Trauma Focused Therapists in Ottawa, ON

Mala Dorai
Mala Dorai

Therapist Intern

Virtual

I offer a collaborative, trauma-informed therapy space for adults, couples, and families navigating anxiety, burnout, trauma, neurodivergence (including ADHD/autism), grief, and life transitions. Grounded in neuroscience and cultural humility, my work integrates mind, body, and environment, with gentle structure, practical tools, and care for meaningful growth.

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.

Zarifa Andani
Zarifa Andani

MPCC-P, RTC-C

Virtual

This work isn’t about fixing your parts—it’s about helping you feel more like your whole self again. We can work together to slow down, get curious, and listen deeply. Our internal body wisdom is an integral source of information that speaks more significantly than words. Real change is possible when ALL of you feels safe enough to be seen and supported, just as you are.

Shadan Mosavat
Shadan Mosavat

Clinical Counsellor, M.A, RCC, CCC.

Virtual

I'm a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) based in Vancouver, BC, with over 9 years of clinical experience supporting adults with ADHD, BPD, and emotional regulation challenges.

Susan Merli
Susan Merli

Registered Psychotherapist and Executive Coach

Virtual

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.

Katharine De Santos
Katharine De Santos

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Healthy Minds Psychotherapy was founded in 2018 with the mission of providing psychotherapeutic care to individuals from diverse backgrounds, fostering resilience in each person and our community as a whole.

Rae Jardine
Rae Jardine

MA, RSSW, CC-PMH

Virtual

I'm currently accepting new virtual clients in Ontario as well as in-person clients in Toronto with immediate availability and no waitlist, including limited sliding scale spaces. 2SLGBTQQIA+, Neurodivergence, Trauma, Perinatal

Rose Pinghera
Rose Pinghera

MS, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), Member of Ontario Association of Mental Health Practitioners

Virtual

Your grit shines! You are courageously seeking support to overcome the barriers that distance you from your sun within. Are you feeling overwhelmed with: anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, stress, and/or trauma? Are these barriers blocking your: hope, joy, and/or peace? You are much more than your challenges. You have a unique reservoir of self-knowledge!

Carol D.B. Whaley
Carol D.B. Whaley

Psychotherapist

Virtual

I am a Vancouver based Psychotherapist in a diverse and inclusive Private Practice offering both in person and virtual sessions. I have over 22 years of extensive clinical experience working with individuals, couples, families and groups. I work with all ages on any issues that are getting in the way of the client experiencing life to its fullest in the very personal way they want to live.

Tina Pirvali
Tina Pirvali

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

Accepting new clients. I provide virtual therapy across Canada for adults and couples navigating trauma, relationship challenges, communication difficulties, infidelity, codependency, attachment patterns, and life transitions. Using a warm, trauma-informed approach, I help clients strengthen their relationships, reconnect with themselves, and create lasting, meaningful change.

Jillian Ivany
Jillian Ivany

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Life can feel overwhelming, leaving you anxious, disconnected, or stuck in painful patterns. I offer Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy in a warm, non-judgmental space where all parts of you are welcome. Together we explore your inner world with curiosity to support healing, clarity, and connection to yourself and others. I offer virtual/in person session. Free 15min consultations available.

Kanica Coshal, MSW RSW
Kanica Coshal, MSW RSW

Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist

Virtual

Welcome! My name is Kanica and I am a registered Social Worker with over 10 years of experience working with children, teens and adults. I work from a trauma informed lens and specialize in providing support to individuals experiencing anxiety, OCD, depression, ADHD, relationship challenges, parenting, school-related stressors (i.e. academics, attendance, bullying), self-harm, suicide, and self-e…

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…

Heather Andrew
Heather Andrew

Registered Clinical Social Worker MSW RCSW

Virtual

Heather Andrew is the founder of Aspen Wellness Centre. Heather has been a Mental Health Therapist for over eight years, supporting clients with a variety of needs including complex trauma, ADHD, PTSD, grief, anxiety, depression, family conflict and more. Heather is passionate about providing trauma informed care to her clients and is a fierce advocate for mental health awareness.

Sydney Tricand
Sydney Tricand

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

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?

Stacy Kirkbride
Stacy Kirkbride

Registered Psychotherapist, Recreation Therapist

Virtual

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.

Ivana Stanic
Ivana Stanic

Registered Social Worker

Virtual

I'm Ivana Stanic, MSW, RSW, offering individual and couples therapy for anxiety, trauma, ADHD, and relationship patterns including communication, trust, emotional connection, and life transitions. My approach draws on Gottman Method, EFT, CBT, and EMDR, built on six years of experience in the mental health field. I see clients virtually across Ontario and in person in Hamilton.

Feel Your Way Therapy
Feel Your Way Therapy

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

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.

Paris Moaf
Paris Moaf

Registered Psychotherapist, M Psy, MSc, RP

Virtual

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.

Cristal Hines
Cristal Hines

Clinical Social Worker & Therapist

Virtual

I am a Registered Social Worker, and trauma therapist specializing in complex trauma, PTSD, family therapy, and racial trauma. I provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed care using CPT, CBT, DBT, and Narrative Therapy to help adolescents, adults, and families heal, build resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Ottawa, ON Therapists at a Glance

Number of therapists listed

112

Average years in practice

6 Years

Currently accepting new clients

99 %

Therapists in Ottawa, ON who prioritize treating:

74% Anxiety
62% Trauma and PTSD
59% Relationship Issues
40% Depression
32% Emotional Dysregulation
29% Self Esteem
25% ADHD
23% Grief

How therapists see their clients

4% In Person & Online
96% Online Only

Top therapy approaches used in Ottawa, ON:

100% Trauma Focused
71% Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)
58% Attachment-based
55% Strength-Based
54% Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
54% Person-Centered
53% Internal Family Systems (IFS)
50% Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)

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.