Mindfulness-Based (MBCT) Therapists in Ottawa, ON
See all counsellors in OttawaWaitlist for new clients

Danielle Lithwick
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I provide trauma-informed and client-centered support, using frameworks such as: CBT,
mindfulness
& self-compassion, meaning/values centered, and Intuitive Eating & Health At Every Size® principles.
Hello! I am passionate about helping people heal their relationship with food & their body, break free from mental & emotional suffering, and live meaningful & joyful lives. Along with my lived experience of eating disorder recovery and my work as a therapist, I have over a decade of professional experience in holistic health services, including yoga teaching, addiction & mental health counselling, body positive personal training, and intuitive eating coaching. Also a Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor and Health At Every Size® provider. Services supervised under Michelle Sorensen, M.Ed., Clinical Psychologist #5770.

Nathaniel Jewitt
Registered Psychotherapist, MA , RP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My approach integrates traditional "top-down" talk therapy, such as narrative and cognitive therapy, with an emphasis on newer "bottom-up" modalities, such as
mindfulness
and Somatic Experiencing.
For over 10 years I've been counselling people with a range of stressors and mental illnesses to manage and improve their quality of life, largely within a university setting. My interest and focus for private practice is in working with people suffering from the impacts of trauma, anxiety and emotional dysregulation in general, and with challenges related to chronic illness. It has been my privilege to work with clients from very diverse backgrounds in my career, and I welcome adults of all ages, genders, cultures, ethnicities and faith traditions.

Laura Arsenault-Perera
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My clinical work is influenced by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy,
Mindfulness
-based strategies, and Trauma-Informed Care.
Life stressors can significantly impact your life. You may feel anxious, have obsessive thoughts, and can’t seem to move past things. You may become overwhelmed, have difficulty concentrating or staying organized, feel moody, or have sleep issues. You might also struggle with school, work, or relationships. Coping and figuring out how to manage can sometimes be difficult. In therapy, we can aim to develop strategies to make things easier for you. We can work together to identify what is holding you back and impacting you in order to resolve it and no longer experience it the same way. I work with teenagers, students, & adults.
Not accepting new clients

Joey Michelle Doherty
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW, HBEd
Verified
Verified
My passion is sharing how we can use
mindfulness
and meditation to learn to understand our minds, and change the repetitive stories that keep us stuck and unhappy.
I have been working in Social services for over 30 years; over 20 in private practice. I enjoy using the eclectic combinations of modalities that I have learned. In general I find that as humans, our minds cause us a great deal of suffering. Learning to understand our minds so that we can change the negative scripts that keep us stuck in the same patterns is the greatest gift I have to offer. It is only then that we can experience our full potential of happiness and fulfillment in life. I use a client-centred approach. My practice welcomes the diversity of all humans.

Lana Michaels (S. Mikhailova), PhD, RP
Registered Psychotherapist, PhD, RT
Verified
Verified
I offer a variety of therapy approaches, including CBT, EMDR, Hypnosis,
Mindfulness
, Narrative Therapy, Pain Management, Couple Therapy, EFT, IT, imagery stress management techniques.
Life can be overwhelming at times... You may be suffering from trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, depression, or struggling with relationship difficulties...Why not use professional help and see how science and therapy benefit you? We could together analyze what your current difficulties are and determine contributed factors for these issues. The primary goals for therapy are positive changes, new options, eliminating or reducing symptoms and/or using better coping strategies. The sessions are structured, yet relaxed.

Sajeewa Ranasinghe
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP
Verified
Verified
My main interest is in
mindfulness
-based therapeutic interventions including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
My objective is to support my clients in building their own strengths and coping skills to increase daily well-being and achieve their life goals.

Allison Mundle
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MA, BA
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
Through
mindfulness
, acceptance and strengths-based methods, my goal is to help you develop a better sense of who you are and want to become.
Sometimes life is challenging and overwhelming with no clear way to move forward. My job is to help people find their way. If you find yourself struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties or other challenges, I would like to help. Using a person-centred approach, I offer individualized support as you begin to take steps towards positive changes.
Waitlist for new clients

Kamala Pilgrim
Psychologist, PhD, CPsych
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
I have years of personal experience in the study and practice of
Mindfulness
and Yoga e.
I am a Ph.D. registered, clinical psychologist offering treatment for anxiety disorders, depression, burn-out, life transitions, interpersonal/relational challenges, and low self-esteem. I am trained in empirically-validated approaches: Contemplative and
Mindfulness
-aimed, Somatically-oriented, Cognitive Behavioural and Acceptance and Commitment-based, Compassion-focused, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and Prolonged Exposure therapies. As a certified Yoga teacher and student, I integrate mind-body awareness and related conceptualizations and exercises, as deemed appropriate.

Maryam Gerami
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP, CCC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPQ)with more than 15 years of experience in mental health working with adults, couples, and children. I am also an art therapist in Quebec (Montreal). I am an expert in different approaches including psychodynamics, CBT,
mindfulness
, Art therapy, Emotional focused therapy, Attachment-based therapy, and Humanistic approach. I utilize a client-centred methodology to provide a compassionate and safe therapeutic environment for my clients and use the appropriate approach based on my client’s needs and goals to maximize the result.

