Trauma and PTSD Therapists in St. Catharines, ON
Melodie Britt
Psychologist
Sometimes life can become overwhelming, and we try to cope with life’s difficulties as best as we can, but sometimes realize that we need extra help to feel better. Seeking out professional help is a very courageous and admirable decision, and I can’t wait to meet with you and help you through your journey of facing your difficulties and healing!
Kristina Founk
Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist, Counselling Therapist
Hi! I’m Kristina, and I specialize in guiding individuals through the challenges of anxiety, phobias, and panic attacks. I am an ARCH registered clinical hypnotherapist with specialized training in supporting individuals with PTSD/CPTSD. I would be honoured to help you achieve lasting relief through the transformative power of hypnotherapy. Together, we'll embark on a journey towards inner peac...
Katherine McNichol
Registered Psychotherapist
Katherine is a Registered Psychotherapist with 8 years of experience supporting adults, couples, and teens through anxiety, trauma, depression, burnout and relationship issues. Trained in EFT, CBT, and EMDR, she takes a direct and compassionate approach to help clients move from surviving to thriving. She offers virtual psychotherapy across Canada and is current accepting clients.
Vanessa Fingland
Master Practitioner In Clinical Counselling-Prov
Counselling for Women. I know how tired you are of feeling overwhelmed, stressed and not being able to get your needs met. Imagine how life could be if you could control your emotions, ask for what you want, and not feel guilty! I help women who struggle with: relationships, setting boundaries, confidence, communicating their feelings, stress, burnout, anxiety, anger/resentment.
Michael Greene
Registered Psychotherapist
ARE YOU YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY? Do you constantly criticize yourself? Do you measure yourself unfairly against other people? Do you make bad choices or sabotage your good choices? Is the story you tell about yourself one that diminishes who you are? Over the years I have helped many people with self esteem issues. I help them see themselves in a new way that is positive and fulfilling.
Lester Vega
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I offer psychotherapy rooted in both psychodynamic and Jungian approaches for adults living with the lasting impact of early adversity, complex trauma, and attachment wounds. Together we explore anxiety, burnout, relationship patterns, grief, shame, spirituality, and dreams at a pace that fits your nervous system. I provide secure online therapy across Ontario and a free 30‑minute consultation.
Cherisse N. Doobay
Therapist
In our first session, I will ask you to share your story about your current struggles. We will work collaboratively to identify the core issues and what your goals are for our work together. At the core of my work is the belief in the resiliency of the human spirit; and that change can happen when we connect with each other and with our human nature.
Melilssa Donohue
Registered Social Worker/Psychotherapist
Hi, I’m Melissa — it is lovely to (virtually) meet you. I am a Registered Social Worker and the proud founder of Striving for Synergy Psychotherapy and Counselling Clinic. I offer individual psychotherapy for adults navigating trauma, anxiety, OCD, and attachment-related concerns. If what you read here resonates, I would be more than happy to connect for a free 20-minute consultation call. If yo…
Sandeep Kaur Marwaha
Occupational Therapist, Psychotherapist
As a brown kid of immigrants from the Global South, I appreciate the nuances, struggles, and beauty of being from immigrant and global majority communities. My values of acceptance, compassion, curiosity, and connection guide my work. With an anti-oppressive, relational lens, I will support you to soften towards yourself, slowly heal, and move in alignment with your values instead of fear.
Lori Schledewitz
MACP, RP
A Compassionate Space Psychotherapy uses the principles of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help clients reconnect with their inner voice and strength—supporting their healing and growth while managing anxiety, chronic pain, grief, loss, and traumatic experiences. Therapy is client-centred and compassion-focused.
Alysha Bernstein
Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor & Traumatologist
I am a registered psychotherapist with a decade of experience in mental healthcare. I have built an authentic, client-centred, and empathic space in my private practice since 2020. We provide care for a wide range of mental health issues and couples or family conflict. My team is as accessible and affordable as possible and we are constantly learning new and better ways to support our clients
Shadan Mosavat
Clinical Counsellor, M.A, CCC.
