Therapists in Ottawa, ON

(PLEASE NOTE: I AM CURRENTLY UNABLE TO ACCEPT NEW CLIENTS). I am a registered psychologist providing assessment and treatment to adults for common psychological problems as well as physical health problems or emotional issues and traumas. Physical health problems include chronic or terminal illnesses, medical conditions exacerbated by stress, and physical symptoms that doctors are unable to fully explain or treat (e.g., chronic pain, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities). Emotional issues include childhood or adult experiences of abuse or neglect, couple or family-related stressors, work-related stressors, challenging life transitions and loss or bereavement issues.

Your mind is constantly telling you that you need to do more, but it's hard just to get out of bed in the morning. Chronic pain makes everyday tasks really hard. Everyone around you seems normal and you wonder how they have it all together. Maybe family and friends are supportive, but you worry about being a burden. Or maybe your life is good on paper and nobody sees your struggles, nobody sees your pain. As someone who has lived with chronic pain and anxiety, I know how hard life can get. I understand how isolating it can all be.

I am a social worker who believes in the power of persons and peoples: I work with clients to create opportunities for healing and growth. I have a varied background including crisis intervention, addictions recovery, women's issues, LGBTQ+ concerns, Parts work and Somatic Experiencing. I understand the importance of melding mindfulness techniques with talk therapy. In practice, I work to combine a solid knowledge of the roots of trauma while providing a safe and welcoming environment, creatively combining these aspects of care to customise healing journeys in partnership with clients.

I offer a safe and non-judgmental space for self-exploration to assist individuals in gaining perspective on their thoughts and emotions, developing coping strategies, and ultimately leading a more fulfilling life. In individual therapy, I work with adults dealing with concerns such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, sexuality, grief, trauma, emotional regulation, eating disorders, and identity. It’s important for me to mention that I serve a diverse clientele, whether that may be related to cultural, ethnic, religious, spiritual, or sexual diversity (2SLGBTQI+).

Wish you could feel closer to your partner, have more pleasure in your life and stop having the same repetitive fights? Or are you yearning to feel more alive and connected to the world around you? I provide psychotherapy virtually to couples and individuals in Ontario. As a long-time practitioner of meditation, I employ presence-based strategies helping you connect with self-compassion, bravery and calm. You set the pace for the counselling process and we walk along together. Using a combination of Emotionally-Focused, narrative, mindfulness and sex positive approaches, I support enhanced resiliency and practical change.

In my therapeutic practice, I prioritize authentic and honest communication, fostering a safe environment where difficult things feel safe to talk about. With compassion as my compass, I balance acceptance-based strategies with methods for change, aiming to support clients as they work at their own pace toward building a life they find worth living, and realize about their capacity to shape their own narratives to transform challenges into opportunities for personal evolution.

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it" (H. Keller) is a statement which motivates me to be versatile and adaptive so I may best meet my client's needs in an integrated practice, to facilitate empowerment and holistic well-being. I utilize strength-based, somatic, creative and expressive modes of therapy tailored to suit the unique needs of individuals from various walks of life.

I am a therapist for other therapists, a healer for wounded physicians. Our clients are high performers who struggle with the downside of over control, perfectionism, and anxiety. Many clients complete their therapy less controlled by their conditioned habits, fears, traumas, and aversive motivations. It gives me joy to see clients leave their time with us with all parts more aligned with Self, Curiosity, Compassion, Clarity, Connectedness, Creativity, Courage, Confidence.

I work with adults in clinical and health psychology in both English and French.  I treat a variety of psychological issues, on their own or in combination, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, personality disorders and trauma.  I work with clients with chronic pain or other health problems.  I also help clients with  relationship issues, work stress, identity issues, existential concerns, LGBTQ concerns, grief, self-esteem, and self-acceptance.

Looking for a compassionate path to wellness? As a psychotherapist specializing in addiction, trauma, anxiety, and depression, I'm here to guide you through your journey of healing and self-discovery. If you're seeking to understand and overcome life's challenges, you'll find a safe and supportive space in my practice. Together, we'll work on building resilience, enhancing self-esteem, and creating a balanced, fulfilling life. It's not just about managing symptoms—it's about understanding their roots and fostering meaningful, lasting change. Let's embark on this journey together towards your well being and empowerment.

I am a Registered Master of Social Work, practicing clinical Psychotherapy. I work with individuals, couples, adolescents and seniors treating issues of stress, depression, anger management, workplace issues and burnout, grief and loss, relationship issues, marital/relationship counselling, parenting issues, separation and remarriage support. Life stage transitions and the role of family of origin and of culture in communication and in the perception of situations are a special interest. We handle life with the tools with which we have learned to survive. Therapy helps us to reassess and adjust these coping strategies to our present day context.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, ready for change? I am here to provide a safe and comfortable space where we can explore your concerns together. Whether you are struggling with self-acceptance, depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, or otherwise, these concerns may be negatively impacting your quality of life. Therapy can help. Through our work together, we will strive to reduce the symptoms causing you distress and do our best to create positive change to lead to a life that is more rewarding, fulfilling, and valuable for you.

My clients are looking to lead a balanced life with the perspective and tools to face challenges with resilience and optimism. Addictions, anxiety, depression, or negative thinking might be getting in the way of relationship or life goals. My clients are hoping to find practical problem solving in their sessions with me but also build bigger picture thinking and perhaps even get into the big philosophical questions that are a part of making life feel worth living. They value a genuine, human experience with an open-minded, culturally sensitive supporter, that allows them to tap into their own resources for long term well-being.

Now accepting new clients. When we experience chronic and severe life stressors, it is not uncommon for our lives to unravel. Sometimes we find ourselves struggling with everyday tasks, becoming easily overwhelmed or feeling disconnected from our life, goals and loved ones. Together we can find healthy perceptions of yourself and strengthen that feeling of connection.

My approach is all about collaboration and tailoring each session to meet my client’s unique needs. I value acceptance, creativity, compassion, confidentiality, safety, and sometimes even humour. To help my clients meet their goals and reach their potential, I draw upon various evidence-based therapeutic modalities including Narrative Therapy, Supportive Counselling, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and trauma-focused interventions, as well as incorporating self-compassion and mindfulness.

Assessments - Accepting Clients; Therapy Waitlist - Accepting Clients - Dr. Heather Schultz received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Toledo in 2020. She completed her residency at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, and recently completed her supervised practice year providing psychological services in a private practice clinic in the Ottawa area. She has received training in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, community mental health centres, forensic sites, and private practice.

Consults offered now for sessions beginning of July 2024. You are on the right page if you're looking for anti-oppressive, culturally sensitive, caring and genuine support with a side of humour! Healing life’s hurt takes time, courage, patience, care and love. I offer these elements and a space where personal growth can blossom. My services are for you if you need a compassionate space to explore and reflect on your life journey, on systemic, relational and intergenerational trauma and the outcomes of these experiences on your life. We do this together, in a gentle yet honest way to experience relief of symptoms and bring back joy.

Accepting new clients! I offer a warm and supportive counselling style, meeting my clients wherever they are in their healing journey. I approach therapy as a collaborative process, recognizing that everyone has the ability within themselves to reach the goals they set in therapy.

Have you been feeling overwhelmed, triggered by small things, and highly emotional? Are you frequently arguing with your partner, and no longer feeling connected to them? Is parenting your kids or teens becoming more chaotic? If you are struggling with symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and conflict, then perhaps working through these issues in therapy may help.