Trauma Focused Therapists in Ottawa, ON
Shereen Ishag
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Virtual and In-person Psychotherapy in Burlington for teens (12+), adults, couples, and families. I work with clients experiencing relationship difficulties, emotional disconnection, anxiety, grief, and trauma-related concerns. I draw from emotion-focused and attachment-based perspectives, including EFCT-informed work, as well as other integrative approaches.
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!
River Page
Registered Psychotherapist
I offer a warm, non-judgmental space for individuals and relationships to explore life’s challenges and deepen self-understanding. My work supports those navigating religious or relational trauma, 2SLGBTQIA+ identities, non-monogamy, neurodivergence, gender and sexuality, suicide and self-harm, and environmental anxiety. All with compassion, curiosity, and care.
Maya Dousti
Registered Psychotherapist
I am a BIPOC trauma therapist, and I work with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, emotional dysregulation, self-esteem, life transitions, racial/cultural issues, new parenthood, identity, family and interpersonal relationships. I work eclectically, borrowing from several modalities to meet my client's needs.
Catherine Sullivan
MSW, RSW
Trauma and EMDR therapy in the West End of Ottawa.
Tanja Ivic
Registered Social Worker
*Accepting new virtual clients across Ontario, supporting teens and adults navigating anxiety, trauma, addiction patterns, identity and life transitions.
Taylor Davis
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
If you constantly overthink, struggle to say no, or feel overwhelmed trying to keep everyone else happy, you’re not alone. I support adults navigating anxiety, depression, and people-pleasing using IFS, somatic therapy, and attachment-based approaches to help you reconnect with yourself, regulate emotions, and build more authentic relationships. Reach out to schedule a free consultation.
Julia Finetti
Registered Clinical Counsellor & Couples Therapist
Julia Finetti (MA, CCC, RCC) is a compassionate therapist specializing in relationships, life transitions, and emotional healing. She creates a warm, grounded space where clients finally feel at ease. With a practical, insight-driven approach, Julia helps people set boundaries, break old patterns, and reconnect with themselves - delivering real, lasting change.
Geneviève Fontaine
Registered Psychotherapist
Hi, I'm Geneviève! I offer individual counselling and psychotherapy for adults. My approach to therapy is guided by the belief that every individual deserves meaningful human connection: to be seen, to be heard, and to be acknowledged. As a queer therapist, my role is to provide guidance, support, and practical tools that empower individuals to make choices that enhance their well-being.
Christine Nichols
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
You deserve the peace that comes with living authentically. On your journey to finding your purpose, you may be experiencing stress, anxiety, low-mood, or challenges with your self-worth. These experiences can make life feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to feel disconnected from the person you truly are. A better, more connected life is possible. As your therapist, I provide a genuine, compassion…
Susan Merli
Registered Psychotherapist and Executive Coach
Feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or stuck in patterns that no longer work? I help professionals and individuals navigate anxiety, stress, and life or career transitions. As a Registered Psychotherapist and Executive Coach, I offer a supportive, practical space to gain insight, build resilience, and move forward with clarity and confidence.
Kumasi Jay Gwynne
Registered Psychotherapist
Relationships of any kind can be challenging. I never underestimate how complicated things can get once we tease out the relational pieces in our lives and try to understand how they are affecting us.
Joey Mercer
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I support adults and young adults healing from addiction, social anxiety, and depression, and guide trauma recovery through an EMDR-informed lens. As a non-Indigenous person working with Indigenous clients, I strive to honour a Two-Eyed Seeing perspective and practice with cultural humility. Recovery doesn't happen to you, it happens because of you. I'll be there beside you.
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.
Samantha Bernhard
Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying
Mississauga in-person therapy now available! Life can feel overwhelming at times—whether it’s the weight of unresolved emotions, relationship struggles, or the stress of daily life. If you’re looking for a space to feel seen, heard, and supported, I’m here to help.
Paris Moaf
Registered Psychotherapist, M Psy, MSc, RP
As the founder and clinical director of Paris Mind Clinic, Paris Parastoo Moaf specializes in helping clients manage and overcome depression, anxiety, PTSD, emotional disorders, grief, and relationship issues. Using CBT, DBT, MBCT, ACT, EFT, and Adlerian Therapy, Paris Parastoo Moaf tailors sessions to your unique needs.
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.
Sydney Tricand
Registered Psychotherapist
Are you navigating the tender seasons of family building, pregnancy, postpartum, or early parenthood? You might feel overwhelmed, unlike yourself, or wonder if you’re experiencing postpartum anxiety or depression. A tough birth, NICU stay, feeding issues, or grief may have shaken your sense of self, body, or relationships. Are you hoping to feel more seen and understood in this vulnerable time?
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.
Iriny Salib-Sharkawy
Registered Social Worker
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Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Focused
What is trauma-focused therapy?
Trauma-focused therapy refers to a family of therapeutic approaches specifically designed to address the psychological impact of traumatic experiences. Rather than only managing symptoms, these approaches help clients directly process traumatic memories, reduce their emotional intensity, and integrate them into a broader understanding of their lives. Trauma-focused therapy is indicated for PTSD, complex trauma, childhood abuse, sexual violence, accidents, grief, and many other trauma-related presentations.
How is trauma-focused therapy different from general therapy?
General therapy often addresses current functioning, coping, and emotions without directly engaging with traumatic memories. Trauma-focused therapy explicitly targets the memories, beliefs, and physiological responses connected to past trauma. It typically follows a phased approach: establishing safety and stabilization, processing traumatic material, and then integration and reconnection with life. This structure is important because jumping to trauma processing before a client has sufficient stability can be destabilizing rather than helpful.
What trauma-focused approaches are most evidence-based?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy have the strongest research evidence for PTSD. Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) is the leading approach for children and adolescents. Somatic therapies such as Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and phase-based models like EMDR-based FLASH and IFS, are also widely used for complex and developmental trauma where standard single-modality approaches may be insufficient.
How do I know if I need trauma-focused therapy rather than general therapy?
Signs that trauma-focused therapy may be particularly beneficial include: intrusive memories or flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness or avoidance of trauma-related reminders, hypervigilance, difficulty trusting others, significant shame, or the sense that you have tried general therapy without full resolution of symptoms. An assessment with a trauma-trained therapist can determine whether and what kind of trauma-focused work is appropriate for your presentation.
Is trauma-focused therapy safe?
When conducted by a trained therapist using an established protocol, trauma-focused therapy is safe and effective. Reputable approaches are designed to keep arousal within a manageable "window of tolerance" — avoiding both re-traumatization and emotional shutdown. Stabilization work done before processing ensures that clients have sufficient coping resources. If you feel unsafe at any point in trauma therapy, you can and should communicate this to your therapist, who will adjust the pace and approach.
