LightHouse Counselling and Wellness

LightHouse Counselling and Wellness Helping you live a fulfilling life.

With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, my passion is helping children, parents, caregivers and families live their best lives. I have a Masters in Counselling Psychology and am a Canadian Certified Counsellor who spent many years working as a Child and Family Therapist and mental health leader at a local children's mental health centre where children, parents and families experiencing a range of emotional, social, and/or behavioural challenges came for help. I am trained in cognitive-behavioural therapy, solution-focused therapy, collaborative problem solving, and am one of Ottawa's few practice champions specializing in infant and early childhood mental health. I have developed treatment programs from the ground up that support children and families at home, in schools, and daycares. I am a certified Lean Black Belt and Coach who works with individuals and organizations to accomplish more than they thought possible. Through the collaborative coaching process, I have helped hundreds of clients set and achieve ambitious goals, improve performance, and enhance their overall wellness.

Our Richmond office is on the move! On October 11th, 2025, we'll be welcoming you to our new Richmond location at 6212 P...
10/02/2025

Our Richmond office is on the move!

On October 11th, 2025, we'll be welcoming you to our new Richmond location at 6212 Perth Street. Our new space is just across the street from the Richmond Medical Clinic, where we were previously located.

Same dedicated team, same exceptional care!

To book your session at our new location, visit our website at https://lighthousecw.ca/our-team/

And as always, our care team is always here to answer any of your questions. admin@lighthousecw.ca

Stay tuned for more updates and details!

When we're feeling anxious, people often describe feeling overwhelmed. Anxious thoughts tend to take over and cloud our ...
08/20/2025

When we're feeling anxious, people often describe feeling overwhelmed. Anxious thoughts tend to take over and cloud our ability to see.

When this happens, it can be helpful to pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and ask ourselves the following questions:

What is within my control in this exact moment?

Is there an actual threat to my safety or wellbeing?

What solutions have worked in the past?

What strategies can I use to relax myself?

These questions help to slow the anxious thoughts down, taking us out of the spiral that can so easily happen, and allow us to see things that might not have been as easy to see when the anxiety was in the driver's seat.




Attachment styles are formed early in life and can shape how we experience closeness, handle conflict, and respond to em...
08/19/2025

Attachment styles are formed early in life and can shape how we experience closeness, handle conflict, and respond to emotional needs in relationships.

At our clinic, we help you uncover and heal the unhelpful patterns you might be struggling with in your relationships.

Whether you tend to pull away when things get too close, feel anxious about being abandoned, or struggle to trust others, your attachment style is not set in stone and can change. Therapy is a place to explore these patterns with compassion, build emotional resilience, and move toward a more secure way of relating.

Healing attachment wounds takes time, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you're ready to better understand yourself and create more fulfilling relationships, we're here to help.

📞 Reach out today to begin your journey toward secure connection and emotional well-being.

The little things bring up something big...You start noticing that your reactions don't quite match the situation in fro...
07/29/2025

The little things bring up something big...

You start noticing that your reactions don't quite match the situation in front of you, and you wonder...what is going on?
Why am I reacting this way? Why do similar situations bring up the same big emotion in me?

You tell yourself, next time, I'll respond differently. Then next time rolls around and you get triggered and react in the same way. Hmm...

When this happens, it can sometimes mean there’s something from your past that continues to show up in your present...ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that likely served to protect you when you were young, but no longer serve a helpful purpose. When situations from our past are not given the space and place to be processed, we can sometimes find ourselves reverting back to unhelpful patterns.

Does this feel like you? Are you ready to take a deeper look into your reactions so we can break the pattern moving forward? We're here to help.

07/12/2025

How are you spending your time this weekend?

Here’s the thing. Time is a gift. How intentional are you with your time?

For years, I overextended myself by saying yes to everything. Yes to dinner plans, yes to taking on extra work, yes to sleepovers, extracurricular activities, parties, and all the things. In the end, I had very little time (or energy) for the things that actually mattered the most to me. Things that aligned with my purpose and helped me feel fulfilled and energized.

Because when we say yes to everything, we’re also saying no to a million other things. Things that might be very important to us.

Although some days it’s still a struggle, I am committed to practicing being intentional with my time so I don’t waste a second of this precious life I’ve been blessed with.

If you don’t intentionally choose how your spending your time and book the important things in FIRST, your time will be spent on other people’s priorities.

So, how can you start aligning your time with your purpose? What things will you say yes to? What might you say no to?

Happy Weekend my friends. XO

Political stress arises when we experience worries, frustration, or emotional distress due to political events, conflict...
03/21/2025

Political stress arises when we experience worries, frustration, or emotional distress due to political events, conflicts, or uncertainty. In today’s climate, constant exposure to divisive news, social media debates, and ongoing political turmoil can lead to heightened tension and helplessness.

Political stress can activate our fight-or-flight response, causing physical symptoms like increased heart rate, difficulty sleeping, and heightened irritability. Over time, this stress can contribute to burnout, depression, or even physical health problems.

