Our Mission
Did you know your heart has its own “brain”? Within your heart are about 40,000 neurons that can sense, process information, and even hold emotional memories. These heart neurons communicate constantly with your brain through the vagus nerve, shaping how you feel, think, and respond to stress. In psychotherapy—especially somatic and polyvagal-informed approaches—you can learn to tune into your heart’s wisdom and signals. By bringing mindful awareness, gentle breathing, and compassion to what your heart is holding, you can release emotional pain, calm your nervous system, and begin to heal from the inside out—restoring harmony between your mind, body, and heart.
Karen McKenna-Quayle
DSW, B.A., B.Ed., MACP
Psychotherapy
Accepting clients virtually across Canada
Karen is a compassionate, heart-centred therapist focused on evidence-based therapeutic techniques.
Karen is trauma-informed and an ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP). Additionally, she is certified in and integrates aspects of Mindfulness, CBT, ACT, DBT, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique, Non-Violent Communication, Sex Therapy, Polyvagal and Somatic interventions. She is also a trained Levels 1 and 2 Collaborative Family Professional and can support with co-parenting, separation, and divorce.
As a neurodiverse clinician, former Autism Consultant, and Special Education Resource Teacher, Karen has a unique understanding of ADHD and related conditions. With two decades of related experience and counselling, along with lived experience with ADHD, she can help you connect with the resources and solutions that work for your life.
Together, we can restore your confidence, health, academic or career fulfilment, and relationship satisfaction. We will work collaboratively on your personal goals, using a strengths-based approach to build on your existing skills.
Training & Accreditations
- ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider
- Changing the ADHD Brain: Moving Beyond Medication
- ADHD in Children and Adolescents: Advances in Diagnosis, Treatment and Management
- Rethinking ADHD: A New Treatment Approach
- Psychopharmacology: Essential Updates for Mental Health Professionals
- Adult ADHD: Targeting Executive Skills to Manage ADHD in Adults
- ADHD, Relationships, and Sex: Strategies to Overcome the Over/Underfunctioner Dynamic
- Extended Adolescence-When 25 Looks More Like 18: Clinical Strategies for Clients Struggling to Meet the Demands of Adulthood
- Walk and Talk Therapy Training Course
- AI in Therapy: Navigating the Future of Mental Health
- The Wounded Healer
- Navigating Boundaries, Countertransference and Self-Disclosure: Top Ethical Challenges in Clinical Practice
- ASIST Workshop in Suicide First Aid
- 2024 CCPA Annual Conference-Navigating Trauma, Finding Connection (3-day)
- 2025 CCPA Annual Conference (3-day)
- CBT Strategies for Kids and Adolescents: Supporting Students with ADHD and Anxiety
- Identifying and Treating the 1 in 5 Students with ADHD and Learning Disabilities who are Returning to School Misdiagnosed and Misunderstood
- Unlocking the Mystery of Chronic Pain: A Collaborative Approach to Understand Managing Chronic Pain
- CG. Jung, WB Yeats and the Anima Mundi
- The Embodied Therapist: Polyvagal Informed Somatic Techniques in Action
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Therapy
- Clinical Applications of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for Anxiety
- Sex Therapy: Core Skills for Clinicians
- Levels 1 and 2 Collaborative Family Professional
- Power Imbalances and Domestic Violence Screening
Award Winning Psychotherapist
Trained and experienced in eclectic approaches to support your unique needs.
Accreditations:
- Member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
- Member of Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals
- Member of the Ontario College of Teachers
- Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association; Winner of 2025 CCPA Student Representative Award
Education:
- Developmental Services Worker Diploma
- B.A. Disability Studies, Minor in Family Support & Community Practice
- B.Ed; Special Education Specialist, Guidance, Law and other Qualifications
- Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
How It Began
Heart Centre Psychotherapy started from lived experience and a personal passion for providing holistic and client-centered care. Recognizing the need for a compassionate, heart-centred approach, I established an accessible space where understanding, clinical expertise and personalized support are at the forefront of each interaction.
Your Well-being Matters
At Heart Centre Psychotherapy, the focus is entirely on your healing journey. I am dedicated to understanding your unique story and offering compassionate support that helps you navigate life's challenges with confidence and clarity.