Anxiety Therapists in Ottawa, ON
See all counsellors in Ottawa
Joanna Gil
Registered Psychotherapist, MA
Verified
Verified
In my private practice I work with a variety of issues such as stress,
anxiety
, depression, trauma, shame, loss, grief, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, intimacy and effective communication. As a psychotherapist, I recognize and respect the healing power of a trusting therapeutic relationship. As such, I offer not only a caring and compassionate but also an enquiring atmosphere, so as to promote and provide an emotionally safe space for inner exploration of difficult feelings, experiences and challenges.

Lisa A Zimmerman
Registered Psychotherapist, MHS, BA, CCC, RP
Verified
Verified
I have 16 years experience in the addiction field and have worked with
anxiety
, depression, trauma and LGBT/trans health.
All of us will face emotional issues, difficulties in relationships, loss or other stressors at some point in their lives. Learning skills to deal with these challenges effectively can make a huge difference to how much enjoyment and satisfaction we can get out of life. It is important to me to provide an opportunity for people to be able to explore their concerns safely and without judgement. I firmly believe that everyone has the capacity to improve their emotional health and sense of well being. Sessions currently conducted online.
Ottawa, ON K1N
& Online
Not accepting new clients

Dr. Laura S. Stradwick
Psychologist, PsyD, CPsych
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
Dr. Stradwick provides psychological services to children, adolescents, and adults. Areas of specialty include depression,
anxiety
, ADHD, grief and loss, developmental trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain/illness. She offers a range of psychological services, including Neurofeedback/Biofeedback, Psychotherapy/CBT, Mindfulness Training, and Psychological Assessment. The therapeutic approach with clients is holistic. She utilizes an attachment-related, client-centered framework to provide an emotionally safe and compassionate environment for building trust and therapeutic rapport. She incorporates CBT, psychodynamic, and interpersonal based techniques to assist each client in developing greater self-awareness as well as to facilitate symptom reduction,resilience, and personal growth.
Waitlist for new clients

Katie Taylor
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Verified
Verified
I provide psychotherapy for children, youth, and adults struggling with
anxiety
, self-esteem, and difficulty moving through life transitions. As a passionate, affirming, and collaborative therapist, my goal is to provide an environment of unconditional acceptance, learning, and genuine connection to help support your healing and growth. I am an integrative therapist which means we may spend time talking through a difficult problem or work on a skill to help manage your mental health.
Not accepting new clients

Jenn May Nelson
Registered Psychotherapist, BSc, BA, MA, RP
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I have 20 years of clinical counselling experience in the areas of chronic pain, depression,
anxiety
, grief and loss, emotion regulation, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health, addictions, hoarding, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender diversity and borderline personality disorder.
“You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” (C.S. Lewis) My therapeutic presence is warm, non-judgmental, genuine and relaxed. I blend creativity, knowledge, professional training and experience. Sessions are collaborative in nature. You will bring your wisdom, life experiences, values, strengths, vulnerabilities, concerns and challenges. I aspire to help you heal, promote growth, find balance and experience self-acceptance.
Not accepting new clients

Aimee Anderson
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW
Verified
Verified
My practice focuses on
anxiety
and worry, cancer, grief / loss and mental health support.
My clinical social work practice is focused on adults who are experiencing difficult transitions. I excel at working with people on a variety of issues related to grief and loss, anger management, caregiver stress and distress, depression and
anxiety
, self-esteem, issues specific to women, blended families, aging parents and improving parenting skills.
Not accepting new clients

Markus Williams Counselling and Psychotherapy
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MA, RP(Q)
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Welcome to Markus Williams Counselling and Psychotherapy Services, here I provide state-of-the-art and evidence-based treatment for
anxiety
, depression, trauma/PTSD, relationship issues, and lastly, sexual dysfunctions. I bring research to practice to ensure you receive the highest quality of psychotherapy. I bring authenticity and compassion to individuals and couples who are looking to heal past wounds, acquire new relational skills, and how to stand up to their
anxiety
, depression, and trauma so that they may have a better quality of life.
Waitlist for new clients

Melissa Payne
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I work with individuals who struggle with
anxiety
, depression, trauma, grief and loss, spirituality and faith crises, sexuality, emotion regulation, among others.
As a therapist I offer a warm, compassionate and open presence for my clients. I seek to provide a safe space for clients to look at their life with more curiosity and less fear, while empowering them to listen for their deepest needs and desires. I believe that each person brings their own unique story into therapy, and my role as a therapist is to help remove the barriers that prevent clients from hearing their own inner wisdom. I work from an Integrative approach, pulling from different approaches. Some of these include: Psychodynamic, IFS informed, Mindfulness Self-Compassion and Somatic/body based and Existential.

