About Us
Destined for Distinction™ Psychotherapy & Coaching Services was created from a shared vision: to make compassionate, high-quality mental health care more accessible.
Founded by Lianne Gagné, Registered Psychotherapist, and Michael Small, founder of Designed for Distinction, our practice was built to remove barriers to care by offering professional psychotherapy and coaching from the comfort and privacy of your home, office, or wherever you feel most at ease. Together, we envisioned a welcoming space where seeking support feels safe, accessible, and free from judgment.
Today, that vision is carried forward by the belief that finding the right therapist or coach should never be another obstacle during a difficult time, so we have curated a carefully selected team of experienced professionals who share our values of empathy, authenticity, respect, and evidence-informed, client-centred care.
Our Story
For Lianne, psychotherapy is more than a profession, it is the culmination of a lifetime of service, education, and lived experience.
Over more than two decades, she has worked with children, youth, adults, and families in child welfare, trauma, homelessness, addictions, mental health, and corrections. Those experiences revealed the lasting impact of trauma and adversity, but also the remarkable resilience people demonstrate when they are met with compassion rather than judgment. They also highlighted a critical need for timely, accessible therapeutic support.
Inspired by both professional and lived experience, Lianne pursued advanced education in Life Coaching, Forensic Psychology and Criminology, and Psychotherapy, creating an integrated, evidence-informed approach that honours the unique experiences of every client.
The Psychology of Responsibility™
One of Lianne’s areas of specialization is The Psychology of Responsibility™, a therapeutic framework developed through years of clinical practice and observation.
Many of the people who seek therapy are the individuals everyone else depends on, caregivers, professionals, leaders, first responders, helping professionals, parents, and problem-solvers. While these roles are often admired, they can also lead to burnout, chronic stress, perfectionism, difficulty setting boundaries, and the belief that they must always hold everything together.
Through this work, clients gain insight into these lifelong patterns, reduce the hidden burden of responsibility, and develop healthier, more sustainable ways of caring for themselves while continuing to care for others. Because no one should have to carry life’s burdens alone.
Healing begins when someone truly understands the weight you’ve been carrying.
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST, LISTENER, & COLLABORATOR
Hey there, I’m Lianne
People have always fascinated me. I am naturally curious about what shapes us, how we adapt, and why we sometimes continue carrying burdens that no longer serve us. My goal is to meet you where you are with compassion, curiosity, and respect, then help you navigate toward where you want to be. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship conflict, burnout, or the lasting effects of trauma, I strive to provide a safe, supportive space where together we can explore the beliefs that limit you, challenge the fears that hold you back, and build on the strengths that have carried you this far.
One of my areas of specialization is The Psychology of Responsibility™, working with people who have spent much of their lives being the responsible one. Many of my clients are professionals, caregivers, leaders, first responders, helping professionals, and individuals who have learned to prioritize everyone else’s needs before their own. While these qualities often lead to success, they can also contribute to chronic stress, perfectionism, burnout, difficulty setting boundaries, and a persistent feeling that you must always hold everything together. Together, we work to understand where these patterns began and develop healthier, more sustainable ways of living that allow you to care for yourself with the same compassion you extend to others.
My professional journey spans more than two decades working with children and families, trauma, homelessness, addictions, mental health, and the correctional system. Throughout that time, I witnessed the profound and lasting impact of adversity, and the remarkable resilience people demonstrate when given the opportunity to heal in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. Those experiences inspired me to pursue certification as a Life Coach, followed by studies in Forensic Psychology and Criminology and a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy.
Today, I integrate evidence-informed approaches, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), attachment-based therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), psychodynamic, person-centred, and strengths-based approaches to create a therapy experience tailored to your unique needs, goals, and lived experiences.
Above all, I believe therapy is built on the relationship we create together. My hope is that you will feel heard, understood, accepted, and supported as we work toward meaningful and lasting change. If you’re looking for a warm, compassionate, and genuinely non-judgmental therapist, I invite you to reach out for a complimentary consultation to see whether we’re the right fit for your journey.
Counselling is proven to be one of the most effective strategies for helping with most mental health and interpersonal challenges.
Let us walk beside you
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
An Inclusive & Affirming Practice
At Destined for Distinction, we proudly welcome and affirm members of the LGBTQ2S+ community. We are committed to providing compassionate, culturally responsive care in a space where you can feel safe, respected, and authentically yourself.
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is situated within the traditional and treaty territory of the Mississaugas. More specifically, the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, signatories of the Gunshot Treaty of 1788 and the Williams Treaties of 1923. This land is, and will continue to be, home to the Indigenous Peoples. Let us acknowledge the mistakes and traumas of the past through authenticity and support truth and reconciliation. Let us continue towards truth and reconciliation and as we move forward with kindness and respect as a community.