Our Team

Florina Psychotherapy is led by a multidisciplinary team committed to culturally informed, trauma-aware, and relationship-centred care. Our clinicians and leadership bring together lived experience, clinical training, and deep respect for the diverse communities we serve.

MALIGNE BRUNI

Pronunciation: ma-leen

Founder & Clinical Director

MACP, RP (Qualifying), BAHSA, LPN

Maligne has always felt a strong calling toward helping others. With over a decade of experience in nursing, she has supported individuals across hospitals, clinics, and community settings, working within specialty medicine, surgery, addictions, and eating disorders.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Maligne grew up in a multigenerational Filipino household. As a second-generation Filipino Canadian, she deeply values family and community while also understanding the quiet tension of navigating life between cultures.

Over ten years ago, during her own search for a therapist, Maligne noticed a lack of representation among mental health professionals. This experience became a driving force behind her work — inspiring Filipinos, BIPOC, and other marginalized individuals to pursue leadership and careers in mental health, while helping create therapeutic spaces where everyone feels seen, respected, and supported.

Her personal journey with self-image and an eating disorder further shaped her approach to therapy. Through her own healing, Maligne came to understand that true worth lies not in appearance, but in character, connection, and compassion. She lives by the belief: “Our greatest legacy is the way we touch the hearts of others, not the way we look.”

Today, Maligne blends clinical knowledge, lived experience, and empathy to walk alongside clients with care and intention.

Outside of work, she enjoys creating cozy spaces, exploring coffee, tea, and bubble tea spots, hiking, and spending time outdoors. She previously played soccer as a defensive player and has recently discovered a love for pickleball. She also enjoys quiet evenings at home with her dog, Romeo.

Master of Counselling Psychology (Honours)

Bachelor of Human Services Administration (Distinction)

Licensed Practical Nurse Diploma

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

Licensed Practical Nurse, College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta
Adults

Seniors

Couples

Group therapy participants
Addictions and substance use

Eating disorders and body image concerns

Grief and loss

Relationship challenges, including building healthy relationships and boundaries

Cultural identity and intergenerational experiences

Frontline worker stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue

Self-worth, self-esteem, and inner healing

Serena Muraca

Pronunciation suh-ree-nah

Associate Therapist

MACP, RP (Qualifying)

Master of Counselling Psychology

Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology (Hons)

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), College of Registered

Psychotherapists of Ontario
Children (6+)

Adolescents and teens

Young adults

Adults
Anxiety and stress

Depression and low mood

Grief and loss

Life transitions and major changes

Relationship challenges

Self-esteem and identity concerns

Emotional overwhelm

Serena has always felt drawn to helping others and to hold space, listening deeply, and walking alongside people through life’s harder moments. Her work comes from a genuine desire to support others in feeling seen, understood, and less alone. She believes healing begins when people feel safe enough to share their stories, and she considers it a privilege to be trusted with that vulnerability.

Serena’s journey into this work has been shaped by both personal and professional experiences, as well as witnessing how powerful it can be when someone finally feels heard. She is passionate about creating spaces where individuals can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and explore what they are carrying with care and compassion.

In her work, Serena strives to offer a warm, grounded, and supportive environment where clients do not need to have everything figured out. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative and gentle — a space where vulnerability and strength can coexist, and where growth unfolds at a pace that feels safe and meaningful for each person.

Outside of therapy, Serena values spending time with loved ones, staying active, and finding moments of calm that help her remain grounded. She gently encourages clients to cultivate these same grounding practices in their own lives.

Serena believes therapy is not about fixing what is broken, but about reconnecting with inner strength, making sense of lived experiences, and creating space for healing and growth. She believes that wherever someone is in their journey, they do not have to walk it alone. Serena is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and culturally sensitive space for individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Master of Counselling Psychology

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology

Registered Psychotherapist, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

Canadian Clinical Supervisor, Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

Paula has practiced as a Registered Psychotherapist for over ten years and as a Clinical Supervisor for more than five years. She is deeply passionate about supporting both clients and supervisees in living and working in ways that feel aligned, meaningful, and sustainable.

Her interest in clinical supervision is grounded in the belief that effective therapy begins with supported, reflective clinicians who feel confident in their professional identities. Paula values supervision as a space for growth, curiosity, and collaboration — where therapists can bring their full selves, questions, and uncertainties without judgment.

Her approach is guided by authenticity, openness, and mutual learning, creating an environment where both clinicians and clients can thrive.

Outside of work, Paula enjoys spending time in nature, discovering new restaurants, and exploring creative outlets such as photography, which help her stay grounded and inspired.

Florina Psychotherapy collaborates externally with Infinite Horizons Psychotherapy.

PAULA GONZALEZ

Pronunciation: Paw-luh

Clinical Supervisor & Registered Psychotherapist

MCP, CCS, RP

Masters of Counselling Psychology

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geology

Canadian Certified Counsellor, Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

Eskay believes that therapy is not primarily about technique, but about encounter. Technique provides structure; relationship provides healing. His approach is deeply relational, influenced by his mentor Irvin Yalom, who emphasized that the most important instrument brought into the room is not theoretical orientation, but the therapist’s authentic self.

He conceptualizes his work through an existential framework. Rather than searching for meaning on behalf of his clients, he engages with them in a collaborative meaning-making process. Therapy becomes a shared exploration of what it means to be human—to suffer, to love, to lose, and to choose. For Eskay, the questions often matter more than the answers. Uncertainty is not something to eliminate, but something to hold and bear together.

To support this process, he integrates a range of modalities. He draws on Narrative Therapy to help clients author new stories, Internal Family Systems (IFS) to understand and befriend their internal parts, EMDR to access and reprocess what the body holds, attachment-based work to explore relational patterns, and somatic approaches to honor the wisdom of the body. He views these modalities not as competing frameworks, but as different doors into the same room of a client’s lived experience.

In his work with therapists-in-training, Eskay creates a space where emerging clinicians can examine not only what they do in the room, but who they are in the room. Together, they explore edges, gifts, fears, and growing capacities—not as problems to fix, but as the raw material of professional and personal development.

His goal is to help therapists become more fully themselves, trusting that the authentic self, when brought consciously into the therapeutic space, is the most powerful tool they will ever have.

If one is ready to engage in this depth of work, Eskay would be honored to walk alongside them as a fellow traveler.

Eskay Ilori

Pronunciation: S-K

Educational Consultant

MACP, CCC

MATTEO BRUNI

Pronunciation: mah-tay-oh

Operations & Clinic Manager

High School Science Teacher | B.Ed., B.Sc.

Bachelor of Science — Major in Biology, Minor in Psychology

Bachelor of Education — Major in Biology, Minor in Physical Sciences

Matteo brings over eight years of experience in education, with a strong foundation in psychology that informs his approach to leadership, operations, and relationship-building. He believes that safe, supportive environments are built through trust, communication, and strong interpersonal connections.

Throughout his teaching career, Matteo has worked across the K–12 public education system, supporting students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. His work has involved close collaboration with counsellors, therapists, psychologists, and learning support teams to address students’ academic and emotional needs.

For the past five years, he has taught high school and currently facilitates General Psychology courses for Grades 10 and 11, further strengthening his understanding of mental health, development, and systems of care.

Outside of work, Matteo stays active through sports, particularly soccer, which he continues to enjoy despite past injuries. He coaches his school’s Senior Boys Soccer team, trains for marathons, and enjoys hiking, golfing, and cycling with his dog, Romeo.

Get in Touch

If you’d like to learn more about our team or explore working together, feel free to reach out directly or use the contact form below.