Renée Willis: Freed & On Fire

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Renée Willis: Freed & On Fire Trauma‑informed counselling that gives you direction, clarity, and steady support. In our first session, you can expect a space where you matter.

You’ll feel understood, equipped with practical tools, and confident in the changes you’re making—whether you’re in my London, Ontario space or on your favorite couch. Life can feel overwhelming, confusing, or heavy — and sometimes the hardest part is trying to carry it all alone. My work is grounded in the belief that what feels unmanageable can become manageable, and that healing begins the moment you feel seen, safe, and understood. I help people create a calmer internal world so they can build healthier relationships, experience secure attachment, and live with more confidence and ease. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, trauma, PTSD, C-PTSD, relationship patterns, or simply feeling stuck, you don’t have to do it by yourself. I’ll be continually attuning to you — validating your emotions, normalizing your human experience, and helping you feel safe enough to share at your own pace. I bring gentle education and practical tools to empower you, spark hope, and help you understand what’s happening inside you. Together, we’ll work toward a life that feels steadier, healthier, and more connected. My approach is warm, relational, trauma‑informed, and grounded in attachment science. I believe deeply in the possibility of change — and in your capacity to experience relationships where you feel loved well, supported, and secure. If you’re ready to begin, I’d be honoured to walk with you. Based in London, Ontario, Canada you will find me with the love of my life, holding her hand constantly, finding better ways to love each other well, looking for more live music and buying their t-shirts because we believe that little things add up to big things. Renée Willis, OCT, MS-Ed., CCP., CPT., PICP Bio-Signature

Owner and Founder of Freed And On Fire Counselling

10/10/2026

Most arguments are not about what happened. They are about which of two true things gets to be the real one. They did not mean it, and it still hurt. Both are facts. But the conversation runs as though admitting the first cancels the second, so one person defends their intention while the other defends their injury, and neither is arguing with anything the other actually said. Nothing gets resolved because nothing was in dispute. Two things were true and the room only had room for one.

10/10/2026

It's Canadian Thanksgiving! Remember life is a mix bag of emotions. It's ok to be a happy, sad, lonely, & a connected human

Send a message to learn more

Personal truth: I recall being on the phone with a wonderful therapist I had serveral years ago, raising her voice telli...
10/10/2026

Personal truth: I recall being on the phone with a wonderful therapist I had serveral years ago, raising her voice telling me, 'Renee, you need to take your hands off the burners'. In short when we touch the burner we will get burn. Yet it is built in to us that our parent will love us, so we keep going back hoping only to get burned again and again.

Another truth: I had another therapist tell me, 'There is nothing you can do for them that will make them feel better, it will only make you feel worst'.

So I know which is why I have been here to help you feel seen and to measure your pain, as you need and deserve.

And we need to pause in this truth, linger in it, to respect the lack, the neglect and the abuse which is a pain that can't be understood that speaks loudly within in, forever and ever to varying degrees. We have to do the hard work to get into our neurological program and learn new ways to change that program that 'we are not loveable', to we are loveable and learn how to create secure attachment, and know our needs and get those needs met in healthy ways, to stop people pleasing, dismissing our needs and pushing our pain inward. It is one part grieving, and another part of learning things we never knew because we never felt healthy love before. Yet we can. And it's most beautiful.

Warmth, clarity and you always,
Renee Willis

One of the ways childhood abuse primes us for abusive or unhealthy relationships in the future is that it normalizes staying in relationships with people who are abusive or unhealthy. Instead of accepting it isn't working and leaving we try to change ourselves, our approach, how we ask etc.

Unfortunately as kids we have very little power and that sense of powerlessness can stick. As an adult finding your power and agency is a part of healing and recovery.
Healthy relationships are healing.

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Of course some people do not want to hear this because it makes them really uncomfortable. Quick fact there about people...
10/09/2026

Of course some people do not want to hear this because it makes them really uncomfortable.

Quick fact there about people that gaslight or get defensive: they had a childhood where they in ways were told that they were 'bad' which is forms of shaming, or abuse. So when they are held accountable as an adult, they get defensive because they believe they are being attacked and the mind interprets it as a 911. They are 'fighting' to defend that they are not bad, because they are not regulated and also they believe they are bad because that is the program in their head, as a result of earlier programming as a child. It's complex which is why many that do so have complex post traumatic stress disorder.

However, as sad as that is for that person, it is their responsibility to learn how to heal so that their pain behavior does not do harm to others.

Warmth, clarity and you always,
Renee Willis

People don’t wanna hear this

10/09/2026

Some people will tell you that you are so strong, or that you are the strongest person that they know. And it is meant as a compliment. Inside though is a voice that is unspoken, saying, 'I don't want to be strong. I have no choice but to be strong. I hate being told I am strong. I just want to rest, and to be cared for by others'. Yet others do not know what it is like to be you, having to press on, cut off listening to the body telling you to stop and wearing masks constantly because people need you to be strong.

Warmth, clarity and you always,
Renee Willis

10/08/2026

Things NOT to say to someone that is grieving. They may not let you know, but if you say these things, they feel instant rage and for a great reason!

Warmth, clarity and you always,
Renee Willis

Which is why it's called complex post traumatic stress disorder, which is known as a brain injury. There are so many tho...
10/08/2026

Which is why it's called complex post traumatic stress disorder, which is known as a brain injury. There are so many thoughts that happen all at the same time that often compete and have no resolve, only fear traps.

Warmth, clarity and you always,
Renee Willis

People with childhood trauma are often very much used to living in stress and chaos which becomes a familiar feeling to them. This can lead to challenges in recognizing and navigating healthy, non-stressful environments, as they may find it difficult to adapt to calmness and stability.

They may unconsciously gravitate towards the familiar chaos because it feels safer and more predictable than venturing into the unknown calmness where they might have to confront their emotions and past experiences.

That's why starting your healing journey, addressing your emotions and allowing to navigate through them and release them is very important.

Quote and Image: (on Instagram)

In short, gossiping is unhealthy! But did you know that when people gossip they are trying to get a need met? It's unhea...
10/07/2026

In short, gossiping is unhealthy! But did you know that when people gossip they are trying to get a need met? It's unhealthy of course to gossip yet the root need they are trying to get is human intimacy! And we all need connection to be healthy. So what can we do? If it is about another person, only discuss possible ways to help them. Though know you can get intimacy with someone by talking about yourself, your struggles and asking them, 'how is your heart doing?'

Go to the deep within and go to the deep within another because we all have stuff and yet we feel lonely with our stuff because we need another to hear about our stuff and hold our heart as we share. Yet most people screw that up where we shut down, and do not share because it feels scary to share.

Process improvement!

Warmth, clarity and you always,
Renee Willis

I can't say that I know this will work, though I am going to give it a try on! And let me know if it works for you! I th...
10/07/2026

I can't say that I know this will work, though I am going to give it a try on! And let me know if it works for you!

I think I will giggle to talk about myself out loud in the 3rd person and I do know giggling will be a form of self regulation, to get back to our wise mind, where we can have clarity about things and then agency to do what we need to do about the things.

Warmth, clarity and you always,
Renee Willis

Case Kenny

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Trauma-Informed Counselling For Adults. In Person And Virtual Options
London, ON
N6K4W6

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