Toni Spera

I was raised by a social worker, and some of my earliest memories were being at rallies, social justice movements, and participating in community events like soup kitchens and fundraisers for survivors of violence. I developed a passion for helping my community. As I grew, I realized we have much more power over our experience of life than we typically recognize. Helping others harness their personal power became important to me. Being a therapist allows me the honor of accompanying others on their journey to find empowerment, healing, and peace.

Recognizing that OCD can be debilitating to those afflicted with it, and that there are treatments that can result in lasting improvements and healing, made me want to be a part of this powerful work.

My other areas of specialty include LGBTQIA+ work, trauma, and substance use. I began my career working in an organization specific to LGBTQIA+ people of color, focusing on reducing health and mental health disparities. In that organization, I began to specialize in trauma-specific work. A few years later, after seeing the deep connection between addiction and these other areas, I moved into addiction and mental health work. I've spent the last five years specializing in addiction work.

Embarking on the journey of therapy takes a commitment to oneself and the process. You will not be alone in that journey, but there will be challenges and hardships along the way that we will work to overcome together.

Make a commitment to discuss the fear. Courage is not the absence of fear. Instead, courage is not letting fear control your actions. As a therapist, I know this is difficult, and fear, anxiety, and worry are often a part of the journey. Remember, you are not alone.