Find an ADHD Therapist in Ottawa

"When I accept myself, just as I am, then I can change." - Carl Rogers This is the philosophy that guides my therapy work, and I find it applies especially well to folks with ADHD. When you’ve had to fight to fit in to a neurotypical world all your life, it's hard to avoid a few gut-punches to your self-esteem. We can end up believing that the best way forward is to ignore our natural inclinations and conform to all the expectations of society. When you accept the unique way that your brain works, you give your mind space to breathe, relax, and discover ways to function in the world that actually work for you. I am incredibly grateful to all of my past and current clients who have had the courage to share their stories with me and explore the inner workings of their mind and heart. I have learned so much from your experiences of living with ADHD. While I do focus on clients who have ADHD, please know that this does not have to be our only topic/focus. I'm happy to talk about relationships, anxiety, work struggles, trauma, boundary-holding, decision-making about the future, etc. Please feel free to book yourself in for a free 15-minute intro call by clicking "Book Now" below, or click "Contact" to send me an email and we can get started.

In therapy I aim to provide a safe, compassionate, non-judgemental space where you can explore your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours at your own pace. I help clients gain clarity about the challenges they’re facing, find a healthy sense of balance, and learn strategies to cope more effectively. I like to collaboratively approach problems and help you find creative solutions that fit your values. In our sessions, we can address any number of issues, but here are some common ones we can discuss: ADHD and its impacts, anxiety, managing stress, relationship difficulties (whether that’s with a partner, a friend or your family), sexuality and gender, climate anxiety/grief, parenting challenges, setting limits, assertiveness, self-esteem, or trauma. I’m a parent, a geek at heart, an animal lover, a bookworm, and an ADHDer. My practice is trauma-informed, LGBTQIA2S+ allied, gender-affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, as well as sex-positive and polyamory-friendly. All are welcome here and I look forward to getting to know you! Approach to therapy: I strongly believe that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to therapy. I work from an Integrative lens, meaning that I draw from many different theories and backgrounds to figure out how to best support you and help you achieve the growth and change you are seeking. Some of the theories and approaches I may draw from are: Somatic Experiencing (SE), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Positive Psychology/Strengths-based Therapy, and Mindfulness.

No matter your situation, my goal is to help you feel heard and accepted, and to understand your experience through your eyes. I aim to create a safe place and a strong alliance so we can understand where you are now, define your goals, and how we can achieve them. With a focus on developing confidence and a positive mindset, we will connect your triggers, emotions, and actions, make corrective experiences, and align your actions with your values and needs so you can thrive. If you’re navigating life with ADHD, I offer an approach that’s grounded in both understanding the unique wiring of your brain and the emotional patterns that often come with it — including frustration, shame, or overwhelm. Rather than trying to “fix” ADHD, we’ll focus on learning how your mind works best and building strategies that fit. This means developing tools that support focus, follow-through, and emotional regulation — not by forcing yourself into someone else’s system, but by creating one that works for you. Together, we’ll work toward a life that feels more manageable, more meaningful, and more your own.

As someone who really only came to realize that I had ADHD in my late 20's, I can say that I am all too familiar with the array of trials and tribulations that can arise throughout the life of an ADHDer (in addition to the unique strengths and capabilities that tend to come with them!). I am passionate about working with neurodiversity, and while that often looks a bit different in therapy from person to person, I've found that my work with clients tends to involve some kind of blend of building a safe relationship where you can feel free to vent or express whatever is on your mind, learning new strategies to address lagging executive functioning skills, and the development of skills to better manage the difficult or painful thoughts and feelings that can often get in the way of being the kind of person we want to be. I think of myself as a rather inquisitive therapist, so you can count on me to go beyond asking you "and how does that make you feel?".