Understanding how political stress impacts our mental health is crucial. It's important to create boundaries with media consumption, stay informed in a balanced way, and focus on what we can control in our personal lives. Practicing mindfulness, talking to a supportive community, and seeking professional help when needed can be powerful tools to manage political stress effectively.

Remember, protecting your mental health is just as important as staying informed.

Life, just like boxing, can throw unexpected punches – but having the right people in your corner makes all the differen...
03/06/2025

Life, just like boxing, can throw unexpected punches – but having the right people in your corner makes all the difference. 🥊💥 Whether it’s a tough day at work or navigating life’s challenges, having friends and coworkers who support, encourage, and believe in you is what helps us stay strong. 🤝

We are stronger together, shining our light, supporting one another, and building a safe, inclusive community where everyone can grow. So here’s to the friends, coworkers, and teammates who keep us moving forward, even when the going gets tough! 💪❤️

A special thanks to The Rig for facilitating this for us!

Meet Athem - The newest member of our LightHouse Team!We are so excited to welcome Athem, a compassionate and experience...
02/11/2025

Meet Athem - The newest member of our LightHouse Team!

We are so excited to welcome Athem, a compassionate and experienced therapist, offering nearly a decade of expertise in supporting individuals facing mental health challenges.

Specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and more, Athem uses a client-centered, trauma-informed approach to guide individuals towards healing. He integrates therapeutic techniques such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, ACT, and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET), ensuring personalized care for each person.

Athem works with a diverse range of clients, including youth, adults, seniors, veterans, first responders, and BIPOC communities. Offering both in-person and virtual sessions, Athem is committed to providing accessible, flexible care.

Fluent in English and French, he strives to empower his clients through skill-building, advocacy, and trauma recovery, all while creating a safe and supportive environment. Athem works from our East end location and also offers virtual support. Reach out to book an appointment!

We are thrilled to introduce our newest team member, Megan Perkins!Megan is currently working on her Bachelor's degree i...
02/03/2025

We are thrilled to introduce our newest team member, Megan Perkins!

Megan is currently working on her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Carleton. She is hoping to pursue a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology with the goal of becoming a psychotherapist for adolescents and youth.

In her free time, Megan enjoys playing sports and spending quality time with family.

Welcome to the LightHouse Team, Megan!

At the heart of everything we do is care – for our clients, for each other, and for our community. It’s what makes the w...
12/02/2024

At the heart of everything we do is care – for our clients, for each other, and for our community. It’s what makes the world a little brighter, and every bit of kindness matters.

This December, we invite you to join us in spreading some holiday cheer through our Food Drive at the Kanata clinic! 🌟

We’ll be collecting non-perishable food items throughout the month to support local charities that provide for those in need.

Even a small contribution can make a big impact. It’s a simple but meaningful way to practice gratitude, kindness, and connection this season. 💙

Please drop off your donations at the clinic and join us in sharing warmth and compassion with those who need it most. Thank you for being part of our caring community – together, we can make a difference. 🙏

As I dropped my son off at school this morning, I noticed something that stayed with me. A group of kids walked by, spli...
11/14/2024

As I dropped my son off at school this morning, I noticed something that stayed with me. A group of kids walked by, split into smaller cliques—laughing, chatting, having a great time together. But among them, one girl walked alone, her head down, with no group to join. Every now and again, she would look up at the people around her, but would quickly look down again, discretely and without drawing any attention to her. My heart ached for her. If only someone noticed… If only someone invited her to walk alongside them. It would be such a small gesture, but it could mean the world to her.

Loneliness, anxiety, and depression among teens are more prevalent than ever, and it’s a heavy reality that so many young people feel disconnected and isolated. Supporting mental health and building a true sense of community is not just the responsibility of one person; it’s on all of us. Parents, teachers, and community members—let’s make it a priority to talk with our kids and teens about the importance of kindness, inclusion, and belonging. Every gesture of connection, every moment of kindness, can make a difference in someone’s life.

Everyone deserves to feel seen, to know they belong, especially in a place they’re expected to attend for years. We can—and should—do better.

Let’s strive to make our schools a place where everyone feels connected and like they belong. It starts with a simple invitation, a warm gesture, and a willingness to see each other.

Teenagers aren’t just moody—they’re undergoing one of the most profound brain transformations of their lives. Neuroscien...
11/12/2024

Teenagers aren’t just moody—they’re undergoing one of the most profound brain transformations of their lives. Neuroscience shows that the teen brain is a work in progress, especially in areas responsible for decision-making, emotional regulation, and impulse control.

During adolescence, the prefrontal cortex (the part that helps with planning, problem-solving, and thinking things through) is still developing. Meanwhile, the amygdala—the brain’s emotional centre—runs the show, which is why teens often feel everything so intensely. Their emotions are big, their reactions can be impulsive, and they struggle to think through long-term consequences.

You can help them during this critical period of development by deepening your understanding and supporting them through it.

www.lighthousecw.ca

Address

Virtual And In-person Locations
Ottawa, ON

Opening Hours

Monday 8:45am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:45am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:45am - 4:45pm
Thursday 8:45am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:45am - 4:30pm

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