Psychotherapy Services in Ottawa

With access to so many psychotherapists in Ottawa, it can be overwhelming to know how to choose the right practitioner for you. This page will give you an overview of the psychotherapy services available at Woodward Health.

Psychotherapy is a form of talk therapy. It helps you work through challenging emotions or life changes with the help of a skilled practitioner. This can help reduce the trial and error of trying to work through these big steps on your own, getting you faster results.

Mental health is just as important as your physical health. It impacts every aspect of your life. Scheduling yourself in for psychotherapy helps ensure that you set time aside for yourself on a regular basis.

Our practitioners take a client-centred approach. This means that care is tailored to each individual client, rather than following a specific formula. Since each client is unique, each client has unique needs and goals.

While some clients come in knowing exactly what they want to work on, others may know that they would benefit from the care without knowing exactly what to work on. Your practitioner will work with you to evaluate your needs if you're unsure where to begin.

During the course of your sessions, you'll work to develop your coping skills and learn to better manage your relationships.

During your first appointment, your practitioner will begin by reviewing informed consent with you. This will help you understand the scope of practice, regulations around privacy, and the practitioner's policies.

The first session or two, your psychotherapist will aim to get to know your situation. You'll discuss your current situation, your goals, your support systems, your occupation, a bit about your history. You're not required to disclose anything you're uncomfortable discussing. Your practitioner values building trust and a good rapport.

At the beginning of each session, you'll have the opportunity to provide any updates since your last appointment. If you're someone who benefits from having homework between sessions, you'll then review your progress on the homework. You'll then discuss your current state and mood to help determine the ideal depth for that day's session. You may continue to work towards your ongoing goal or discuss something that may feel more pressing. At the end of the session, your practitioner will do a check in. This is to help ensure that you're not leaving your appointment feeling upset or overwhelmed.

The general scope of psychotherapy is quite broad. At Woodward Health, we are currently accepting psychotherapy clients for fertility, grief, perinatal mental health, trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and life transitions.

Our psychotherapists have an eclectic approach to care. This allows them to less rigidly follow a structure, and instead cater the sessions to your particular needs.

It's always important to double check with your particular extended healthcare plan. Most private health benefits plans do cover psychotherapy services. Additionally, any portions of your sessions not covered by insurance is eligible for the Medical Expense Tax Credit.

If you feel ready to get started, you can schedule a session with Melanie Parent-Dance.