Kaitlyn Toneguzzi Counselling & Consulting

About

Meet Your Counsellor

Registered social worker

Kaitlyn Toneguzzi, MSW, RSW

My name is Kaitlyn Toneguzzi, and I’m a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. I was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and continue to call this place home.

Education &

Professional Background

Early on, my special interest was death and dying — I saw myself working with the elderly, or in palliative care. Maybe I would eventually become a death doula — who knows? I just knew I was comfortable with grief and interested in the subject matter, so it felt like a natural fit. It wasn’t until I went through my own traumatic experiences with sexual violence and PTSD that I realized I wanted to specialize in trauma work.

Going through those experiences was incredibly lonely, and I didn’t know anyone else who had PTSD, so I felt like I was probably the most messed up person on the planet. I spent a lot of time feeling misunderstood and angry that there wasn’t a guidebook for how to deal with my symptoms. I was also pretty bitter that there wasn’t some magical trauma tour guide who could pop out of nowhere, like a weird fairy godmother or a genie, and point me in the right direction for my healing.

I eventually decided that I would just have to get better so that I could be that person for everyone else. And I guess that’s kind of what I did. I focused my Master’s degree on trauma for first responders (a topic very close to my heart) as well as martial arts and female sexual assault survivors (also close to my heart). I did a lot of training on various trauma treatments and trauma-informed care. And I did my own healing through therapy and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I know firsthand what it is like to sit on that side of the counselling equation, so I can relate to what my clients are bringing into the room when we work on trauma. That seems to be what helps people the most in our work- sometimes, you just need someone who has been there and gets it.

Kaitlyn Toneguzzi

Daily Life

When I’m not kicking around the office, you can usually find me doing the things I love most — hanging out with my pets — Ambush and Cooper, doing jiu-jitsu or swimming, or spending time outdoors. You will probably also find me bopping around different local restaurants as I attempt to find the best spinach dip and chicken fingers. I am a self-proclaimed Westfort Lifer and I probably swear too much as a result. I show up to my sessions the same way I show up everywhere else — what you see is what you get. I am always very grateful when people show up here the exact same way.

Are You Ready For Therapy?

Book A Counselling Appointment

I believe in the resilience and strength within every individual. Through personalized counselling sessions, I will help you build the skills and confidence to navigate life’s toughest challenges. Start laying the groundwork for real change now, because while life is tough, so are you.