Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Waterloo, ON

Eleni Anagnosti
Eleni Anagnosti

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), ADHD-CCSP, MS, HBA, BA

Virtual

My approach is compassionate, culturally attuned, and collaborative. I draw from CBT, strengths-based, solution-focused, and trauma-informed approaches to support ADHD, anxiety, depression, burnout, grief, life transitions, and relationship patterns. Together, we focus on building practical tools, emotional balance, and a stronger sense of self-trust.

Jordanne Mulkewich
Jordanne Mulkewich

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

I help adults and teens navigate anxiety, OCD, phobias (including emetophobia), perfectionism, and overthinking. My approach is evidence-based but never one-size-fits-all. We’ll work collaboratively to understand what’s keeping you stuck and build the confidence to move toward the life you want—at a pace that feels manageable.

Kathryn Jones
Kathryn Jones

Registered Social Worker

Virtual

I provide evidence-based therapy for Anxiety, OCD, Depression, ADHD, Behavioural Addictions (ie., shopping, gambling, pornography, gaming), Stress, Unhealthy Relationships, Body Image, and Trauma. Together, we'll clarify your goals and identify the thoughts, beliefs, or behaviours getting in your way. We'll create a roadmap with realistic, meaningful steps toward living your best possible life.

Sophie Marie McPherson
Sophie Marie McPherson

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) B.A., M.A.

Virtual

I offer psychotherapy services to teens and adults struggling with a wide range of presenting concerns. I have experience working with ADHD, anxiety, life transitions, stress, self-esteem and body image issues, chronic illness/pain, gender dysphoria, sexuality exploration, and non-monogamous relationships.

Alysha Bernstein
Alysha Bernstein

Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor & Traumatologist

Virtual

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

Julia Finetti
Julia Finetti

Registered Clinical Counsellor & Couples Therapist

Virtual

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.

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.

Maria Yaglovski
Maria Yaglovski

Registered Psychotherapist/ Canadian Certified Counsellor

Virtual

Hi, I’m Maria, a Registered Psychotherapist and Canadian Certified Counsellor. I provide a supportive, non-judgmental space to explore patterns, beliefs, and challenges. Through mindfulness and evidence-based approaches, I help you gain clarity, shift perspective, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Jordan Best
Jordan Best

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

Anxiety can make your world feel smaller. Whether you're struggling with OCD, panic, health anxiety, social anxiety, an overwhelming phobia or constant worry, therapy can help you break free from the cycle. I provide compassionate, evidence-based therapy using ERP, CBT, and ACT to help you face fear, build confidence, and reconnect with the life you want to live.

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.

Natalie Demian
Natalie Demian

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

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.

Laila Crawford
Laila Crawford

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

I am a warm, friendly and non-judgemental therapist who believes in moving with you rather than trying to move you. I practice from an Existential therapy lens, and utilise ACT, CBT, EMDR for trauma, and EFT for couples therapy. I help clients with any and all presenting concerns - often seeing folks with AuDHD, anxiety, addictions, intimacy issues, trauma, couples, and career/life transitions.

Jessica DeMille
Jessica DeMille

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MACP, B.Sc (Hons)

Virtual

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.

DeRoux Jones
DeRoux Jones

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

I’m DeRoux Jones, a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario with a Master of Counselling Psychology specializing in Marriage & Family Therapy. I serve individuals, couples, and families, helping with anxiety, depression, grief, relationships, and Christian counselling. My approach is collaborative, evidence-based, and client-centered, creating a safe space for growth and healing.

Monica Natalia
Monica Natalia

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Do you constantly judge yourself harshly and worry about how others perceive you? You’re someone who puts everyone else first, making sure the people around you are comfortable and happy. Yet even with all that effort, you still feel anxious, overwhelmed, and never “good enough.” You may hold back from changing because you fear conflict, disappointment, or losing the people you care about. But d…

Arianne Nicole Palmares
Arianne Nicole Palmares

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

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.

Carla Barbosa
Carla Barbosa

Registered Social Worker

Virtual

I’m a bilingual psychotherapist (English | Portuguese) offering LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent-affirming therapy for adults navigating autism, ADHD, burnout, and identity exploration. I integrate compassion, cultural awareness, and evidence-based care to help clients feel seen and empowered across life’s transitions.

Caroline D Souza
Caroline D Souza

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

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…

Amelia Traer
Amelia Traer

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), BA, PsiChi

Virtual

My work is shaped by CBT, ACT, DBT, ERP, and trauma-informed, mindfulness-based approaches. I support clients with anxiety, burnout, OCD and phobias, ADHD, grief, life transitions, women's health, and chronic health concerns. Our therapy space adapts, with a focus on connection, emotional regulation, and practical strategies that fit your life.

Waterloo, ON Therapists at a Glance

Number of therapists listed

87

Average years in practice

4.9 Years

Currently accepting new clients

99 %

Therapists in Waterloo, ON who prioritize treating:

84% Anxiety
57% Relationship Issues
44% Depression
38% Self Esteem
37% Trauma and PTSD
32% Stress
28% ADHD
23% Emotional Dysregulation

How therapists see their clients

100% Online Only

Top therapy approaches used in Waterloo, ON:

100% Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
90% Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)
64% Trauma Focused
63% Strength-Based
62% Dialectical Behaviour (DBT)
56% Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
53% Person-Centered
52% Attachment-based

Frequently Asked Questions About Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

ACT (pronounced as the word "act") is a modern, evidence-based form of CBT that focuses on psychological flexibility — the ability to be present with difficult thoughts and feelings without letting them dictate your behaviour, and to take action aligned with your values even in the presence of discomfort. Rather than trying to eliminate negative thoughts or feelings, ACT teaches you to change your relationship with them so they have less control over your life.

How is ACT different from traditional CBT?

Traditional CBT aims to identify and change unhelpful thoughts — replacing distorted thinking with more balanced thinking. ACT takes a different approach: rather than changing the content of your thoughts, it changes your relationship to them through defusion (learning to observe thoughts rather than being fused with them) and acceptance (making room for difficult feelings rather than fighting them). ACT also places significant emphasis on values clarification and committed action toward what matters most to you.

What conditions does ACT treat?

ACT has a strong evidence base across a wide range of conditions including anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, substance use, eating disorders, PTSD, and workplace stress. It is particularly well-suited for people who have already tried to "think their way out" of mental health struggles without lasting success, and for chronic conditions where eliminating distress is not possible but improving quality of life is. ACT is also widely used for general personal growth and resilience building.

What does an ACT session involve?

ACT sessions use a combination of experiential exercises, metaphors, mindfulness practices, and values exploration. Common exercises include defusion techniques (creating distance from unhelpful thoughts, such as noticing "I'm having the thought that..."), acceptance practices (making room for difficult feelings without struggling against them), and values clarification (identifying what matters most and what you want your life to stand for). ACT is experiential rather than lecture-based — the work happens through doing, not just discussing.

How many ACT sessions are typically needed?

ACT is often delivered over 8–16 sessions for specific conditions, though it can be shorter or longer depending on the complexity of the presentation. Many people find ACT principles continue to deepen and benefit them long after formal therapy ends because the approach provides a general framework for living — not just a set of techniques for a specific problem. Between-session practice of ACT skills in daily life is an important part of the process.