Motivational Interviewing Therapists in Oakville, ON
Arianne Nicole Palmares
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Hi, I’m Arianne. I’m glad you’re here. I believe everyone deserves therapy access, regardless of background or identity. As a first-generation immigrant, I combine lived experience with clinical training to create a safe and brave space where you can be seen, heard, and take meaningful steps toward the life you want.
Mara Behan
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I help couples and individuals find growth, healing, and stronger connections. Using evidence-based and individualized approaches, I support those struggling with women's health concerns (e.g., pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause), relationship concerns (e.g., resentment, infidelity), and life transitions (e.g., separation/divorce, parenting). I offer a free 15-minute consultation!
Tanja Ivic
Registered Social Worker
*Accepting new virtual clients across Ontario, supporting teens and adults navigating anxiety, trauma, addiction patterns, identity and life transitions.
Tracey Ropp
Registered Psychotherapist
Hello! I get that reaching out for support can be difficult, particularly when you’re already feeling busy with work, family, school, or just the overall demands of life in general. I can help to figure out what’s creating stress or unease for you, and then together we’ll develop practical, realistic strategies that fit for you in your current circumstances.
Sharise Sealy-McCallum
Registered Social Worker (RSW)
I am a Registered Social Worker with over 10 years of experience providing compassionate, virtual therapy for youth and adults across Ontario. Specializing in CBT, Narrative Therapy, and School Navigation Counselling, I provide a safe, trauma-informed space to help you navigate anxiety, stress, and life transitions, moving toward the clarity and peace you deserve.
Anna Marson
Registered Psychotherapist
Anna Marson is a registered psychotherapist specializing in ADHD, trauma, neurodiversity, attachment, stress, and emotion regulation. She integrates evidence-based therapies, mindfulness, and ADHD coaching to help clients build resilience, regulate emotions, and develop practical skills for lasting, positive change. Her approach is compassionate, brain/body-informed, and strength-based.
Natalie Demian
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
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.
Janalyn Dodds MSW, BSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker/ Psychotherapist
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.
Jodi Evers
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Providing person-centred, psychodynamic therapy for adults across a wide range of treatment goals. Using an integrative approach that considers the whole person, treatment is adapted to the individual and is deep, experiential, challenging, trauma informed and focused on the body, emotions, and patterns of behavior.
Mandeep Lalli
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Are you feeling anxious, overwhelmed or stuck? Maybe something feels wrong? I help people navigate anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and relationship struggles, with culturally sensitive care that honours your full background, including pressures others may miss. As a South Asian therapist who spent 15 years in the corporate world, I bring lived experience and real-world context to therapy.
Bethany Richer
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who works with individuals navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, anger, self-esteem, ADHD, emotional regulation, school stress, sleep difficulties, relationship concerns and more. I aim to create a space where clients feel safe, respected, and understood, and where therapy moves at a pace that feels right for them.
Jessica DeMille
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MACP, B.Sc (Hons)
I work with individuals, couples, families, and children (10+), providing a safe, supportive space for exploration and growth. Using an integrative, client-centered approach, I help clients navigate anxiety, depression, relationships, and life transitions, fostering resilience, self-awareness, and meaningful change. Together, we explore tools and strategies to support emotional well-being.
Caroline D Souza
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
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.
Connie Coda
Registered Nurse Psychotherapist, Certified Nurse Psychotherapist
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.
Mackenzie Fournier
Registered Psychotherapist
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.
Stacy Kirkbride
Registered Psychotherapist, Recreation Therapist
I offer compassionate support for those living with chronic illness, pain, and post-injury life challenges. I specialize in helping you navigate the emotional and mental hurdles these bring. My goal is to help you reclaim your sense of self, cope with grief and loss, and rebuild your life with resilience and purpose. You're not alone--I'm here to support you every step of the way.
Alysha Leal
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
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.
Horace Spence
RSSW, Psychotherapist
Coach Spence Wellness & Therapy Services provides trusted, culturally grounded therapy and holistic coaching for individuals, couples, and families. We support healing from stress, anxiety, and conflict while strengthening communication, resilience, and self-care. Through counseling, workshops, and wellness tools, we help clients build balance across mind, body, and spirit.
Feel Your Way Therapy
Registered Psychotherapist
Feel Your Way Therapy is a Toronto-based psychotherapy clinic offering individual, couples, child, and family therapy. Our diverse team of therapists provides support for anxiety, trauma, ADHD, depression, stress, and relationship issues, using evidence-based approaches in a compassionate and client-centered way.
Annie Szalkai
Registered Psychotherapist
I work with adults from diverse backgrounds, supporting those navigating anxiety, stress, and self-esteem challenges. My approach is client-centred and integrative, drawing from CBT, ACT, EFIT, Solution-Focused Therapy, and more to meet each person’s unique needs.
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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.