Coping Skills Therapists in Waterloo, ON

Brendan McLarty

Brendan McLarty

Master of Social Work (M.S.W, R.S.W) -Social Worker/ Psychotherapist

Virtual

Encountering issues, no matter the severity, is a normal and natural part of our lives. However, I believe that our unique life experiences necessitate a personalized approach to help us achieve our goals in the face of adversity. One size does not fit all. Sessions with me are experiential, focusing on developing present-moment awareness of one’s inner and outer world.

Monica Natalia

Monica Natalia

Registered Psychotherapist, Qualifying

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…

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.

Teresa Mykytuik

Teresa Mykytuik

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

I have over 5-years of providing therapy with the majority of my focus being on working with individuals that help others. Using an eclectic approach, my goal is to work with clients to meet their needs both in-session, as well as providing session times outside of regular business hours.

Geneviève Fontaine

Geneviève Fontaine

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

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.

Khysandra Lee

Khysandra Lee

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Denise Smith

Denise Smith

Registered Social Worker, BSW, MSW, RSW

Virtual

Are you feeling overwhelmed and anxious with balancing work, relationships and/or parenting? Maybe you’re feeling unmotivated, disconnected from yourself and your loved ones and find your mood up and down. You might be struggling with a big life decision or change. It can be difficult to know how to move forward. I’ve been there and I understand how stressful it can be.

Janalyn Dodds MSW, BSW, RSW

Janalyn Dodds MSW, BSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker/ Psychotherapist

Virtual

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.

Meg Walsh

Meg Walsh

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

MEG WALSH, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), BFA, E-RYT I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the CRPO, a member in good standing with my professional association (Canadian Association for Psychodynamic Therapy). I have earned a post-graduate diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from The Centre for Training in Psychotherapy (CTP), and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the OCAD U…

Andrew Jobes

Andrew Jobes

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Something’s not feeling right and it’s time for a change. Perhaps you want less stress and anxiety. Or maybe you’re tired of being held back by feeling “not good enough.” Or you want to improve relationships with friends, loved ones, and co-workers. You might not even be sure what’s wrong, but you’re at the point where you feel it’s time to reach out for help. You are not alone.

Jane Chukwujekwu, MSW

Jane Chukwujekwu, MSW

Registered Clinical Social Worker

Virtual

"Maintaining a client-centred approach, I meet you where you're at, empowering you to navigate new ways of thinking that lead to a more positive life outlook and improved well-being. I am passionate about creating a safe space where you can reflect and re-evaluate, enabling you to make healthier life choices that will alleviate life stressors, leading to a more balanced and fulfilled life. My p...

Fran Isaacs

Fran Isaacs

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

I enjoy working with individuals from all ages and backgrounds, whatever challenges have arisen. I have experience working with anxious and depressed feelings, difficulty with control over emotions, problems arising from past experiences, current crises over relationship, career and motivation, coming to terms with grief, and LGBTQ+ issues.

Tracey Ropp

Tracey Ropp

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Hello! I get that reaching out for support can be difficult, particularly when you’re already feeling busy with work, family, school, or just the overall demands of life in general. I can help to figure out what’s creating stress or unease for you, and then together we’ll develop practical, realistic strategies that fit for you in your current circumstances.

Zeesy Halpern

Zeesy Halpern

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

I offer low cost therapy, including one free session for adults who are struggling with a range of issues including anxiety, depression, life transitions and experiences of trauma. If you have been feeling like you are going through the motions, unable to change unhelpful patterns and overwhelmed with life's challenges, therapy can help you reconnect with yourself, your goals and what matters.

Dr. Ashley Mlotek

Dr. Ashley Mlotek

Clinical Psychologist

Virtual

I work with adult clients with a variety of presenting concerns including but not limited to anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, perfectionism, life transitions, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. I approach therapy within the context of a safe therapeutic relationship based on empathy and compassion. My therapeutic approach draws on several evidence-based modalities...