Dana Truelove
Registered Psychotherapist, MEd, RP, CCC
Verified
8 Endorsed
Verified
8 Endorsed
Avoiding? Self-sabotaging? Shutting down? I specialize in depression,
anxiety
, relationships, stress, anger, transitions, body image, self-esteem and procrastination. I'm just myself with my clients - relaxed, down to earth and totally non-judgmental. I'd love to help you tap into the strongest, most authentic version of yourself, so that you can live life the way you want to (whatever that may be). I want to help you to be confident and unshaken by distress.

Ottawa Thrive Psychology and Wellness Center
Pre-Licensed Professional
Verified
Verified
As such, I aim to collaboratively make a positive difference in clients’ experience of
anxiety
, stress, depression or interpersonal conflict.
My name is Nadine Simard. I am a psychotherapist, under supervision of a Registered Psychologist, completing a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. I am genuine, caring, and compassionate, and I like to provide a safe therapeutic space to nurture my client’s unique strengths and aspirations. I believe mental health issues can be understood from a biological, psychological, and social perspective; therefore, I use a holistic approach to best meet each unique individual’s needs. I believe in empowering my clients in finding the right approach to promote positive change and achieve a healthier life.
Not accepting new clients

Lianne Saxon
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
I provide evidence-based, client-centred care to clients with mental health issues such as depression, social
anxiety
, adult ADHD, generalized
anxiety
, health
anxiety
and
panic
disorder. I use Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps clients learn, build skills and achieve goals. CBT is considered the gold standard of therapies and it is recommended as a first-line treatment for many mental health disorders because of the extensive evidence of its effectiveness. In CBT, the therapist is a coach, helping you to become the expert of your own mental health.
Office is near:
Ottawa, ON K2P Not accepting new clients

Stephanie Hart
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
The relationship between therapist and client is the most important thing for me. I seek to provide a safe place for clients to explore feelings of discomfort. I work with thoughts, feelings, behaviours and bodily sensations to support clients in better understanding themselves. I believe that knowing yourself more deeply is essential to feeling better. I specialize in childhood trauma and self-esteem, and I also work with individuals who are dealing with depression,
anxiety
, grief and stress. I support clients struggling with life challenges, such as interpersonal relationships and emotion regulation

Rebeca Fernandez Bosanac
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I work with adults struggling with
anxiety
, depression, self-esteem, relationship and sex issues and trauma/complex trauma.
Being a human, especially an adult one, can be really hard. It can be dauting to reach out for help and find a therapist you connect with. I am here to support you in this process. We will explore your goals, the changes you may want to make, and the kinds of therapy that might be helpful for you. Together, we will create a therapeutic environment you feel safe and comfortable in, so you can freely and authentically express yourself. My goal is to help you navigate life's hardships through an honest and compassionate approach so you can begin living your best life.
Ottawa, ON K1R
& Online

Sydney Dean
Counsellor, BA, RPC-C
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I have a special interest in working with young adults on self-esteem, confidence,
anxiety
, LGBTQI+ issues and experiences, relationships, sexuality, and gender identity.
*CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS* Navigating mental health struggles in young adulthood can feel overwhelming and isolating. As a queer individual, my lived experiences have led me to develop a warm, compassionate, and understanding perspective. As a counsellor, this enables me to hold a non-judgmental and thoughtful space for the people I work with and can help them feel seen, heard, and not alone.
Waitlist for new clients

Zahra Nafar
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP
Verified
12 Endorsed
Verified
12 Endorsed
I am a Registered Psychotherapist and the director of YourTherapist Psychotherapy and Counselling Clinic with locations in Ottawa, Kingston and the GTA. My experience includes years of advanced training in psychology, neuroscience and genetics, providing trauma-informed interventions for clients with
anxiety
, depression, and trauma. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and a Certified Addictions-Informed Mental Health Professional (CAIMHP). I utilize a client-centred methodology to provide a compassionate and safe therapeutic environment for my clients.

