An 8-week program to support you to cope with stress through mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention, to the present moment, with acceptance. People come to the program seeking relief from family, work and financial stress, sleep disturbances, anxiety, fatigue, pain and illness. Others participate because they feel the pace of their complex lives is out of control. The program is for anyone who would like to learn to relate more consciously and compassionately to the challenges of everyday life. Next program commences May 7, 2014. You can go to www.ottawaminfulness.ca for more details.
Hosted by Sandy Williams
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Ottawa, ON K2A
Warm hello, if you are on this site for yourself or a loved one, it may be helpful to know that people seek my services for help with stress, depression, anxiety, pain, trauma, grief and loss. I value the role of humour and compassion to support personal growth and optimal well-being. I believe that life's difficulties are workable and can teach us a lot if we can lean into the discomfort, interrupting our habitual patterns of avoidance, and to relate to our pain (physical or emotional) consciously and compassionately. It is my intention to support you to maximize your inner and outer resources.
The Mindfulness-based Symptom Management Program belongs to a class of Second-Generation Mindfulness Interventions that focus on the development of mindfulness practices in the context of clarifying values that promote health and well-being. It was developed by Drs. Monteiro & Musten in Ottawa, who have provided training and mentorship to Sarah Good. Sarah has been leading this program specifically for people with persistent pain or chronic illnesses since 2015 and has witnessed past participants find joy and meaning in their lives again.
Hosted by Sarah Good
Occupational Therapist, OT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Ottawa, ON K1S
I support people living with invisible health challenges to live their lives to the fullest. If you're living with a mood issue, pain or fatigue, I'm interested in supporting you to get back to your daily life. I don't just focus on the work day! I address getting out in the community, social time, leisure, personal care, household tasks, sleep and anything else that you need or want to do with your time. As part of my treatment, I often partner with nature to support your recovery. That means we can have appointments walking and talking in a natural setting if that suits you. I can also bring mindfulness practice into our sessions.
This group aims to support survivors of motor vehicle accidents in navigating the insurance system while coping with the effects of their accidents.
Hosted by Jaden Bailey
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Ottawa, ON K2S
I am dedicated to guiding you on your personal growth and transformation journey. Together, we'll not only understand any challenges you may be facing but also work towards developing coping mechanisms and fostering resilience. Whether you're striving for self-discovery, seeking personal growth, or navigating life transitions, I provide compassionate guidance, a safe space, and practical support to help you on this empowering path.
Join our art-based therapeutic support group designed for individuals (18+) with chronic illness. In this six-week program, participants will connect through the power of creative expression. Topics and themes are chosen in collaboration, based on what resonates with their experiences. Through various art forms, participants are invited to explore these themes, gaining new insights, coping strategies, and a sense of community. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just beginning, this group offers a supportive environment where your creativity can flourish, helping you navigate the challenges of living with a chronic condition.
Hosted by Linnea Elizabeth McPhail
Registered Psychotherapist, BA, DVATI, RP
Verified Verified
Group meets in Ottawa, ON K2P
You may be struggling to hold everything together. You may feel helpless, or that no one around you understands how you are feeling. You might be easily distracted. You feel hopeless & may lack the motivation to get through even the most basic of tasks. You might feel anxious, depressed, or just blah. You may be caring for a young human who is struggling in school or at home. They may be sensitive & have a big heart but struggle to cope with their big emotions. As an Art Therapist & Death Doula, I can help folks work with difficult emotions one may be experiencing, together in a space created with safety, kindness, & compassion.
See more therapy options for Ottawa
Chronic Pain Support Groups
How does chronic pain therapy work?
Engaging with a psychotherapist to help treat chronic pain does not mean that one’s pain is all in their head. Therapy for chronic-pain patients has been shown to benefit both the mind and the body, targeting physical symptoms and increasing daily functioning. In other words, for many, addressing their emotional health through therapy affects their physical health. A therapist can help a client challenge unhelpful thoughts about pain and develop new ways to respond to it, such as distraction or calming breathing techniques. Studies have found that therapy can be as effective as surgery for certain cases of chronic pain and many doctors recommend trying psychotherapy in advance of considering invasive surgery.
What are the most effective treatment options for chronic pain?
Stress, anxiety, depression, catastrophising, ruminating, lack of activity, and social withdrawal all make chronic pain worse. Addressing these issues, research shows, can help people gain control over their pain symptoms. Therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, biofeedback, and mindfulness-based stress reduction, along with greater pain-management education, have been found to help people reduce fear and disability.
Are there new treatments for chronic pain?
Many cases of chronic pain, particularly those involving back pain, remain medically unexplained. But there is evidence that changes in the brain or nervous system are caused by previous physical ailments such as tissue damage; in such cases, the brain may continue to send out pain signals despite the physical cause having healed. To aid patients under these circumstances, a recently developed treatment known as pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) is designed to help the brain “unlearn” this response. A PRT practitioner helps individuals to reduce the “threat value” of their ongoing pain signals until they can reappraise them as less threatening and fear-inducing. They also help an individual to develop new emotional regulation skills.
How long does therapy for chronic pain take?
There is no set timeline for recovery from chronic pain, especially as there may be a range of physical and psychological causes for any individual’s discomfort, but most patients should expect to see a therapist for a number of weeks or months, typically spanning at least 12 sessions. Studies of pain reprocessing therapy found that many individuals’ experience of pain lessened in eight sessions over four weeks.