About Laura Gatien & Associates - Your Local Therapists in Saint John

A note from our founder

No one should have to work through their challenges alone. As a clinic we…..

Aren't afraid to piss off a few people to inspire many.

Are changing a culture around mental health by removing barriers to access, both financial and stigma.

We use a Proactive Approach to mental health. We help people to understand the mental health care system and how to navigate it. Investing in actively promoting mental health and well-being, not just intervening in times of crisis.

We Build Trust by doing what we say we are going to do and lasting beyond the government changes.

We are Non pathologizing-If you are human you will struggle. We all struggle and there is nothing wrong with you. Our mental health exists on a continuum. We move up and down and will be at different places on this continuum throughout our lives. Everyone struggles with their mental health at some point.

Our mission ↴

Let’s Start a Movement

#WeAreRealSoYouCanBeToo. Everyone struggles. We show up as we are so you can to. We are all human.

Our vision is that mental health care is valued, understood, accepted, and accessible to all people and our mission is to enhance the health and lives of all individuals, couples, and families through barrier-free and proactive mental health care services.
We created our mental health anti-stigma campaign, #WeAreRealSoYouCanBeToo to bring our vision and mission to life, to drive positive social impact and bring awareness that we all struggle (yes, every one of us)
Have you ever wondered why we at Laura Gatien & Associates have a slogan known as “We are real so you can be too?” We have it on our email signatures and on the walls within the clinic. It’s how we show up as therapists.
When I first opened my private practice in 2018, as a one woman show on Waterloo St., I learned quickly that showing up to my sessions with clients as my true, sometimes messy self led to the best connection with them. They told me I was relatable and that it felt easier to trust me because “I was real” and it reduced the power imbalance that traditionally existed between therapists and their clients.
~ Laura Gatien
We hope to encourage everyone to own and embrace their mental health struggles and be okay with opening up and talking about it. We need to recognize that you can’t always tell by looking at someone that they are struggling.
It’s important that we share our experiences and stories to help heal ourselves and others.
Let’s break mental health stigma.
We want people to feel empowered to have great mental health and we’re helping people achieve that one counselling session, one workshop and one anti-stigma message at a time!
Together, we can change the mental health game and create a movement!
Mental Health is Health.
#WeAreRealSoYouCanBeToo
There's a few things you can do to help show your support.
• Talk openly about your struggles, to normalize talking about it
• Work on recognizing someone who is struggling and lend an ear
• Be proactive. Seek out help before your struggles become catastrophic
• Display/Share/Wear the message, WE ARE REAL, and get the conversation going.