About Us

About Us
SarahRose Black, Director
Meet The Team
FAQ

Whole Note Psychotherapy: A Holistic Approach to Mental Health

Whole Note Psychotherapy specializes in providing holistic, person-centered care. Our practice is committed to promoting wellness and helping you navigate life's challenges by offering a range of services that cater to your unique needs.

At Whole Note Psychotherapy, we understand that mental health issues can be complex and multifaceted. Therefore, we take a comprehensive approach to treatment by addressing the mind, body, and spirit connections that impact our overall well-being. This approach acknowledges the interconnectedness of our physical, emotional, and spiritual health and recognizes each person's unique journey towards wellness. We provide a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their feelings and experiences and receive compassionate, non-judgmental care.

SarahRose Black - Clinical Director

Headshot of Toronto based Psychotherapist and Music Therapist SarahRose Black.

Since 2013, SarahRose Black (PhD, RP, MTA) has been providing clinical care and psychotherapeutic support in a variety of settings including hospitals, hospices, long term care, and community care spaces. Connecting with individuals and creating positive, safe and compassionate therapeutic relationships is at the forefront of her approach. SarahRose has extensive experience supporting individuals living with chronic, serious, or advanced illness. She also works closely with individuals navigating anxiety and mood challenges, stress and anger management, low self-esteem, depression, relationship challenges, trauma, as well as grief and loss. As a certified music therapist with the Canadian Association of Music Therapists and registered psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, her focus is on supporting people through a combination of psychodynamic, attachment-focused, emotion-focused and mindfulness-based approaches. She received her doctorate from the University of Toronto in 2020 which included a collaborative specialization with the Institute for Life Course and Aging; her doctoral research focused on the experience of music therapy while navigating medical assistance in dying. SarahRose’s eclectic and client-centered style blends different psychotherapeutic elements and approaches in order to create a supportive and caring space for clients to explore and share their stories, thoughts, experiences, and feelings with a focus on each individual’s unique goals for therapy.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Music and Health Sciences
University of Toronto

Master of Music Therapy
Wilfrid Laurier University

Master of Arts, Music Education
University of Toronto

Bachelor of Music Education
University of Toronto

Practice Approaches

  • Attachment-Focused Therapy

  • Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Narrative Medicine

  • Mindfulness

  • Existential Psychotherapy

Affiliations

Registered Psychotherapist, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
CRPO #004085

Certified Music Therapist, Canadian Association of Music Therapists
MTA #0734

Meet the Team

SarahRose Black

Clinic Director
Registered Psychotherapist

  • Since 2013, SarahRose Black (PhD, RP, MTA) has been providing clinical care and psychotherapeutic support in a variety of settings including hospitals, hospices, long term care, and community care spaces. Connecting with individuals and creating positive, safe and compassionate therapeutic relationships is at the forefront of her approach. SarahRose has extensive experience supporting individuals living with chronic, serious, or advanced illness. She also works closely with individuals navigating anxiety and mood challenges, stress and anger management, low self-esteem, depression, relationship challenges, trauma, as well as grief and loss. As a certified music therapist with the Canadian Association of Music Therapists and registered psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, her focus is on supporting people through a combination of psychodynamic, attachment-focused, emotion-focused and mindfulness-based approaches. She received her doctorate from the University of Toronto in 2020 which included a collaborative specialization with the Institute for Life Course and Aging; her doctoral research focused on the experience of music therapy while navigating medical assistance in dying. SarahRose’s eclectic and client-centered style blends different psychotherapeutic elements and approaches in order to create a supportive and caring space for clients to explore and share their stories, thoughts, experiences, and feelings with a focus on each individual’s unique goals for therapy.

Michaela Bekenn

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Certified Music Therapist

  • Michaela Bekenn (she/her/they) is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), music therapist, certified sound therapy practitioner, yoga instructor, meditation guide, and singer-songwriter. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Master of Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University. Michaela is a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT). She is a certified facilitator of Compassion-Based Resilience Training and mindfulness for stress reduction, addiction recovery, and chronic pain. Michaela is committed to upholding an approach to care that is anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, client-centered, resource-oriented, and 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming care. Michaela brings an eclectic, intuitive, and playful essence to her practice, drawing on her extensive interdisciplinary training in theatre, music, dance, community arts, energy work, and holistic wellness. For many years, Michaela has supported individuals and groups across the lifespan, including neurodiverse youth and adults, women’s circles, elders, and corporate teams. Her music therapy and psychotherapy practice spans settings such as paediatric rehabilitation, long-term care, oncology, and palliative care. Michaela compassionately journeys alongside individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, complex grief, burnout, chronic pain, systemic oppression, low self-esteem, and relationship challenges. She is passionate for integrative approaches to health, rooted in community and anchored within a framework of social justice and collective liberation. Michaela strives to create a welcoming space for her clients of all identities to tell their stories and move toward their personal goals/hopes while feeling seen, nourished, and empowered.

