A little about me - and how I work


Warm, steady, and effective

I’m Lynne Protain, a Registered Psychotherapist (Ontario), Professional Certified Coach, and Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher.

I support women who look capable on the outside and feel stretched thin on the inside.

Many clients come to me for support with burnout and chronic stress, anxiety and overthinking, relationship strain, complex family dynamics, and women’s health and hormonal transitions.

They often describe feeling emotionally exhausted, stuck in their head, or pulled into patterns of over-responsibility in relationships.

I offer virtual and phone psychotherapy for women across Ontario and am based in Toronto.

We focus on nervous system steadiness, self-trust, and practical change that holds up in daily life and relationships.

My background also includes over 20 years in the corporate world supporting leaders and teams, which helps me understand the internal cost of sustained pressure.

I often support people navigating:

  • burnout, overwhelm, chronic stress, emotional depletion

  • anxiety, rumination, overthinking

  • people-pleasing, perfectionism, over-responsibility

  • complex family dynamics, emotionally immature caregiving, childhood emotional neglect

  • relationship strain, trust stress, repeating patterns

  • grief, identity shifts, life transitions

  • perimenopause and menopause related mood shifts, sleep disruption, nervous system sensitivity

  • chronic health challenges and the emotional toll of ongoing symptoms

Lynne Protain, Registered Psychotherapist providing virtual therapy for women in Ontario

My approach - how I work

My approach is trauma-informed and integrates parts work (IFS-informed), attachment and relational therapy, somatic awareness, and mindfulness-based practices. We pay attention to what’s happening emotionally, what your body is signalling, and the patterns that keep repeating - especially under stress and in relationships.

As a Certified MBSR teacher (Centre for Mindfulness Studies, Toronto), in the therapy room, I integrate mindfulness and somatic awareness in a practical way.

Sessions are steady and practical. We build tools you can use between sessions, and we also go deeper when needed so the underlying patterns can shift.

You can expect a mix of:

  • Parts work (IFS-informed) to reduce inner conflict, self-judgement, and protective patterns that keep you stuck

  • Attachment and relational work to strengthen boundaries, increase emotional safety, and build repair-capacity in relationships

  • Somatic support to work with anxiety, shutdown, tension, and stress responses through body-based awareness and regulation

  • Mindfulness-based practice to strengthen steadiness, clarity, and self-trust


    Over time, clients often notice they feel steadier under stress, clearer in relationships, and more able to act from what matters to them.

A brief consultation to talk about what is bringing you in, answer practical questions, and explore whether this feels like the right fit for ongoing therapy.

Next Step

Book a Free Consultation
Book a Free Consultation
Have a question first? Contact me
Have a question first? Contact me

Practical details

We work at a pace that respects capacity, especially when stress, health, sleep, or hormonal shifts have been wearing you down.

  • sessions are held virtually or by phone for clients located in Ontario

  • receipts are provided for psychotherapy services

  • the consultation is a short first step to clarify fit, what you want support with, and next steps

Education & Certifications

Credentials and training that support a trauma-informed, mindfulness-based, relational approach.

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Lynne Protain, Registered Psychotherapist enjoying time outdoors in Toronto

A little More about Me

Outside the therapy room, I’m someone who values simplicity, nature, and real connection. You’ll often find me near the water, spending time with my family and our dog, moving my body in ways that help me feel grounded, or cooking something comforting at home.

I’m naturally curious and reflective. I love learning, reading, writing, travelling, and having meaningful conversations with people I care about. That’s part of what shapes my work - I show up with presence, warmth, and a steady pace so you can feel met while we do the deeper work.

You can also explore:

I strive to create a therapeutic space where all identities, abilities, and bodies are welcomed, respected, and affirmed. My work is grounded in a body-positive, 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive framework.

  • “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

    Maya Angelou

  • “When we are looking for compassion, we need someone who is deeply rooted, is able to bend and, most of all, embraces us for our strengths and struggles.”

    Brené Brown

  • “Wellness is a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

    World Health Organization

  • "You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf"

    Jon Kabat-Zinn

  • "When the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

    Anais Nin

  • “A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not on the branch, but on its own wings. Always believe in yourself. ”

    Charlie Wardle

  • “Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own Heart. who looks outside Dreams, who looks inside Awakes."

    Carl Jung

  • “We don’t have to do it all alone. We were never meant to."

    Brené Brown