Crystal Pacheco

BA, MSW
Registered Social Worker

Welcome to My Page

I’m so glad you’ve taken the first step toward seeking support. Beginning therapy can be a big decision, and I commend you for taking this important step in your journey. My approach to counselling is soft, welcoming, and grounded in strong ethical values. I strive to create a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and emotions freely.

I work with clients across all age groups (children, youth, and adults) and offer individual, couples, and family therapy. My goal is to help each person develop greater self-understanding, build emotional resilience, and find practical tools to manage life’s challenges.

My Areas of Focus

Over the past 15 years, I have developed a diverse skill set through clinical training and hands-on experience in various mental health settings. My work is primarily rooted in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), with interventions tailored to meet each client’s unique needs.

Generalized Anxiety:
Together, we work on identifying different types of worry, understanding the worry cycle, and addressing fears and uncertainty. You learn to challenge anxious thought patterns and engage in exposure-based exercises that help reduce your anxiety over time.

Depression:
Therapy focuses on changing the way you feel by changing the way you think. We explore how negative thought patterns influence your emotions and behaviours, while working toward rediscovering joy and meaning in your daily life.

Social Anxiety:
We examine your specific anxiety cycle, challenge distorted thoughts related to judgment or performance, and gradually face feared social situations to rebuild your confidence and self-worth.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
Our work focuses on understanding intrusive thoughts and reducing the compulsion cycle through exposure and response prevention techniques, helping to ease your distress and regain a sense of control.

Substance Use:
We explore the relationship between your thoughts, emotions, and substance use behaviours. You learn to identify triggers, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and develop coping skills, problem-solving abilities, and relapse prevention strategies.

Relationship and Family Issues:
Together, we identify unhelpful thought patterns, communication styles, and core beliefs that may impact your relationships. Our therapy sessions will emphasizes improving communication, rebuilding trust, and creating more balanced, fulfilling connections.

Family Systems Work:
We look at unhelpful interaction patterns such as blame, avoidance, or negative assumptions, and replace them with more balanced ways of thinking and relating. Strengthening family communication and emotional connection is a key focus.

Trauma (CPT & PE):
Through Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), we explore how traumatic experiences affect your beliefs about safety, trust, control, and self-worth. We identify and challenge “stuck points”, thoughts that keep you trapped in distress.
With Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, we work in a structured, supportive way to gradually approach difficult memories and triggers at your own pace, helping them lose their power and allowing you to regain a sense of safety and control. This CBT-based approach reduces your PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and avoidance, fostering healing and reconnection with life.

Autism and Special Needs:
Therapy that focuses on enhancing emotional regulation, reducing anxiety, and developing adaptive coping and social skills. Sessions incorporate visual aids, clear language, and structured routines to promote engagement and comprehension.

Education and Experience

I hold a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Social Work from Lakehead University. Over the years, I have worked in a variety of settings including residential programs, rehabilitation centres, school boards, and medical health centres. These experiences have deepened my understanding of diverse populations and allowed me to develop a well-rounded, compassionate therapeutic approach.

Therapy Reflection 

I believe that therapy is a collaborative process built on trust, empathy, and open communication. My goal is to help you gain clarity, develop healthier coping strategies, and move toward a more balanced and fulfilling life.

I offer a free 15-minute consultation, providing an opportunity to discuss your goals and determine whether we are a good fit for one another. I look forward to connecting with you and supporting you on your journey toward growth, healing, and self-discovery.