Tabitha Goulet

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

  • Tabitha is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She brings a diverse professional background spanning psychotherapy, human resources, and hospitality. Her experience supporting individuals and teams through change and transition has shaped a therapeutic style grounded in empathy, curiosity, and deep respect for each person’s autonomy and inner wisdom.

    Tabitha works with adults and couples navigating stress, grief, relationship challenges, anxiety, burnout, and life transitions. She has a particular interest in supporting those coping with loss, identity shifts, and the emotional impact of career or relational changes.

    Her approach is integrative and trauma-informed, drawing on attachment theory, acceptance and commitment therapy, self-compassion, psychodynamic and mindfulness-based frameworks, as well as the Gottman Method for couples. She strives to create a collaborative and compassionate space where clients can explore patterns and reconnect with a sense of agency and meaning.

    Tabitha believes that healing begins in connection - through feeling seen, heard, and understood - and that therapy can be a space to rediscover one’s capacity for connection, choice, and growth.

Andrew Ascenzo

Clinic Manager

  • Andrew Ascenzo is a professional cellist and educator, teaching at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music and performing regularly as a freelance artist and with the Canadian Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble that he co-founded with cellist Drew Comstock in 2023.

    Andrew is the Clinic Manager at Whole Note Psychotherapy and is often the first point of contact for new clients and any customer service inquiries. He can be reached directly via e-mail at info@wholenotepsychotherapy.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No referral is required to become a client. Feel free to book a free consultation today to connect with our team, or email us anytime to learn more.

  • Everyone’s therapeutic experiences are different. Your therapist will work closely with you to determine the best approach to care, and will support you in creating goals that align with your specific needs. Each session will provide you with a safe, caring and compassionate space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and life experiences, and your therapist will support you in moving in a direction that optimizes your health and well-being.

  • Fees for a 50-minute session depend on your provider’s designation and experience. All fees are within the recommended ranges by the professional colleges of each provider (e.g., College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario).

    Our standard one-on-one psychotherapy session rate is $185. We also offer therapy at a reduced rate with trainees (Registered Psychotherapists-Qualifying Status) who are highly trained and working towards their full designation. These trainees are closely supervised by our clinic director, Dr. SarahRose Black. Please let us know if you are interested in this opportunity.

    If applicable, please check with your insurance provider regarding coverage for therapy.

  • Because Whole Note Psychotherapy is a private clinic, OHIP does not cover the cost of sessions, however many insurance providers are able to cover psychotherapy expenses.

    If you are in need of immediate assistance please call 9-1-1, or go to your nearest Emergency Room, or reach out to the Toronto Distress Centre at 416-408-4357, which is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

  • No preparation is required for your free 15-minute consultation.

    Prior to your intake session, we will e-mail you an intake form via Jane.app which will include a consent form. Please fill out your intake form to the best of your ability prior to your first session.

    You do not need to do anything specific to prepare to speak to your therapist, but you are always welcome to bring any thoughts, ideas, questions, or concerns to any of your sessions.

  • Registered Psychotherapists are registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. They have varying educational backgrounds, but most have graduate degrees in psychology, psychotherapy, creative arts, divinity, or counselling. The CRPO has their own registration requirements and all practitioners are required to complete exams on ethics and jurisprudence in addition to a number of post graduate supervised hours.

  • When you connect with us to book your first session, we will send you an intake form to fill out and sign electronically before you begin. Our detailed cancellation policy is included in this form.

    Because we reserve your session time for you, we require 24 hours’ notice for any cancellations or changes to your scheduled appointment time. Clients who provide less than 24 hours notice, or miss their appointment, will be charged a cancellation fee, which is 100% of the hourly fee.

  • We use the Jane.app for all of our clinical interactions and documentation. Jane.app is HIPAA compliant and completely secure. Our top priority is providing you with a safe, ethical, and caring experience, and our technology is designed to ensure this at all times.

“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

— Brené Brown