Motivational Interviewing Therapists in Ontario

View all cities in Ontario

Grace Gao

Grace Gao

Registered Social Worker

Virtual In-Person

Grace is passionate about creating accessible and culturally responsive mental health support, particularly for individuals who may feel hesitant to seek formal counseling services. As a bilingual professional fluent in English and Mandarin, she values creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where clients feel heard and respected.

Kumsal Kosar BSc, Ph.D., MSW, RSW

Kumsal Kosar BSc, Ph.D., MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist

In-Person

As a relational therapist, my priority is to create "Our Healing Connection" for you to explore your thoughts and emotions without judgment and with compassion. We will work collaboratively to support you with the changes you would like to make in areas including anxiety, depression, life transitions, trauma, relationship with yourself and others, family conflict, parenting and work/school stress.

Siobhan McCarthy, MSW, RSW

Siobhan McCarthy, MSW, RSW

Registered Individual and Family Therapist , Clinical Consultant

Virtual

If you feel that you are not living your best life, your relationships are not what you hoped they would be, or the conflict in your life is not going away, perhaps it is time to talk to someone about it. Starting counselling is a brave first step and I will be there to support you through this process. Additionally, I provide supervision to Social Workers in Private Practice.

Stacy Recalla

Stacy Recalla

Nurse Practitioner

Virtual

Now offering trauma-informed and neuro-affirming ADHD Assessments, medication management, and general psychiatric appointments and support.

Melanie Lee

Melanie Lee

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Trauma-focused psychotherapist and EMDR specialist helping adults, young adults, and couples across Ontario. I integrate EMDR, somatic and parts work, polyvagal theory, DBT, and CBT to help clients harmonize their nervous system, heal from past experiences, and transform into their most authentic selves. Virtual sessions available.

Janalyn Dodds MSW, BSW, RSW

Janalyn Dodds MSW, BSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker/ Psychotherapist

Virtual

I am a Registered Social Worker and psychotherapist with The Support Station, a Canadian-based, woman-owned organization that believes cost shouldn't be a barrier to accessing quality mental health and wellness support. Each client's session fees are adjusted according to not only their monthly income, but also any bills and debts paid out regularly get considered as well.

Amanda Rennick-Hazen

Amanda Rennick-Hazen

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

I enjoy using a variety of techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Strategies, Mindfulness Meditation, Trauma Informed, Compassion Focused, & Emotion Focused. Depression & Sadness Anxiety & Worry Work , Home, & School Stress ​Grief & Loss Divorce & Separation Unexpected life transitions, unexpected change, lost opportunities

Caroline D Souza

Caroline D Souza

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual In-Person

I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with over six years of experience supporting individuals across hospital, school, community, and outpatient mental health settings. I believe therapy should feel like a space where you can slow down, feel genuinely heard, and explore your experiences without judgment.

Abby Tait

Abby Tait

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

You might come to therapy feeling stuck in familiar patterns - ways of coping, thinking, or relating that once made sense but now feel hard to shift. You may be thoughtful and self-aware, yet find yourself overthinking, avoiding certain emotions, or feeling disconnected from who you are or where you’re headed. Questions about identity, values, and purpose often sit quietly underneath these experi…

Katherine Koplov

Katherine Koplov

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual In-Person

A second-generation psychotherapist with lived experience as an immigrant, corporate leader, and survivor of relational trauma, I bring a compassionate, culturally attuned, and trauma-informed lens. My integrative approach draws on Mindfulness, Somatic Therapy, EFT, IFS, Polyvagal-informed approaches, Narrative Therapy, DBT, CBT, and SFBT to foster meaningful and lasting change.

Tanja Ivic

Tanja Ivic

Registered Social Worker

Virtual

*Accepting new virtual clients across Ontario, supporting teens and adults navigating anxiety, trauma, addiction patterns, identity and life transitions.

Stephanie Campoli

Stephanie Campoli

MSW, RSW

Virtual In-Person

Stephanie Campoli Psychotherapy is a trauma-focused practice in Oshawa, Ontario, offering in-person therapy and virtual psychotherapy across Ontario and Nova Scotia. The practice specializes in comprehensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), trauma therapy, and addictions treatment, with particular expertise in supporting people living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and trauma.

Katelyn Matias

Katelyn Matias

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual In-Person

Hi, I’m Katelyn Matias, a Registered Psychotherapist and the Founder of Anchor & Bloom Psychotherapy. My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, relational, and grounded in attachment theory. I believe that our experiences, relationships, and nervous system responses shape how we understand ourselves, navigate emotions, and connect with others.