Ashley Toogood
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), RP(Q), MA, BA
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I am happy to welcome new clients. Many people can see therapy as a one-sided conversation. It may seem like there is little opportunity to interact or experience each other as real people. I want to assure you that I try to be as non-judgmental as possible! No matter your age, if you are struggling with concerns regarding
anxiety
, relationships, boundaries, self-esteem or attachment, I want to work with you to help you achieve whatever solutions work for you and help you overcome whatever challenges you face. I also want to make attending therapy as enjoyable as possible. Therapy doesn't need to be a scary or painful process.

Lisa M. McRae
Registered Psychotherapist, MA
Verified
Verified
If you're struggling in your life or in your relationship due to stressful life events or overwhelming emotions, then psychotherapy may be the key to helping you overcome these difficulties. I am a bilingual (English / français) Registered Psychotherapist with several years of clinical experience of working with youth (14-24 y.o.), adults (25 y.o. +) and couples. I offer both individual and couples counselling, with a specialization in
Anxiety
, Depression, Addiction, Attachment disorders, Personality Disorders and Critical Self-Talk.
Not accepting new clients

Catherine Anne Kilbride
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, OCT, RP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I accompany clients from a place of compassion, creativity, warmth, and humour as they move from the wounds of interpersonal, systemic, and intergenerational trauma (e.g., neglect, identity-based violence, childhood or intimate partner violence, premature death) towards fulfilling lives rooted in posttraumatic growth. In addition to working with clients who have experienced trauma and its related effects, I also work with clients who identify as experiencing stress (including
anxiety
disorders), sadness or depression, persistent guilt and shame, life transitions, grief, and existential questions related to life purpose and identity.

Jean-Jacques Rosemond
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP
Verified
Verified
Hello, are you going through some difficult times right now, either struggling to cope with challenges, feeling overwhelmed, stuck or unsure of what to do? Having trouble with work or personal relationships? I am an experienced psychotherapist and I offer individual therapy services for a wide range of issues such as depression,
anxiety
, addiction problems, relationship problems, grief, life transitions, etc

Jumana Daibl
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), BS, MA, RP(Q)
Verified
Verified
My areas of practice include ADHD,
Anxiety
Disorder, Depression, Trauma, Stress Management, and Autism.
True life is lived when little changes occur. I sincerely believe change is possible in all of us with the support and proper guidance. Everyone possesses the tools they need to heal and fully realize their life's ambitions. I believe in empowering you to develop your own toolbox of strategies and skills to find strength, resilience and emotional growth. With the proper tool, every issue can be solved
See more therapy options for Ottawa
Anxiety Counsellors
What are the most common treatments for anxiety?
Talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy, is the most common treatment for anxiety. Studies have shown it is equally effective as medication. Other popular forms of therapy are popular, depending on a patient’s experience. Exposure therapy, for instance, can be useful for people dealing with fears and phobias, or who have experienced traumatic events. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy may be useful for patients who need help with emotion regulation. Anxiolytic medications, like benzodiazepines, can also help with calming a person enough to focus on the skills they’ve learned, and physical exercise has been shown to help symptoms of anxiety across the board.
How long does therapy for anxiety take to work?
The amount of time needed to alleviate symptoms depends on the severity of a person’s condition. Some therapies may take 5-20 weekly sessions to show results. Anti-depressant medications typically take two to four weeks before a benefit is felt. Anti-anxiety medications are felt typically within 20-30 minutes. Medications are best used to offer a patient a better headspace in which to work on techniques learned in therapy. Exercise, improved sleep habits, and meditation are effective, but takes weeks or months to show results.
When should I seek treatment for anxiety?
Everyone feels anxious at times, but when anxiety causes disruption to your daily life, it may be time to seek help. Such disruption can be mental, physical, or both: having fear dominate your thoughts, avoiding situations or objects that bring on feelings of anxiety, or experiencing shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or panic attacks. When these symptoms are recurrent and distressing, it may be time to talk to someone.
How effective is treatment for anxiety?
Treatment for anxiety has been shown to be moderately to highly effective, according to a large body of psychology studies and analyses. For some people, treatment using CBT or exposure therapy alone is effective. Others respond best to a combination of medication and therapy.