Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Waterloo, ON
Margot Hovey
Counselling Therapy
About me I’m embracing Eldership in my counselling practice: individuals, dyads, and families through transitions and challenges. During our conversation your life story, influences, and challenges emerge. We’ll collaborate on how to best shape the life you want to lead. Integral counselling weaves mind, body, and spirit into healing. I bring a deep appreciation of wholeness to our work.
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.
Ashley Toogood
Registered Psychotherapist, RP, MA, BA (she, her)
I enjoy holding space for my clients and engaging in individual therapy sessions with people aged 14+ of all genders and sexualities. I offer a place for individuals to discuss their emotions and grow from surviving to thriving. I take pride in walking with you down whatever path you are on. I have particular experience in working with stress, anxiety, and burnout, offering a listening ear.
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.
Sophie Cohen
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Trauma-informed therapy available virtually
Megan Gauthier
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
*Accepting new client in-person in Guelph and virtually across Ontario* Therapy for people who struggle with self-doubt, overthinking, and repeating painful relationship patterns.
Elliott McLarnon
Registered Psychotherapist
My name is Elliott, a Registered Psychotherapist in Toronto, Ontario. I practice from the Humanistic perspective, which emphasizes that (believe it or not) clients know what is best for themselves – not the therapist. With curiosity, an open-mind, and a non-judgmental stance, my hope is to help you reconnect with the most authentic parts of yourself.
Tanja Ivic
Registered Social Worker
*Accepting new virtual clients across Ontario, supporting teens and adults navigating anxiety, trauma, addiction patterns, identity and life transitions.
Monica Natalia
Registered Psychotherapist, Qualifying
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…
Carla Barbosa
Registered Social Worker
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.
Sarah Berneche
Student Therapist
**I am a student therapist with placements in Alberta & Ontario. I am supervised by seasoned psychotherapists. I support individuals experiencing reproductive mental health concerns, such as endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, pregnancy loss, perimenopause, and the impact of living with complex reproductive health conditions, as well as eating disorders & body image concerns.
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.
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
Eleni Anagnosti
Pre-Licensed Professional, MS, HBA, BA
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.
Greg Clarke
Mental Health/Addiction Counsellor - RSSW, Psychotherapist , CCAC MATS CPGC
Hello, I’m Greg Clarke. I have spent the last 40 years working in the mental health and addiction field. Throughout my career, I have focused on providing compassionate support to individuals facing a variety of challenges, including addiction, problem gambling, chronic conditions, grief and bereavement, life changes and ageing, as well as anxiety and depression.
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…
Cassandra Tennriello
Registered Psychotherapist
Hi! I'm a Registered Psychotherapist and Canadian Certified Counsellor with 11 years of experience. I walk alongside my clients as they heal, whether supporting emotional regulation, processing trauma, or navigating life transitions. I use an integrative approach, drawing from different theories, modalities, and approaches that fit their unique needs!
Samantha Duarte Alvarez
Registered Psychotherapist (RP)
New clients are welcome! I'm Sam, a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario specializing in trauma, grief, and work stress for adults navigating difficult experiences and life transitions. Together, we work to make sense of what you’re experiencing, gently connect with your nervous system and emotions, and support meaningful shifts that feel aligned with who you are.
Anastasia Berezowsky
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
My practice blends talk therapy and structured accountability to help you find balance and resilience—especially when life feels demanding and you need some direction. With a background in Kinesiology and Psychology, I take a whole-person approach that connects mind and body. I support clients who feel misaligned and need the space to untangle themselves from the stressors of every day.
Erin Ibrahim
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), BA
Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, relationship stress, self-esteem struggles, or just feeling stuck, we can work through it together. Pulling from a variety of frameworks to instead suit your unique needs instead of making it feel one-size-fits-all, I have interest in anxiety, depression, relationships, attachment, neurodiversity, and self-esteem. I look forward to connecting!
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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.