Khysandra Lee

Khysandra Lee

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Alysha Leal

Alysha Leal

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

Life can throw us curveballs that may seem impossible to navigate or process through emotionally. I understand the courage it takes to seek support, and I am here to walk alongside you every step of the way. Regardless of where you are in your journey, I will meet you there and work collaboratively with you to get to where you want to be.

Mahum Ahmed

Mahum Ahmed

Registered Social Worker

Virtual In-Person

Struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or PTSD? You may feel overwhelmed or stuck and want deeper understanding—not just symptom relief. I offer compassionate, tailored therapy using evidence-based approaches like CBT. Together, we’ll build emotional regulation, stronger relationships, and a more fulfilling, empowered future.

Johanna Benoit

Johanna Benoit

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

NIHB provider, specializing in CPTSD and trauma, perinatal grief and loss, PTSD, anxiety, depression and borderline personality disorder.

Mackenzie Fournier

Mackenzie Fournier

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Hi, I’m Mackenzie! I’m a Psychotherapist who loves keeping therapy real, down-to-earth, and practical. I help people untangle patterns around anxiety, food, and self-trust using tools grounded in science. In sessions, I bring my authentic self—you can expect a mix of support, guidance, and maybe a little humour when it feels right—so we can tackle challenges together without the extra pressure.

Natalie Demian

Natalie Demian

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual In-Person

I’m dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and discover inner strength. With an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Niagara University, I support those facing anxiety, grief and loss, life transitions, and relationship difficulties. I offer compassionate, collaborative in-person and virtual therapy across Ontario in a safe, supportive space for growth.

Connie Coda

Connie Coda

Registered Nurse Psychotherapist, Certified Nurse Psychotherapist

Virtual In-Person

Connie is a Registered Nurse Psychotherapist and Certified Nurse Psychotherapist offering virtual therapy to individuals aged 16 and up across Ontario. She supports clients coping with chronic illness, anxiety, grief (including pet loss), stress, and life transitions, using a compassionate and collaborative approach.

How do therapists in Ontario compare?

Number of therapists listed

48

Average years in practice

6.6 Years

Currently accepting new clients

100 %

Therapists in Ontario who prioritize treating:

77% Anxiety
56% Depression
52% Relationship Issues
38% Emotional Dysregulation
35% Trauma and PTSD
33% Self Esteem
33% ADHD
21% Stress

How therapists see their clients

44% In Person & Online
52% Online Only
4% In Person Only

Top therapy approaches used in Ontario:

100% Motivational Interviewing
96% Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)
79% Strength-Based
69% Trauma Focused
65% Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
65% Dialectical Behaviour (DBT)
62% Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
62% Person-Centered

Frequently Asked Questions About Motivational Interviewing

What is motivational interviewing?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented communication style developed by William Miller and Stephen Rollnick to strengthen a person's own motivation and commitment to change. MI is based on the premise that ambivalence about change is normal — people simultaneously want to change and want to stay the same — and that the therapist's role is to help the person explore and resolve this ambivalence in the direction of their own values and goals, rather than imposing change or providing advice. It is person-centred, evidence-based, and widely used in addiction treatment, health behaviour change, and mental health.

What are the core skills of motivational interviewing?

The core MI skills (OARS) are Open-ended questions (inviting exploration), Affirmations (recognizing strengths and efforts), Reflections (reflecting back what the person has said to deepen understanding), and Summaries (pulling together what has been discussed). The spirit of MI is as important as the skills: a collaborative, evocative, honouring approach that respects the person's autonomy. MI involves selectively attending to and amplifying "change talk" (the person's own arguments for change) while avoiding the righting reflex (the urge to argue for change or give advice).

What does motivational interviewing treat or help with?

MI has strong evidence for substance use disorders (alcohol, opioids, cannabis), smoking cessation, medication adherence, diet and exercise change, weight management, and engaging people who are ambivalent about treatment. It is used as a standalone treatment and as a pre-treatment "engagement" phase before other evidence-based therapies (CBT, community reinforcement approach). MI is also widely used in healthcare settings for health behaviour change.

What is the difference between motivational interviewing and advice-giving?

MI deliberately avoids advice-giving, confrontation, and persuasion — approaches that tend to increase resistance in ambivalent people. When a practitioner argues for change or lists the reasons someone should stop drinking (for example), the person often responds by articulating the reasons they shouldn't — and convincing themselves to stay the same. MI flips this: it evokes the person's own reasons for change and their own arguments, which are far more persuasive to them than arguments from an external authority.

How many sessions of motivational interviewing are needed?

MI has demonstrated efficacy in as few as 1–4 sessions. In many studies, brief MI interventions (even a single 45-minute session) produce significant effects on substance use and behaviour change. MI is often used as an engagement or pre-treatment phase before longer therapy rather than as a prolonged standalone treatment. The brevity makes it particularly valuable in primary care, emergency departments, and settings where extended contact is limited.