Catherine Dwyer
Catherine Dwyer, MSW, RSW
Contact this Therapist
Availability
Available
Office Hours + Location
In Office (Westboro, Ottawa) and Online Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 10:30am-6pm
- Friday: 10:30am-4:30pm
Languages Spoken
English
Practice Areas
Individual Counselling
- Anxiety and Depression
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Stress management
- Life transitions and change
- Personal development / growth (incl purpose, motivation, meaning)
- Communication, assertiveness, and boundaries
- Attachment issues
- Women’s issues
- Addiction and Alternative / non-12 step approach to alcohol use / abuse
- Substance abuse issues
- Self-esteem and confidence issues
- Self-care, burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious / secondary trauma
- Helping professionals, frontline social service workers and caregivers
- Emotion Dysregulation
- Workplace Issues/Stress
- Work-Life Balance
- Imposter Syndrome
- Traumatic Incidents
- Polyvagal Theory (PVT)
- Narrative Therapy
Professional Memberships
- Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
- Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)
- Newfoundland and Labrador College of Social Workers (NLCSW) for virtual services only
Education and Training
- Master of Social Work, Carleton University – 2020
- Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons), Memorial University of NL – 2007
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Hons), Memorial University of NL – 1999
- Emotion Focused Therapy – 2021
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Living Works – 2019
- Narrative Therapy, Dulwich Centre – 2019
- Motivational Interviewing, Psychwire – 2019
- SMART Recovery® and SMART Recovery for Family and Friends® facilitation training for professionals – 2019
- safeTALK: Suicide Alertness for Everyone, Living Works – 2016
Counselling Philosophy
As human beings, we all struggle or get stuck from time to time – feeing lost, overwhelmed, uncertain and disconnected – and we just aren’t meant to face these challenges alone. Our brains are wired to connect from birth, and our relationships – including the ones we have with ourselves, others, and our larger environment – are essential to both our survival and our ability to thrive in life. The therapy relationship itself, is crucial to the success of therapy. It’s so important that you feel comfortable and that you and I are a good fit for one another.
My approach to therapy is both relational and holistic – considering all of the factors that impact your well-being throughout your life – biological, psychological, social, spiritual and structural. My goal is to offer you a relational therapy experience that cultivates the safety, connection, comfort, and acceptance that you need to create deeper awareness, explore difficult topics, heal from past hurts, break negative patterns, manage your emotions and thoughts, and find pathways that lead you towards meaningful change and growth.
As a Newfoundlander, my approach is rooted in warmth, authenticity, and vulnerability – being real with you and down to earth. My professional style is gentle, collaborative and client-centred – honouring your innate wisdom and capabilities. I work from a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and integrative perspective, tailoring your therapy experience to meet your unique needs and goals. I offer the following evidence-based counselling frameworks: relational theory, attachment theory, narrative therapy, emotion focused therapy, polyvagal theory, interpersonal neurobiology and acceptance and commitment therapy.
I do regular consultation with my supervisor for the ongoing development of my professional and ethical expertise and to discuss client concerns in confidential manner. The receipt you will receive will be in my name as a Registered Psychotherapist in the province of Ontario, which is acceptable by most insurance companies (e.g. Sunlife). It is your responsibility to determine whether my receipt is acceptable for your workplace benefits and insurance.
The regular fee for counselling is $170 (No HST).
