Previously Ottawa Holistic Wellness
Who is the Best Ottawa Therapist?

Who is the Best Ottawa Therapist?

Are you looking for the best Ottawa therapist for your needs?

Here are several things that you might like to consider, in no particular order:

  1. Location
  2. Specialization
  3. Experience
  4. Cost and Insurance coverage

And the most important consideration when choosing the best Ottawa therapist for you?

They need to be the “right fit..”

Location

Therapy, counselling and psychotherapy is always ongoing process. You will likely find very little benefit from just one session, and the majority of us do attend for several visits. This could be weekly, biweekly or maybe monthly.

For this reason, finding someone in a location that is easy for you to attend is important. You need to consider the method of transportation, parking if required, and a venue where you feel comfortable. They may be the best Ottawa therapist, but if the room they use feels claustrophobic, unwelcoming or unsafe the sessions will not be beneficial.

Specialization

Each therapist will have an area of particular interest. This may be trauma, identity questions, relationship boundaries, anxiety/depression, unresolved grief or other areas. They may also work mostly with clients of a particular age.

Try to find someone who can address your individual needs.

In addition to their area of interest, they may use diverse approaches. These may include one or more of the following:

  1. Self-compassion, mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies
  2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  3. Interpersonal Therapy
  4. Exposure Therapy
  5. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
  6. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
  7. Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
  8. Neurolinguistic Reprogramming (NLP)
  9. Sensory Motor Therapy
  10. Somatic Experiencing

Experience and Training

Of course, their experience and expertise are important. However, the right person for you may be younger with fewer years in practice.

Just because a therapist has many years of practice and qualifications makes them the best Ottawa therapist for you.

Look at these factors but do not become hung up with them.

Cost and Insurance Coverage

Many insurance plans cover counselling and therapy. You will need to check with your provider. The therapist will also need a supervisor under whom they provide receipts.

No insurance or limited coverage? Most therapists offer a sliding scale of fees, so do not be put off by the price that may be listed. If the therapist feels the right fit for you, talk to them, and see what they can do.

This service can also be put against your taxes as a medical expense.

So Who is the Best Ottawa Therapist For You?

When everything above falls into place, the simple answer is the therapist who feels like the “right fit”…

All the other factors may be perfect, and the therapist may even have been highly recommended by someone you know. Still, if you are uncomfortable with that therapist, do not feel completely at ease, are safe and able to open up, and be vulnerable, you will be wasting your time and money.

Do you have any other factors that should be considered? Let me know!