Yasmin Ahmad

Yasmin Ahmad

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Sisu Therapy offers virtual psychotherapy to adults across Ontario. A calm, collaborative space for anxiety, overwhelm, life transitions, and navigating cultural or family expectations, with care taken to move forward at a manageable pace.

Regina Yakubov

Regina Yakubov

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

Hi, I’m Regina Yakubov, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). I understand how challenging it can feel to start therapy, and I strive to create a warm and nonjudgmental space where you feel supported in sharing your experiences at your own pace. My approach is collaborative and flexible, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), Acceptance and Commitment…

Katie MacDonald

Katie MacDonald

Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist

Virtual

You may find you are lacking in resilience, feeling "stuck" in patterns that aren’t working for you, or are enticed by the prospect of living a life aligned with your true values, but are unsure of how to get there. If a warm, curious and nonjudgmental therapy approach appeals to you, please reach out.

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…

Renee Crossan (she/her)

Renee Crossan (she/her)

Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW)

Virtual

I know how important it is to find a therapist that who truly understands you. As a trauma-informed therapist, I understand that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential for healing and personal growth. I strive to create a safe and nurturing space where you can openly share your experiences, allowing us to work collaboratively on your journey toward resilience and self-discovery.

How do therapists in Waterloo, ON compare?

Number of therapists listed

43

Average years in practice

6.1 Years

Currently accepting new clients

98 %

Therapists in Waterloo, ON who prioritize treating:

100% Coping Skills
88% Anxiety
60% Depression
44% Self Esteem
44% Stress
35% Relationship Issues
30% Emotional Dysregulation
26% Grief

How therapists see their clients

100% Online Only

Top therapy approaches used in Waterloo, ON:

47% Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)
40% Strength-Based
35% Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
35% Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
30% Person-Centered
28% Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
28% Trauma Focused
21% Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

Frequently Asked Questions About Coping Skills

What are coping skills and why do they matter?

Coping skills are the strategies we use to manage stress, difficult emotions, and challenging situations. Some coping strategies are adaptive — exercise, seeking support, problem-solving, mindfulness — while others are maladaptive — avoidance, substance use, self-harm, rumination — providing short-term relief but creating longer-term problems. Therapy focused on coping skills helps you identify which strategies you currently use, understand their effects, and build a broader, more effective toolkit for managing life's difficulties.

What therapy approaches build coping skills?

DBT is one of the most skills-intensive therapy approaches, explicitly teaching four modules of coping skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. CBT builds problem-solving, cognitive restructuring, and behavioural activation skills. ACT develops psychological flexibility. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teaches mindfulness as a core coping tool. Many therapists integrate skills from multiple approaches based on what is most relevant for your specific challenges.

Who benefits most from coping skills therapy?

Coping skills work benefits almost anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, or difficult life circumstances. It is particularly valuable for people who feel overwhelmed by their emotions, who rely on avoidance or unhealthy behaviours to get through hard times, who are managing chronic illness or pain, or who are going through significant life transitions. Children and adolescents also benefit greatly from learning coping skills early, before maladaptive patterns become entrenched.

What is the difference between coping skills and deeper therapy work?

Coping skills address the how of managing distress — the practical tools and strategies. Deeper therapy work addresses the why — the root causes, unresolved experiences, and underlying patterns that create the distress in the first place. Both are important: coping skills provide the stability needed to engage in deeper work, while deeper work reduces the need to rely heavily on coping strategies over time. Many effective treatments integrate both levels.

How quickly can I expect to benefit from coping skills therapy?

Coping skills can produce relatively rapid benefits — many people notice improvements in their ability to manage distress within the first few sessions as they begin applying new tools. The key is consistent practice between sessions: skills that are learned but not practised tend to be unavailable in moments of high distress. Most coping-focused therapies are short to medium term, ranging from 6 to 16 sessions, with the option to continue if deeper exploration is indicated.