to honour your unique path.

  I am a licensed member of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and an active, registered member of the:

  Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO)

  Nurse Psychotherapist Association of Ontario (NPAO)

  Association of EFT Professionals (AEFTP)

If you’re ready to begin your journey toward healing and self-discovery to Reclaiming You - I would be honoured to walk alongside you.

Love,

Michele

Michele Venema Nurse Psychotherapist | Emotional Freedom Techniques Practitioner BScN, RN, Pscyhotherapist, cEFT2 AEFTP