Lisa A Zimmerman
Registered Psychotherapist, MHS, BA, CCC, RP
Verified
Verified
I use evidence based treatments including
mindfulness
meditation and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
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

Levi Riven
Psychologist, PhD, C Psyc
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
In eight years of graduate training and professional experience, I have developed excellence in delivering scientifically supported therapies, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and
mindfulness
based cognitive therapy (MBCT).
We all confront difficult challenges in life. We all go through times when our deepest fears and insecurities surface and wield control over our thoughts and actions, while our strengths and values fade out of focus and out of reach. We may be flooded with unwanted and worrisome thoughts; experience intense negative emotions; feel lonely and isolated from others, become increasingly unmotivated and unproductive; and develop difficulties sleeping, concentrating, and finding fulfillment in life. If you are going through a period of suffering, this is part of what makes you human.

Jiaqi Zhao
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I use a combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy,
Mindfulness
, and Motivational Interviewing.
I love working with individuals (11+), and couples of all backgrounds in various areas, including but not limited to stress, anxiety, cultural issues, self-esteem, insecurities in interpersonal relationships, and emotional regulation. With compassion and empathy, I provide a safe, judgement-free, and supportive environment where you feel heard and experience healing, hope, and empowerment. I will listen to you carefully and work with you to identify these issues clearly. I will develop healthier coping skills to improve your sense of integration and wholeness.

Michelle Sorensen
Psychologist, MEd, CPsych
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
Are you looking to develop insight into how to change negative patterns of thinking and behaviour in your life? I use cognitive behavioural therapy, which is based on years of research and empirical evidence, to help people get to the roots of their problems and make lasting change. For some clients, I integrate
mindfulness
training into my approach. This involves developing self-compassion, accepting what we cannot control and living in the present moment. I strongly believe in a collaborative approach to therapy, and take a very active role in guiding my clients.

Kerry-Lin McGuire
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW
Verified
Verified
I am personable, approachable, and flexible, and I will work with you to establish your goals for therapy, and help to process the issues that come up for you. My approach is seated in a place of curiosity and empathy, and I see myself as your advocate. I sometimes use humour during our sessions to reduce stress, and provide relatable examples so that you can integrate therapeutic skills into your life. I use evidence-based therapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and
Mindfulness
.

Shauna Daly
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
I am also a trained
mindfulness
and yoga practitioner.
Right now our world is at a new level of unpredictability and may be triggering uncomfortable feelings. I am here to create a safe and supportive space for you to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences within transitions life presents. In our work together we practice and reflect on the integration of new strategies to meet your needs on a deeper level, often involving
mindfulness
and self-compassion, trauma informed somatic experiencing, and attachment and ego-state (i.e. inner child & critic) therapeutic approaches.

Suhena Khosla
Registered Psychotherapist, RP(Q)
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
My theoretical orientation is in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT),
mindfulness
, narrative and solution-focused therapy.
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.

Maria Abbas
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MA, RP (Q)
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
While placing emphasis on self-acceptance,
mindfulness
, and emotions.
Accepting new clients! I help clients with anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, thought-patterns, cultural issues, spiritual care, trauma and other mental health concerns.

Lindsay Daou
Registered Psychotherapist, RP
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
My approach to counselling and psychotherapy is mainly grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy, attachment theory,
mindfulness
-based therapy, and trauma informed therapy.
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.

Julie Desjardins
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MA, CCC, RP
Verified
Verified
My practice focuses on a variety of therapeutic approaches, such as CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Compassion centred, and
Mindfulness
to name a few.
Have you been feeling overwhelmed, triggered by small things, and highly emotional? Do your loved ones say you are sensitive, constantly exhausted, and easily reactive? I have experience supporting those who deal with relationship issues, workplace conflict, childhood trauma, and abuse from addictions. If you are struggling with symptoms of anxiety, depression, burnout, and communication, then perhaps working through these issues in therapy may help. I have worked with clients since 2007 to help them improve their mental health.
Not accepting new clients
Andrea Lee
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I see adults in individual therapy and my approach to therapy is primarily cognitive behavioural therapy and
mindfulness
. I am also able to pull from other forms of therapy such as emotion-focused therapy, solution-focused therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and cognitive processing therapy as deemed appropriate for each individual case.
See more therapy options for
Mindfulness-Based (MBCT) Counsellors
How does mindfulness-based cognitive therapy work?
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy originated in the work of John Kabat-Zinn of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He developed mindfulness-based stress reduction, which is a technique found in yoga and meditation. MBCT is a combination of this type of stress reduction and cognitive behavioral therapy; it essentially quiets emotional distress through mindfulness, utilizing proper breathing and meditation. These techniques aim to bring the individual into the present moment when in a state of distress.
When do I know if I need treatment with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy?
If an individual’s mind is filled with emotional distress and general negativity, the person may feel trapped. A mindfulness-based cognitive therapist can help a person change their thinking patterns as well as their behaviour through calm acceptance and compassion. This therapy can provide an individual with the coping skills needed for a healthier and more constructive life.
What should I expect from mindfulness-based cognitive therapy?
This therapy often takes place in group sessions. A therapist will work with the group as well as with each individual. Meditation and breathing exercises are core practices that aim to invite inquiry and discovery into a person’s troubled mental state. The objective is to identify and lessen negative thoughts and behaviours and move toward optimal health and productivity. The individual will see life in a more realistic way. This therapy is supportive, accepting, and warm.
Is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy effective?
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is evidence-based and effective. One study found that people with major depressive disorder have benefitted from this type of therapy; the person accepts their distressed thoughts and also moves into healthier patterns of thinking. This therapy also aims to move an individual away from automatic negative responses. This type of therapy can bring a person lifelong change, with higher levels of satisfaction, less stress, as well as positive emotional and behavioural habits.