You must do the thing that you think you cannot do.

― Eleanor Roosevelt

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I have not failed I have just found 10,000 things that do not work.

-Thomas Edison

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Courage doesn't happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding.

-Shannon L. Alder

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Why Connecting Stars?

Leigh-Ann Brunke is owner and founder of Connecting Stars, that offers over 10 years of highly experienced and dedicated staff for providing treatment for anxiety, stress, depression, anger, and relationship concerns. Effective treatment approaches are based on evidence based research to help clients reach their desired change. Working together with clients, meaningful strategies will be utilized to understand present challenges while facilitating effective coping strategies to change problematic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

Leigh-Ann Brunke, MC, RP, C.Hyp, BA, BSS is a registered psychotherapist and is a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Additionally, Leigh-Ann is a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and is a Certified Canadian Counsellor. Leigh-Ann is certified in clinical hypnosis and EMDR (eye movement and desensitization and reprocessing) to help clients address past trauma and negative memories.

About Us

I am a passionate and experienced counsellor specializing in the treatment of anxiety, depression and self-esteem issues. My post-masters experience concentrates on working alongside individuals, families, and couples while also concentrating on Men's Anger Management and Coping with Stress through Mindfulness Groups for Women to support individuals regarding their health and wellness goals. Prior to my Masters education, I have over ten years of extensive clinical practice providing intensive behavioural interventions for children and families with challenging behaviours to improve relationship dynamics and communication. My extensive training concentrates on utilizing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Hypnosis, and EMDR.

After my complimentary introduction session, I will complete an assessment of your specific needs and I will guide you to understand your thought patterns that may be caught in the past or perhaps in the future regarding worry and fear and together we will work towards positive change. I will create a safe and supportive environment so you may feel comfortable to openly and honestly discuss your feelings and concerns. Privacy is ensured, as a private exit is separate from the entrance. Please contact me today for a complimentary phone consultation to begin your personal journey to wellness and happiness.

Leigh-Ann Brunke is a registered member of:

verified by Psychology Today

EMDR

If you have experienced a trauma that comes with a disturbing memory, negative images, personal negative beliefs perhaps about yourself and/or others, and negative emotions, EMDR will help all these variables to become less vivid and less valid. The negative memory will be restored into an adaptive, healthy, and nondistressing memory. Shapiro (2011) outlined research that illustrated rapid improvements for individuals with PTSD when utilizing EMDR.

EMDR was developed in 1987 and the purpose is to help liberate clients from their memories of trauma in the past into a healthy and productive present. "The goal of EMDR treatment is to rapidly metabolize the dysfunctional residue from the past and transform it into something useful" (Shapiro, 2001, p xiv). EMDR has proved to be highly successful in the treatment of major trauma as Shapiro notes that when a negative memory has been sufficiently processed, we remember it but do not experience the old memories or sensations of that memory. Thus, we are informed by our memories, not controlled by them (Shapiro, 2001).

BUILD important developmental skills

One on One attention is critical to suceeding.

Our Services

We provide a wide array of services for you..

Individual, Couple, and Family Counselling

We provide a safe and supportive environment for counselling services for individuals, couples, and families. “If you have a dream, don’t just sit there. Gather courage to believe that you can succeed and leave no stone unturned to make it a reality.” ― Roopleen. Our counselling services provide a safe channel to explore your current feelings to help you feel better.

The treatment approaches selected are based on effective research evidence. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a method to help clients take an active role in bringing desired changes through working actively with the counsellor to understand unhelpful thoughts and to bring about change in problem patterns regarding thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. We provide support for depression, anxiety, insomnia, stress, low self-confidence, domestic violence, and anger.

Individual Counselling

Therapeutic support for depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma.

Family Counselling

Family support to improve communication and love.

Stress Reduction

Mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation to improve your mood each session.

Couples Counselling

Support to discuss relationship challenges and strategies improve communication.

Psychoeducation

Learning about your brain and chemistry to make real life changes.

Communication Skills

Techniques to improve your relationships at home and at work through positive and assertive communication.

Our Process

Call or email us today to arrange a free consult

1

MEET

2

PLAN

3

SCHEDULE

4

GROW

5

GENERALIZE

6

CLOSURE

Hypnosis

Here to help you succeed

Clients who seek hypnosis benefit from this excellent tool that is used for a broad range of situations and disorders and can be used, but not limited to: anxiety, phobias, ego-strengthening, preparation for flights, sleep disorders, childbirth, emotional disorders, sexual dysfunctions, and smoking and other habit disorders.

Hypnosis may be used in each session if desired by the client and is an excellent treatment technique to facilitate relaxation.

Our Skills

Men's Anger management skills training
100%
Counselling for individuals, Families, Couples
100%
Supporting Client to Feel Empowered
100%
Building Confidence for Relationships and at Work
100%

Our History

Since 2004, we have been providing Behavioral Therapy support to children and families. That amounts to thousands of hours of qualified experience and rapport building in the community.

In 2005, Connecting Stars was founded. Connecting Stars has successfully evolved from helping children and families, to supporting individuals who are looking to build confidence, resilience, and strength via CBT, EMDR, and mindfulness training.

From 2012 to 2015, we provided free social Skills classes for children with Autism at the Richmond Hill Library and continue to provide psychoeducation workshops in the community pro bono.

In 2015, Connecting Stars celebrated it's 10th Year anniversary!

Faqs

Leigh-Ann is supervised by a Registered Psychologist and can provide clinical services under most insurance plans. Psychotherapy ranges from $140.00 to $180.00 for a 60 minute session.
Individuals, couples, families and children can Benefit from counselling services to foster self-esteem, confidence, and healthy Communication strategies.

Research Findings

Connecting stars is dedicated to providing psychotherapy and counselling services to help individuals grow and reach their inner potential.
Did you know:

After 6 sessions using EMDR, 100% of single-trauma victims were no longer diagnosed with PTSD.

(HMO Kaiser Permanente)

The number of studies used to illustrate that those who use counselling feel better than the 75% of people who do not.

(Hazzard, 1995)

Successful Years completed!
Years of University Training to obtain a masters in counselling psychology, and two simultaneous undergraduate degrees in honours psychology and criminology.

S.R.

Happy Client

Since Leigh Ann has started working with our son, he has made amazing progress. We have seen improvements in his eye contact, body language, communication, and social skills. Leigh Ann makes learning fun and she is very skilled at using natural environment teaching. She also works hard to find the most effective teaching methods to meet our son's unique learning style. Our son always enjoys his sessions and is he is eager participate. We are so happy that Leigh Ann is part of our lives and with her help we are very optimistic about the future for our son.

Mr. and Mrs. K

Grateful Client

Over the past year, Leigh-Ann has been instrumental in our son's development. Our son has made tremendous gains in his academic as well as his social areas. It is obvious after meeting her, that Leigh-Ann is a genuinely compassionate teacher who has our son's best interests at heart and at the same time is knowledgeable enough to ensure that the proper plans are in place to allow our son to flourish. We are grateful to have found a teacher like Leigh-Ann and our son always has a smile on his face when he sees her, confirming that we have made the right decision.

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Get in Touch

There is no better time than the present to get in touch with us and start your sessions.

Contact Info

Leigh-Ann Brunke
MC, RP, C. Hyp, BA, BSS
5762 Highway 7 East, Suite 208
Markham, Ont, L3P 1A8
647-295-9906
info@connectingstars.ca