I work with adults struggling with anxiety, depression, and ADHD to help them understand and embrace the parts of themselves that are often hidden beneath these labels. I also support parents in discovering their most authentic and confident parenting style, free from the pressure of societal myths and expectations.
Donnica Campbell
Registered Social Worker/ Psychotherapist
Beginning therapy can feel like a vulnerable step, and it can also open the door to greater grounding, clarity, and self-connection. I work from a trauma-informed and inclusive approach. Together, we’ll explore what healing looks like for you, at a pace that feels supportive, and work toward feeling more connected, empowered, and well.
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.
Matteo Castelli
Registered Psychotherapist & Counsellor
Matteo Castelli has over 15 years of experience providing psychotherapy, group education, counselor training, and mental health advocacy. With an educational background including a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, he brings both academic knowledge and practical experience to his work with clients.
Kimberley Sanzo
Registered Social Worker & Psychotherapist
I support clients in processing emotions, regulating their nervous systems, and healing from attachment wounds and trauma. My approach helps people feel more at ease in their bodies, make clearer decisions, and build more connected relationships with themselves and others. I'm currently accepting new clients and offer free 15-minute consultations. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to connect!
Ashley Davenport
Registered Psychotherapist
With over 20 years' experience in working with a variety of clients and concerns regarding mental health and problems in living, I have learned that it is most important to provide a space in which clients can feel safe and able to reflect upon and evaluate their circumstances. I will work with you to determine the best treatment approach and together we will walk toward understanding and healin…
Tina Bells
Registered Psychotherapist
You're carrying a lot. Memories you didn’t ask for, pain that shows up out of nowhere, the feeling that you've lost not just someone you love, but part of yourself. EMDR can be a powerful way to process what’s unresolved when you’re seeking relief, clarity, and a deeper sense of connection, with yourself and with others. When grief and trauma run deep, it’s not always easy to find the words and y…
Alexander Vasilovsky
Psychologist
Therapy can provide opportunities to reflect on the aspects of your life you’d like to change, as well as to explore new ways of seeing and being seen, of connecting and responding to yourself and others. This sort of change can expose us to feeling vulnerable, so I commend you on your courage to consider this next step.
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.
How do therapists in St. Catharines, ON compare?
Number of therapists listed
Average years in practice
Currently accepting new clients
Therapists in St. Catharines, ON who prioritize treating:
How therapists see their clients
Top therapy approaches used in St. Catharines, ON:
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma and PTSD
What is trauma and when does it become PTSD?
Trauma refers to an overwhelming experience — such as abuse, accidents, assault, natural disasters, or witnessing violence — that exceeds a person's capacity to cope. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs when symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbing, hypervigilance, and avoidance persist for more than a month and cause significant impairment. PTSD affects an estimated 9–10% of Canadians at some point in their lives.
Which therapy approaches are most effective for trauma and PTSD?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy have the strongest evidence for PTSD. Trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT) is the leading approach for children and adolescents. Somatic and body-based therapies are increasingly used alongside these approaches for complex or developmental trauma.
What is complex trauma (C-PTSD) and how is it treated?
Complex PTSD arises from repeated, prolonged trauma — often in childhood, such as abuse, neglect, or domestic violence — rather than a single incident. It involves additional features beyond standard PTSD, including difficulties with emotional regulation, identity, and relationships. Treatment is typically longer-term and uses phase-based approaches that build safety and stabilization before directly processing traumatic memories.
Do I have to talk about the traumatic event in therapy?
Not necessarily, and not right away. Effective trauma therapy begins with establishing safety and building coping skills before approaching traumatic memories. EMDR processes trauma without requiring you to narrate it in detail. Your therapist will move at a pace that feels manageable, and you always retain agency over what you address in each session.
Is it safe to start trauma therapy if I am currently in crisis?
Trauma therapy is most effective when you have some degree of stability and safety in your current life. If you are in acute crisis — such as active suicidal ideation, ongoing abuse, or severe dissociation — your therapist will prioritize stabilization and safety planning before any trauma-processing work begins. If you are in immediate danger, contact the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline or emergency services (911).