Hi, I’m Carrie-Lynn Adam,
I’m a registered social worker and psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience in the field and nearly 15 years as a therapist.
I specialize in somatic therapy for adults navigating medical trauma, chronic illness, trauma and PTSD, and life-altering experiences. I offer online therapy to clients across Ontario and British Columbia, as well as in-person sessions in my cozy space in downtown Whitby.
It wasn’t until I discovered somatic therapy that something began to shift in my own life. Instead of trying to think my way through difficult experiences, I started to understand what was happening in my body—learning how to work with my nervous system rather than against it. This allowed me to move through challenges with more steadiness, presence, and confidence in my ability to manage and move through my emotions.
Today, I use these same approaches to support adults who may understand what they’re experiencing cognitively but still feel stuck, overwhelmed, numb, or disconnected in their bodies. Many have tried talk therapy and are ready for something deeper than simply “talking it out.”
My work is shaped by both clinical training and lived experience with medical trauma. I understand how profoundly a medical crisis, difficult diagnosis, traumatic procedure, chronic illness, physical injury, loss, or sudden change in your body can affect your sense of safety and the way you move through the world.
You may be facing your own health crisis, supporting someone you love, or trying to understand why your body still feels as though the crisis is happening—even when part of you believes you should be able to move forward. Whatever brought you here, it can be difficult to find a space where the physical and emotional weight of what you’re carrying is genuinely understood.
This work is not about “processing and moving on.” It’s about having somewhere to land while you’re still in it. That’s the space I offer here.
If this is the kind of space you’ve been looking for, I invite you to reach out when you’re ready.
My Area of Focus
If you’re here, you’ve likely been to therapy before — you know your patterns, but you still carry stress and tension in your body. Maybe you feel stuck in fight-or-flight mode, notice chronic tension in your jaw or shoulders, or experience emotional responses that linger longer than you’d like. No matter how much deep breathing, exercise, or water you drink, your mind won’t stop racing.
If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place.
I work with individuals in their 20s to mid-40s who are high-functioning, deeply self-aware, and exhausted to their core. Some are navigating unexplored trauma, grief, caregiver burnout, or chronic or new health challenges that have shifted their identity.
My Approach
My approach blends evidence-based practice with deep intuition, warmth, and a down-to-earth style — with a touch of humour, because healing can be heavy, but it doesn’t have to feel clinical.
In our sessions, you’ll find space to slow down, get curious, and come back to yourself. We might pause to notice your breath, explore tension in your chest, or gently uncover beliefs you’ve held for a long time. Most people don’t expect to cry, laugh, or even curse a little in therapy — but that happens often here, and that’s completely welcome. This is a space to show up as you are.
I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every nervous system is different, so we go at your pace — listening to your body, creating new patterns and coping methods and finding what helps you feel more at ease in your own skin. I draw from Somatic Psychology, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Compassionate Inquiry, CBT, and DBT, blending what feels right for you.
Many people come in feeling stuck — anxious, exhausted, or disconnected from themselves and their relationships. Clients often tell me they leave our sessions with relief — less tension, a deeper sense of calm, and practical ways to soothe their nervous system on their own.
This isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about rediscovering your strength, resilience, and capacity to thrive — exactly as you are.
If you’d like to connect to see if somatic therapy is the right fit, I’d love to chat.
When I’m not in session
You can usually find me sipping a coconut latte (or two), playing board games with my two kiddos, on long hikes in the forest with my partner or snuggling my Brittany doodle, Rosie (who occasionally makes an appearance in session).
An earth sign to my core, I feel most alive on winding trails, in the mountains, or wandering through rice fields—dreaming of one day retiring in Bali. Anywhere I can sink my feet into the earth and breathe in the quiet stillness of nature is home to me. I believe in the magic of a good cry, belly laughs, and the occasional spontaneous dance break.
If you’re ready to reconnect with yourself in a way that feels gentle, supportive, and maybe even a little playful, I’d love to walk this path with you.
Let’s get reacquainted.
My credentials
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Registered Social Worker (RSW) #821218
College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
Certified Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Specialist (PMH-C)
Postpartum Support International
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Somatic Trauma Therapy certificate (2024), PESI
Gabor Mate’s Compassionate Inquiry, 240-hour certificate (2024)
Somatic Stress Release (Level 1-3) Certificate (2022), Embody Lab
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy 16- Week Certificate, (2019), PESI
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Certificate (2019), PESI
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Somatic Trauma Therapy, Peter Levine, Embody Lab (2022)
The Art of Holding, Postpartum Stress Centre (2021)
Couples Therapy (Level 1 and 2), The Gottman Institute (2021)
Emotion-Focused Therapy for Couples, PESI (2021)
Perinatal Mental Health, PSI, (2017;2021),
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety, Seleni Institute (2020)
Perinatal Infant Loss, Seleni Institute (2020)
Interpersonal Therapy, Cindy Stulberg (2019)
Healing the fragmented selves of trauma survivors, Janina Fisher (2019)
Internal Family Systems, PESI (2019)
Brainspotting, PESI (2019)
Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Hincks-Dellcrest Centre (2018)
Suicide Prevention and Intervention (2016)
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (2012)
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Master of Social Work in Health and Mental Health, University of Toronto (2012)
Bachelor of Social Work, Carleton University (2011)
Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies, University of Ottawa (2006)