My approach is designed to provide what conventional Mental Healthcare often overlooks >>
compassionate care that considers the full spectrum of the human experience.
Welcome, I’m Suse Silva.
Over the years, clients have given me many names: healer, shaman, spiritual mentor, life saver, but what I truly am is a teacher at heart.
I show you how to quiet the outside noise, get clear on where you are going, and help you process and release what is keeping you stuck.
I’ve walked through my own initiations and gathered a wealth of wisdom, training, and embodied understanding that now inform the way I support others.
The people I work with arrive at a threshold moment: after a mental health crisis or diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, a breakup, a major transition, or a deep inner knowing that life can’t continue as it has.
They’re ready to stop merely coping and begin reclaiming their power, restoring their nervous system, and move forward with clarity, compassion, and purpose.
offering support
both
in-person
and online
I am a first-generation immigrant of Azorean Portuguese descent, living on the unceded and treaty lands of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations, in what is now called Baltimore, Ontario.
With deep gratitude, I acknowledge the Williams Treaties First Nations as the original stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters. Through learning and unlearning, practice, teaching, and daily actions, I strive to honour and respect these lands, Indigenous lineages, and all who walk the path of truth and right relations.
I have been dedicated to my craft for over a decade and I continue to educate, support, and hold nurturing spaces that inspire people to be themselves, heal, explore, grow and have fun! The work we do together is rooted in a collaborative, anti-oppressive, justice-oriented, and non-carceral approach. All taught through a yogic lens.
I've had the privilege of walking alongside individuals during profound life transitions, through times of trauma, grief, mental health struggles, spiritual awakening, substance misuse, pregnancy, parenting, marital struggles and cancer recovery.
Some of the most rewarding opportunities came from:
facilitating trauma-informed yoga at Bellwoods Health Services to veterans and first responders in recovery from PTSD and addictions
leading corporate wellness seminars for Lindt & Sprungli Canada Inc., Vibrant Healthcare Alliance, Benefit Cosmetics, Toronto Zoo, Hudson’s Bay Foundation, Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Greentank Technologies, Mount Sinai, WSIB Ontario, Edward Jones Investing, Shoppers Drug Mart
facilitating trauma-informed yoga at Fred Victor’s Transitional Housing
co-facilitating Eddy Tony’s Sacred Medicine Ceremonies and Pachamama Retreats
“IT HAS BEEN A TRUE PLEASURE TO RECEIVE COACHING AND GUIDANCE FROM SUSE
She has a calm nurturing approach and really listens - creating a safe space to be open about mental health challenges.
With her encouragement I have been able to expand into my own true passion for helping others through yoga, meditation, and sound healing. She gave me the gentle push forward I needed to overcome my anxiety and go for it!
I will always have so much gratitude for Suse.”
— KELLY MARRIN
Why supporting others on their healing journey became my mission
In 2010, I experienced PTSD as a direct result of Ontario’s mental health“care” system. I went seeking understanding, support and care but instead I was locked up in a hospital for seven days, forced medications and received nothing more than a ‘diagnosis’ and a prescription. I was left to figure out what had happened to me on my own.
It quickly became clear that true healing required more than medication and symptom management. This sparked my curiosity to look outside of the western biomedical model (that had failed me) and explore alternative methods which led me to Yoga, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Wisdom Traditions.
These practices not only supported my own recovery but transformed my understanding of what true healing requires within the field of mental health.
They continue to shape the evolution of my work, guiding what I create, how I serve, and the deeper change I’m here to lead.
“I finally felt 100% completely in tune with my body.
As someone who experiences visualizations through my third eye, Suse’s carefully crafted playlist and guidance had me experiencing messages and visualizations through my heart and body.
It was powerful and I was crying in deep gratitude for having the support to reach this pivotal moment after 3 years of self development, growth, and cultivating a deeper and more grounded sense of self trust.”
—ASH ANTHONY
MY CREDENTIALS
Education, Certifications & Personal Practices that inform the work that I do
Bachelors of Fine Arts, Visual Arts, Honours Degree from York University
Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum Certification with The Institution of Developmental Human Arts (IDHA)
100hr YogaFit for Warriors (trauma-Informed yoga) YTT Certification (Shaye Molendyke & Kristy Manuel): Neuroscience understanding of the psychological and physiological effects of movement, breathwork and meditation; the nuances of yoga for mental health, PTSD, addictions and recovery, emotional and physical trauma
200hr Hatha Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) Certification with YogaFit (Lisa Greenbaum, Joy Keller, Terra Nicole, Taj Harris, Paul Galloro) Specialties - Pre/Post Natal, Seniors, Props, Indo Board
Mindfulness Meditation YTT Certification with YogaFit (Paul Galloro)
Ayurveda YTT Certification with YogaFit (Tracy Jennings-Hill)
Healthcare 1: Assessing the Physical Body YTT Certification with YogaFit (Terra Nicole & Joy Keller)
Art of Rest (restorative yoga) YTT Certification with Scott Davis: combining Restorative Yoga principles through a Traditional Chinese Medicine lens, Qi Gong, Lymphatic Massage, Meridian Tapping Therapy
Foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine Certification with Scott Davis
Tao Healing Hands (soul level energy healing) Practitioner Certification with Next Level Tao, Transmissions by Francisco Quintero, Alexia Cito & Vanessa Ferraro
Advanced Tao Healing Hands Practitioner Certification with Dr. Master Zhi Gang Sha, David Lusch & Ximena Gavino
Somatic Breathwork Facilitator Certification with Eddy Tony
Vipassana Meditation with S.N. Goenka
Formal Dance Training (jazz, contemporary, hip-hop) with Dance Extreme
Formal Visual Arts Training (drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, animation, film, photography) with BealArt
Thai Yoga Massage with Navina
Irest Yoga Nidra with Dr. Richard Miller
Axis Syllabus with Ruth Douthwright
Pilates & Somatic Movement with Lisa Messina
Qi Gong with Ali Stark
Qi Gong with Mimi Kuo-Deemer
Integrative Holistic Psychotherapy with Amy Manusow
Lunar Magic, Mysticism & Tarot with Sarah Faith Gottesdiener
Ancestral Healing with Sacred Ancestry
Crystal Healing & Kundalini Yoga with Kyle Gray
Indigenous Wisdom with Asha Frost
Spiritual Mentorship with blksoltheory
Spiritual Mentorship with Copper Lighthouse
Reiki with raiseurvibe
Acupuncture with Zackary Owen
Fighting Monkey and Creative Movement with Elke Schroeder
Kundalini Yoga with Harmanjot Kaur
Cold Exposure Therapy with Breathing in Nature
Holistic Nutrition for Mental Health with Nutrition with Angela
Functional Movement
Ecstatic Dance
Buddhist Philosophy
Jungian Psychology
Transpersonal Psychology
Trauma, Somatic Healing and Nervous System study with Peter Levine, Bessel van der Kolk, Stephen Porges
Taoist Philosophy
Earth-Based Spirituality
Sensory Deprivation (Float)