Psychodynamic Therapists in Ottawa, ON

Just existing in today's world can feel overwhelming on top of whatever unique stressors you may be facing. While it might be tempting to downplay your challenges as insignificant or "not that bad", everyone deserves a space to be seen and understood. As a therapist, my job is not to to analyze, diagnose, or pathologize you. Instead, I approach our sessions with genuine curiosity, aiming to understand the meaning you attach to your experiences and ask questions that may help to shift your outlook on the challenges you’re facing.

I believe it takes great courage to explore our experiences, confront our problems, and dare to change ourselves. I aim to provide a warm, non-judgemental space where we can deeply engage with the issues you have brought to therapy. I am based in Ottawa providing individual counselling/psychotherapy services virtually in English to individuals 18 years of age and older in Ontario. I welcome clients of all backgrounds. I am allied to the BIPOC, LGBTQ, non-monogamous, and kink communities. I am also a provider for the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program for First Nations and Inuit.

Hello. Many people are negatively affected by anxiety and depression. However it's sometimes difficult to figure out why. Similarly many people find relationships difficult and complicated. Both psychodynamic psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) offer quick, effective ways to cut through symptoms and understand what is underlying our challenges. My work often employs short-term techniques, exploring thoughts and feelings around relationships, self-esteem or historical trauma, using a focussed and directed, but nurturing approach. I also offer long-term therapy when we need extra time to explore more complex issues.

I have been working in clinical and community settings in mental health and addictions since 2011. I am honoured to support individual adults who are experiencing grief due to death or other loss, self-esteem and relationship issues, substance use, depression, anxiety, and traumatic injury. We all have within us a resilience to confront and handle even the most challenging of issues and I have such admiration of an individual's courage to explore and seek guidance in enhancing the quality of their life. A confidential, compassionate, and personalized approach to care is my priority.

E. Gaëlle Hortop provides psychotherapy to adults and couples with diverse socio-cultural identities (e.g. gender, sexual-orientation, ethnicity) experiencing difficulties related to depression and loss, anxiety, anger, trauma, sleep, interpersonal difficulties, sexual functioning, life transitions, and existential issues related to meaning and purpose.

As a clinician working primarily with men, my goal was to provide therapy that is consistent with how men actually talk and connect with each other. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, anger, relationship difficulties, trauma, or a lack of meaning, I believe that through our work together you can get better and be better.

Yes, I am accepting new clients - French/English - My name is Denis and I love helping people who want to improve their lives that are dealing with a difficult life transition, mental, emotional, cognitive struggles such as anxiety or depression. When your painful experiences and wounds are left unattended, they are likely to contaminate your life and relationships. I propose to work collaboratively with you to develop treatment goals for healing and personal growth. I also work with couples, to help them identify reactive patterns and improve communication, intimacy, and satisfaction in their relationship.

I believe we all have many strengths although at times we may lose sight of them—I provide honest feedback to help mirror these strengths back to you. I believe that we all, at one time or another, find it difficult to explore our thoughts and feelings—I honour such acts of courage, bringing confidentiality, non-judgement, and unconditional care to session. Working at a pace that feels right for you, I provide support and gentle challenges as you process your experiences and develop insight into your life so that you may heal, grow, and ultimately be free to live your life in a way that is fulfilling and true to who you are.

My philosophy is that as we experience life we form narratives that shape how we view the world, ourselves, and others. We repeat these images, stories, and metaphors to ourselves, and look to reinforce these narratives by looking for evidence that supports them.

When we have suffered over a long period of time without much support or compassion, we come to rely on certain ways of being and relating that keep us safe but isolated from ourselves and those we love. This is normal considering what we have experienced. Trauma and lack of early nurturing skew our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us. Neither can be trusted, and this determines how we are in relationship within and with others. At the core of all of this is our longing to be in nurturing relationships because the need to feel loved, wanted, and accepted are so innate in us. Therefore, feeling the converse: rejection and shame is a blow to our very sense of self. We reject because we really want to be needed and accepted, and yet we are afraid. The pain we feel in this dichotomy is profound.

Each individual has an innate ability to heal and transform one's life and relationships. I work with you to help you open up to your own healing with self-care and see a fresher and more hopeful perspective when things seem bleak. Our counselling relationship will help you gain the empowerment you need to lead a healthier, happier life within yourself, with your loved ones and colleagues, and to find your own answers and solutions.

Are you and your partner feeling disconnected, struggling to communicate, or facing unresolved conflicts? These challenges face all couples at some point in their relationship and offer an opportunity for growth, connection, and renewed vitality. Imagine a relationship where you and your partner feel deeply understood, where conflicts are resolved with compassion and empathy, and where you both have the tools to navigate any challenge that comes your way.

My approach to psychotherapy is deeply rooted in feminist and structural analyses that contextualize individual "problems" in our social environments. My therapeutic orientation is comprised of an eclectic mix of theoretical models that guide my work, including emotion focused therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and somatic therapy. While I don't practice exclusively from one perspective, I believe that it is my role to be constantly assessing whether or not the work we are doing appears to be helping you to achieve your therapeutic goals. I offer psychological services under the supervision of Dr. Leigh Karos, C. Psych.

My theory of change is founded on the premise that healing and growth can emerge through nurturing interpersonal connections. I stand by the belief that we are relational beings, meaning that our interactions with others influence our mood, sense of self, and well-being. Through sessions, whether I work with you or your relationship, I facilitate dynamic interventions to create new bonding moments that foster cognitive awareness, emotional regulation, and behavioural changes. As a therapist, my goal is to help you shift from a place of reactiveness and hopelessness to a place of communication and connection.

Compassion, kindness and mindfulness is the heart of my practice. I am passionate about client empowerment and being non-judgmental. My approach is based on the needs of my clients, meaning that although I have a systemic and Emotional focused therapy foundation, I use psychodynamic approach and cognitive behavioral, or solution focused strategies as required. Fundamentally, I believe that people are capable of change and that in order to change we need a better understanding of ourselves and others.

Facing our biggest fears and challenges takes a tremendous amount of courage. So, from the very beginning, I want to commend the courage that it takes to begin therapy. Finding a therapist who is a good fit for you is the first step towards improving your sense of well-being. Below is a description of how I typically work & I invite you to contact me to discuss my practice further. I look forward to speaking with you.

Since 2009, I have enjoyed working with individuals who are experiencing conflict in their relationships (with others or within themselves), and those struggling with either overwhelming emotions or with feeling disconnected from them. I support clients in healing from traumatic life experiences, including abuse and neglect. I particularly enjoy helping men become better attuned to their emotional experience and develop more satisfying connections with others. I offer a compassionate, authentic space to explore the relationship ruptures, health complaints, and difficult emotions that contribute to your presenting concern.

I am a Registered Psychotherapist located in Ottawa providing psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis to individuals, couples, and families. I work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues, providing services that span from therapy for depression and anxiety to grief counseling, emotional and functional adjustments, PTSD, stress management, couples counseling and beyond. I offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each of my clients' individual needs to help them attain personal growth. Typically, you can expect to discuss with me the events currently happening in your life and your personal history relevant to your concerns.

Life can be hard. Whether it is life transitions, stressors, illness, or any perceived limitation, we will all struggle, experience pain, sorrow, and discomfort. The question is, how do we support ourselves during difficult times? What type of relationship would we like to have with ourselves, others, and the world on the winding path of life? I believe psychotherapy connects us with our strengths, values, and compassion we need to live a more fulfilling, meaningful, and authentic life, despite obstacles we all encounter. It helps guide us toward approaching life with an open heart.