About Julian
Julian Waithe has 12+ years of experience as a Registered Social Worker (RSW), under the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Julian is trauma focused and has extensive experience helping people improve their daily functioning, relationships, and coping skills. He is passionate about supporting those who have been struggling with anxiety, ADHD, depression, relationship conflict, and many other mood related disorders from a Cognitive Behavioural and Dialectical Behavioural treatment lens.
Becoming a therapist
Honestly, mental health has always been my thing. I've been doing this for over ten years now, and the belief I started with is still the one I hold today: talking heals. Every day I’m reminded that having a real dialogue with someone actually makes them feel better, and sometimes it can be that simple.
When in session, or even just hanging out with friends, I often like to ask people, when's the last time someone listened to you for more than ten minutes? Like, really listened. I asked my own partner this once, and she had to think about it and said, "I don't know." That kind of says it all. Therapy gives you a safe place to just put all your cards on the table with someone, and that's really what pulled me into this and what's kept me here.
Starting my own practice
When you go out on your own as a therapist, you're on your own island. That's just the truth of it, and it can be scary and a lot to handle. When I first started out, what mattered most to me, and still does, is giving people genuinely high-quality care, and making sure I had good people around me to support that.
There's something amazing about finally having control over who you work with and actually finding the right fit, both for you and for them. Companies like Layla are so great because they take care of fit-alignment legwork upfront, matching people by values, style, approach, and preferences, so what comes after that is just easier.
Lessons learned from my clients
It's an honor to hear the story of every single person I sit with. I try not to take that for granted, ever. And here's the thing people don't expect: your clients teach you just as much as you teach them. Not long ago I had a parent I was working with tell me about doing a phone detox. They half-jokingly asked me what my actual return on investment was for all the time I spend on my phone, and it turns out, pretty low. They were like, why not read a book instead, go to the library? And honestly, they're right, we forget there are all these rituals we used to have that we just don't do anymore.
So yeah, I learn a lot from my clients. Coping strategies, little rituals, even stuff like acupuncture. I often take their tips home to try it myself and end up loving them half the time. That's the thrilling part of this job to me, it's a real two-way relationship. I get to challenge my clients and give them new perspectives, and they hand me new ones right back.”
A moment that stuck with me
Not too long ago I reconnected with a former client I hadn't heard from in a couple of years. When I first started with them, they were dealing with mild depression and anxiety and could barely get themselves out of the house. They told me they'd gone to another country, lived and worked there for a while, came back, and accomplished a major fitness competition. I was floored when they shared these amazing updates and I asked what got them into training for this and their response was,"you did."
That's the part of this job that gets me every time. You hand someone a little kindling and you honestly have no idea what they'll do with it. Sometimes you don't find out for two or three years, but then one day you may see them again and they're doing better. That’s just so satisfying. It really does feel good to be supporting people on their journey to better mental health.
Getting started with therapy
Starting therapy is a way of investing in yourself and your well-being. We all go through challenging moments and seasons in life, and therapy can offer a space to better understand ourselves, work through what we’re experiencing, and build the resilience and tools to feel more grounded along the way.
My Key Takeaways
Whether you’re a client or a therapist, having the right people around you matters. I’ve learned how important it is to feel supported, understood, and connected to people who share your values. When that foundation is there, meaningful work can happen.
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