Sofia Melendez, M.Ed., M.A., Ph.D., Candidate

Clinical Therapist

Sofia Melendez (they/she) is a queer and trans clinical psychology trainee hailing from Western Mexico, a land shared by the Wixárika, Coca, and Tecuexe Pueblos Originarios. She is a doctoral student at Toronto Metropolitan University who holds a Master of Arts from the same university and a Master of Education from Queen’s University.

In working with Sofia, you can expect to share a space that affirms all the interconnected parts that are important to you including your gender, race, culture, sexuality, beliefs, role in your community, and personal and community experiences. With Sofia, you will collaborate to develop a safe, non-judgemental, and accessible space to foster love for your authentic self and your communities.

Sofia may be a great fit for you if you experience any struggles with your relationship with food and your body, experience depression, anxiety, relationship issues, difficulties regulating emotions, or if you are exploring your relationship to gender identity and sexual orientation.

The approach that Sofia takes to guide therapy is grounded in evidence-based practices that engage cultural adaptations, as well as anti-oppressive ethics. She uses frameworks that involve anti-racisism, body liberation, harm reduction, disability justice, and sex/kink/polyam positivity. They also integrate various modalities to align with your needs and preferences including third wave Cognitive Behavioural Therapies like Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as Motivational Interviewing (MI).

For almost a decade, Sofia has facilitated projects that support culturally and racially diverse queer and trans people. Sofia also has experience providing individual psychological assessment and therapy for adults at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Outside of her therapy practice, Sofia can be found dancing to traditional Mexican music, learning to sew, and spending time with her familia. It would be her joy and honour to support and accompany you through your journey.