Mindfulness-Based CBT Therapists in Ottawa

Browse 1 therapist offering Mindfulness-Based CBT in Ottawa. Find the right counsellor or psychotherapist for your needs.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a structured, evidence-based program that blends cognitive therapy techniques with mindfulness meditation practices. It was developed in the 1990s by psychologists Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale, drawing on Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. MBCT was originally designed to help people who had experienced three or more episodes of depression reduce the risk of future relapse. Research has since expanded its application to anxiety, stress, chronic pain, and other conditions where rumination and unhelpful thought patterns play a central role.

What to look for in a Mindfulness-Based CBT therapist on Purple Lotus

  • Formal MBCT training through a recognized program
  • Experience with depression relapse prevention or anxiety management
  • Comfort guiding mindfulness practices in a clinical context
  • Familiarity with the eight-week structured format

1 therapist for Mindfulness-Based CBT in Ottawa

Browse 1 therapist offering Mindfulness-Based CBT in Ottawa. Find the right counsellor or psychotherapist for your needs.

Julianna Servello

Julianna Servello

I work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families who may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or unsure of how to move forward. My goal is to create a warm, supportive space where you can feel comfortable being yourself while working toward meaningful and lasting change. I bring a strong clinical background to my private practice, with experience working in hospital and community settings with individuals and families navigating a wide range of mental health, emotional, relational, and life challenges. My hospital experience has given me the opportunity to work with people during some of the most difficult and uncertain periods of their lives, supporting clients and families through complex circumstances, significant transitions, illness, trauma, crisis, grief, and changes in functioning. This experience has shaped the way I practice today: with compassion, clinical thoughtfulness, and an understanding that every person’s circumstances and needs are different. My clinical work includes supporting individuals experiencing anxiety, ADHD, OCD, emotional regulation difficulties, relationship and family concerns, grief, trauma, burnout, self-esteem concerns, and major life transitions. I also support clients through prenatal and postpartum challenges and the emotional impact of motor vehicle accidents and other traumatic experiences. I work with clients across the lifespan and tailor therapy to their individual goals, strengths, personality, and circumstances. OCD is a particular area of clinical interest and expertise for me. I have extensive training and experience supporting clients with OCD and related anxiety concerns, and I understand how consuming and disruptive intrusive thoughts, uncertainty, compulsions, and avoidance can become. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and evidence-informed, with the goal of helping clients better understand their experiences and develop greater confidence in responding to difficult thoughts, feelings, and sensations. I also provide OCD-focused clinical supervision and consultation to other clinicians looking to strengthen their knowledge and confidence in this area. I also have a strong interest in ADHD and emotional regulation. For clients with ADHD, I recognize that challenges can extend far beyond attention and organization and may affect relationships, self-esteem, emotional regulation, work, school, and day-to-day functioning. Therapy can provide a space to better understand these patterns, develop strategies that are realistic for your life, and move away from shame or self-criticism toward greater self-understanding. My approach is integrative and individualized. I draw from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-informed practice, narrative therapy, and strengths-based approaches. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all model, I consider what you are experiencing, what has or has not worked for you in the past, and what you hope to change. Together, we can identify practical strategies while also exploring the deeper patterns, experiences, and relationships that may be contributing to what you are experiencing. I believe therapy should be both clinically meaningful and genuinely human. You do not need to have everything figured out before coming to therapy, and you do not need to know exactly what you need. Sometimes people simply know that something is not feeling right, that they are exhausted from trying to manage everything on their own, or that they keep finding themselves caught in the same patterns. Therapy can provide an opportunity to slow down, make sense of what is happening, and develop a clearer path forward. Whether you are navigating anxiety, OCD, ADHD, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, burnout, a major life transition, or simply feeling stuck, I aim to meet you where you are. My role is not to tell you who you should be or how you should live, but to work alongside you to better understand yourself, build on your existing strengths, and develop meaningful changes that fit your life. I welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with clients and, when appropriate, with families and other healthcare professionals involved in their care. My hospital background has reinforced for me the value of collaboration and continuity of care, and I believe that connecting clients with the right supports can make an important difference in their overall wellbeing. Above all, I want therapy to feel like a space where you can be honest, understood, and supported without judgment. Whether you are coming to therapy for the first time or have been in therapy before, we can start wherever you are and work together from there.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy used for?

MBCT is most commonly used to prevent relapse in people who have experienced recurrent depression. It is also used for anxiety, stress, chronic pain, and low mood. The approach teaches mindfulness practices alongside cognitive therapy skills to help people relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings.

How effective is MBCT for depression?

Multiple randomized controlled trials show that MBCT reduces the risk of depression relapse by roughly 43 to 50 percent in people with three or more prior episodes. It is recommended by clinical guidelines in the UK for recurrent depression. Research on anxiety and other conditions is also growing.

Do I need to have meditated before to benefit from MBCT?

No prior meditation experience is required. MBCT programs introduce practices gradually, starting with short, accessible exercises. Therapists guide participants through the techniques step by step. Being new to mindfulness is not a barrier to starting.

How long does MBCT take?

The standard MBCT program runs eight weeks, with sessions typically lasting around two hours in a group format or one hour individually. There is also significant home practice between sessions. After completing the program, some people continue with follow-up or periodic booster sessions.

Is MBCT the same as mindfulness meditation?

MBCT uses mindfulness meditation practices, but it is a structured clinical program, not simply meditation instruction. It adds cognitive therapy elements focused on recognizing depression warning signs and changing your relationship to difficult thoughts, guided by a trained therapist.

Can MBCT be done online?

Yes. MBCT is well-suited to online delivery. Research supports the effectiveness of online and video-based formats. Many therapists trained in MBCT offer individual sessions or structured group programs remotely. Check each therapist profile for the formats they offer.

How is MBCT different from CBT?

Standard CBT aims to change the content of unhelpful thoughts by challenging and restructuring them. MBCT focuses on changing your relationship to thoughts, learning to observe them without getting caught up in them. Both approaches work with cognition, but through different mechanisms.

How do I find an MBCT therapist in Ottawa?

Browse therapists in Ottawa who list Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as a specialty. Look for providers with formal MBCT training and experience with depression or anxiety. Check whether they offer the structured eight-week program individually or in a group format.

Is MBCT covered by insurance in Ottawa?

Coverage depends on your extended health benefits and the therapist's designation. If your therapist in Ottawa is a registered psychologist, psychotherapist, or social worker, MBCT sessions may be reimbursable. Review your plan for eligible provider types and annual limits.

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