Dialectical Living

Recognizing the extreme need for services, Dialectical Living was formed to provide Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills and support to those in need. We would like to reduce the needless suffering for many by offering more options to acquire skills learning and support. We strive to create a safe environment to learn and grow. Our mission is to enable those who struggle with emotion regulation and their families and friends a better quality of life; as Marsha Linehan says “a life worth living”.

We are a group of individuals who are passionate about helping others and teaching and using DBT skills. Each of us have lived experience and use the skills in our own lives successfully. We are registered social workers, social service workers, addiction counselors and peer support workers professionally who are leading successful lives using DBT skills and who want to give back to the community to help bring others out of the dark into happier more fulfilling lives.

Julie Hayden, MSW, RSW, Social Worker, Executive Director

Julie is a social worker with an extensive background in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) training with Shelley McMain (UofT and CAMH) as well as with the Linehan Inst. She is also trained in facilitating family groups having completed the Family Connections DBT program with Alan Fruzetti (NEABPD). Coming from a place of truly knowing, in addition to her training, her skills as a therapist often help her client's make changes they never thought possible. Julie instills hope and courage in families of loved ones who struggle with emotion dysregulation helping families understand the disorder and find compassion in the chaos. She is also a certified yoga teacher having studied yoga for mental health and addiction. Julie is passionate about creating awareness for mental health and reducing stigma and has worked on anti-stigma campaigns and is currently working on a documentary, "Life on DBT". Julie's lived experience and her energy, passion and sense of fun interaction inspire positive change in others.

Elizabeth Osel - Peer Support Worker/Program Developer/Group Facilitator

Elizabeth is a peer support worker with deep experience in DBT, DBT for families, mindfulness, mindful self-compassion, as well as other healing modalities. She has a long-time committed daily mindfulness practice, and brings depth, knowledge, and passion to every session she facilitates. Clients are drawn to Elizabeth’s peaceful energy and her emphasis on the healing power of self-validation, gentle mindfulness, and her teaching of radical acceptance infused with self-compassion. 

Lucy Xie, MSW, RSW, Group Facilitator

Lucy is a Registered Social Worker with her BSW from University of British Columbia and MSW from University of Toronto. Lucy has experience working in mental health & addiction with specialties in operational stress injury, brain injury rehab, attachment issues, and women's mental health. She is passionate about clinical practice, research, education and advocacy around issues related to BPD and complex PTSD. She combines sound clinical knowledge with enthusiasm, humour, and radical genuineness.

Chloé Rosemarin, Social Service Worker, Peer

Chloé is a group facilitator who comes to DBT with a trauma-informed lens, as well as strong knowledge of substance use and how it intersects with emotional pain. Chloé’s been passionate about mental health education for over a decade, and has previously worked in supportive housing dedicated towards people managing their mental health and/or substance use. Chloé is known for being very straightforward which many people find helpful when they don’t know where else to turn.

Rachel Goldberg, MSW, RSW, Group Facilitator

Rachel is a registered social worker and a recent graduate of the University of Toronto’s Master of Social Work program. She is a new and enthusiastic student of DBT and a facilitator in training with Dialectical Living. Her previous work includes individual and group counselling at a family health team as well as several years of experience as a teacher in both Canada and Mexico. In addition to facilitating groups, Rachel will be designing online courses for DL—keep an eye out for these on our website! When she is not working, Rachel enjoys travelling, cooking, and teaching Spanish.