I'm Lila Knighton (MA, MSW, RSW), a London-based therapist and Social Worker with nearly 20 years experience in the mental health field.
My approach as a therapist is grounded in a contemporary psychoanalytic understanding of the therapeutic process — one that honours the complexity of each person’s inner world, and the relationship we build together in therapy.
I hold a Master of Social Work with a specialization in mental health from the University of Toronto, as well as earlier undergraduate and graduate degrees in Women’s Studies and Theory and Criticism from the University of Western Ontario. I’ve done advanced clinical training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy through the Toronto Psychoanalytic Society. My work is integrative, and informed by relational, anti-oppressive, LGBTQIA+and neuro-affirming frameworks that centre curiosity, care, and the wisdom people bring to their own lives.
Over the years, I’ve deepened my clinical knowledge through study in areas such as neurodiversity, attachment, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed care. I selectively draw on tools and ideas from third-wave cognitive behavioural therapies, including ACT, DBT, I-CBT, and Metacognitive Therapy, as well as from Polyvagal Theory and mindfulness. I’ve also done additional training and teaching on the intersections of mental health, neurotype, and the menopause transition.
I have a particular interest in the adult experience of Autism and ADHD — especially for those identified later in life — informed by both professional study and lived experience. I’m also drawn to the parenting journeys of those raising neurodivergent children, including those who are demand sensitive or whose support needs don’t fit neatly into existing systems.
Since 2022 I’ve offered individual and small group supervision to fellow clinicians who are looking to deepen their capacity for neuro-affirming practice. This work has been both a space for sharing knowledge and a continued source of learning and growth in my own clinical work.
My practice is collaborative and allows space for both reflection and action. I aim to offer a therapeutic experience grounded in curiosity, compassion, and a shared drive to figure out what works. I want my clients to feel met, not managed, and to discover that meaningful change can coexist with deep self-acceptance.