Tanis Leach

(Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW), EMDR Therapist)

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    Tanis Leach

    Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW), EMDR Therapist

    Speaks:

    • English

    Areas of Practice:

    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Addictions
    • Trauma
    • Relationships
    • Family conflict
    • Couples counselling
    • Life transitions
    • PTSD
    • Behavioural and/or Substance Addictions
    • Complex Trauma (C-PTSD)
    • Attachment & Relational Trauma

    Therapist Location

    • Ontario, Manitoba, and Non-Regulated Provinces (Virtual)

    Currently Accepting Clients


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    Expertise

    I am a Registered Social Worker trained in EMDR with over two decades of clinical experience and over 25 years of combined leadership, counselling, and community-based care.

    My practice is grounded in trauma-informed and attachment-focused therapy. I primarily support individuals navigating complex trauma, including veterans and first responders, as well as those working through moral injury, relational injury, anxiety, depression, and long-standing emotional patterns.
     

    Many of the people I work with are carrying experiences that have shaped how they relate — to themselves and to others. Together, we work to gently untangle those patterns, strengthen emotional regulation, and process trauma in a way that feels steady and sustainable.
     

    For clients who desire it, I also integrate faith and spirituality into the therapeutic process in a way that honours individual belief systems and lived experience.

    In addition to most insurance coverage I am an approved provider for Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB).

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    Qualifications

    Tanis Leach

    (Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW), EMDR Therapist)

    Image of Tanis Leach

    Education & Accomplishments

    • Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW), EMDR Therapist
    • Master of Social Work (MSW)
    • Specialization in Child & Family Therapy Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Registered Social Worker

    Contact

    I believe therapy works best when it feels grounded, respectful, and collaborative — a space where you do not have to carry everything alone.

    My approach is eclectic, trauma-informed, and strengths-based. I believe each person brings resilience, capacity, and insight into the room, even when it may not feel that way. Together, we build on those strengths while gently working through the experiences and patterns that have felt overwhelming or stuck.

    I draw from evidence-based modalities, integrating them thoughtfully based on your needs and goals. I move at a pace that supports nervous system safety and emotional steadiness, creating space for meaningful and lasting change.

    Approach

    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
    • Trauma-Focused Therapy
    • Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
    • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
    • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
    • Faith-Based & Spiritually Integrated Therapy
    • Attachment-Based Therapy

    Experience

    • Over 25 years of experience
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    "Your story matters. Even in deep pain, there is strength that has carried you this far. In a steady and respectful space, your experiences are honoured, your resilience is recognized, and hope is rebuilt — one step at a time."

    – Tanis Leach

    Frequently Asked Questions

    I primarily specialize in Complex Trauma (C-PTSD), PTSD, and attachment-related concerns. Much of my work focuses on individuals navigating relational injuries, moral injury, anxiety, depression, addiction, identity transitions, and long-standing emotional patterns. I also support veterans, first responders, high-performance individuals, and those who wish to integrate faith and spirituality into their therapeutic work.

    EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps people heal from trauma and emotional distress. It uses bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements, tapping, or alternating tones) to help the brain reprocess distressing or “stuck” memories. Rather than repeatedly talking through painful experiences, EMDR helps the brain naturally integrate them in a healthier way.

    Traumatic experiences can become stored in the nervous system in a way that keeps them feeling present and emotionally intense. EMDR helps the brain reprocess and store those memories so they no longer feel overwhelming. The memory itself does not disappear — but the emotional charge connected to it is reduced. Many clients describe it as “turning down the volume” on the emotional intensity of past experiences, allowing the brain to make sense of what happened and move toward healing.

    Both virtual and in-person EMDR follow the same structured, evidence-based protocol. The primary difference is how bilateral stimulation is delivered. In-person sessions may use therapist-guided hand movements, while virtual sessions may use screen-based eye movements, tapping, or alternating audio tones. Research and clinical experience show that virtual EMDR is just as effective as in-person therapy when conducted appropriately.

    Faith-based counselling is available for clients who wish to integrate their spiritual beliefs into the therapeutic process. This approach is always client-led. I do not impose faith or assume spiritual frameworks. Instead, when desired, we may draw upon your existing beliefs as a source of strength, resilience, and meaning-making in your healing journey. Faith can be an accessed strength — one we explore together in a way that respects your autonomy and lived experience.

    Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based, attachment-focused approach that helps individuals and couples better understand their emotional patterns and relational dynamics. EFT focuses on identifying core emotions beneath conflict or withdrawal, strengthening emotional connection, and fostering secure attachment.