Sonja Benson, Ph.D., Registered Psychologist
Dr. Sonja Benson is a registered psychologist with more than two decades of experience supporting couples, families and individuals through relationship and life transitions. She holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota, where she also completed additional education in family social sciences. Her early research examined how parents’ relationship satisfaction and conflict shape their adult children’s relational patterns, earning awards from both the University of Minnesota and the American Psychological Association.
Dr. Benson’s clinical work focuses on couples therapy, family dynamics, ADHD‑related relationship challenges and emotional patterns that keep people feeling stuck. Her background also includes extensive experience in career development and executive and personal coaching.
A significant part of Dr. Benson’s practice involves helping couples navigate the unique stressors that arise when one or both partners have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She supports partners in moving out of parent–child dynamics, rebuilding trust and developing communication patterns that feel respectful and sustainable. She has a strong belief that people can be resilient both within and outside of relationships. Her approach is collaborative and active: she offers clear guidance, practical strategies and space for honest feedback so therapy remains responsive to each couple’s needs.
Dr. Benson has taught and trained widely throughout her career, including university‑level psychology courses and workplace wellness and career development workshops within Fortune 500 companies. She is certified in clinical hypnosis through the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and has co‑authored two books on hypnotic techniques, along with journal articles on relationship satisfaction and hypnosis.
Across all her work, Dr. Benson is committed to helping clients strengthen their relationships, reconnect with their resilience and move toward the personal and relational growth they value most. She brings warmth, clarity and deep respect for each client’s goals, working collaboratively to create meaningful and lasting change.
At CRUX, Dr. Benson provides individual therapy, couples therapy and assessment services online through easy-to-use technologies like Zoom. She works with adolescents (14 to 18 years of age) and adults (19 years of age or older). Dr. Benson is a licensed psychologist registered with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology. Psychologists who are fully registered in other Canadian jurisdictions (such as Nova Scotia) can provide online services to residents of other provinces. Dr. Benson works with clients from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. For a copy of Dr. Benson’s CV, click here.