Catherine Sullivan Counselling Services

Catherine Sullivan Counselling Services Trauma and EMDR therapy in West end Ottawa. I'm a therapist who is emphatic, compassionate and uses humour. Let's unpack and process your trauma.

I will validate your experience and make you feel heard. Let me guide you on your healing journey. Accepting new clients! In person appointments on Friday mornings. EMDR can help you re-process traumatic memories so they aren’t disturbing anymore. Talk therapy can help you learn new ways to understand your feelings. I work with those who have experienced trauma to help them heal and gain a better understanding of how to move forward. I now offer I-CBT to help treat OCD. This is an upstream treatment that targets the obsessional doubt(s) underlying the compulsive behaviour(s). I can help you regain your confidence, re-establish connections with yourself and others, and rebuild your sense of safety. I offer a safe space for you to unpack the relationship patterns that haven’t been working, and explore how trauma may be impacting your life. Together we’ll rebuild the foundation of your relationships with yourself and others. Using an eclectic mix of therapeutic techniques, including EMDR and I-CBT, I can help you begin to feel like yourself again. From this stronger foundation you can move forward and not have your past trauma(s) continue to affect you in the present. You can learn how to re-shape obsessional narratives into reality based ones. By reconnecting with yourself, you can learn to regulate your emotions and set healthy boundaries in your relationships with yourself and others.

02/27/2026

Here’s my review of Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown. If you liked the other books in this series I think you’ll like this one.
Dan Brown is going to have to start coming up with some new material because the plots of all his books are similar and this one is no different. Even still it was entertaining to read.

02/25/2026

It's not been a good day. I had a migraine so I couldn't work.

I've done a lot over the years to reduce the frequency and intensity of my migraines but they still show up. I don't have control over when I'm going to get one.

I have to cancel clients and reschedule them because I can't therapist. Most of my clients are understanding. As a trauma therapist i'm also teaching my clients to listen to their bodies. I spent years ignoring the signals my body was sending me. Now I'm more attuned to it and I listen when it tells me that I need to rest.

Curious what other therapists with chronic conditions do when they show up?


02/24/2026

Here is the first installment in my yoga poses to help with trauma series. I promised you yoga poses and stretches that would help alleviate tension in the areas where trauma is commonly stored.

This one is called Shoulder Flossing. You’ll need a yoga strap (if you don’t have one a belt or towel will work). Follow me on the video and do 5 to 10 reps and your shoulders should feel much more open.

02/18/2026

I’m guessing most of you didn’t realize that I was also a trained yoga instructor. I’ve been doing yoga for years and it’s helped me deal with both physical and emotional pain.

Now I’m going to use my knowledge and expertise in this area to show you some simple yet effective yoga poses and stretches. These stretches will help you to alleviate the tension in the shoulders, neck, upper back and hips.

These areas tend to get tight especially if you’re anxious because you tend to scrunch up these areas. The hips generally hold a lot of tension because we sit a lot and tension from other areas in the body can migrate there.

Stay tuned to my feed for weekly posts with helpful yoga poses if you’re dealing with trauma and anxiety.

02/17/2026

It's been a while since I did a book review
This book wasn't good. It was a book club pick so I pushed myself to finish it
The author tried to drum up sympathy for the 1% but it didn't work. The characters were also shallow. She switched too much between narratives to really get enough depth.

I've recently heard people having questions about who is qualified or able to do psychotherapy. In my February Blog I b...
02/16/2026

I've recently heard people having questions about who is qualified or able to do psychotherapy. In my February Blog I breakdown who is licensed to do psychotherapy in Ontario and what their qualifications are.
I also give you tips about how to find a therapist that will help you deal with the issues you want to deal with regardless of their qualifications.

02/13/2026

Let’s face it I was never great at poetry.

Be real. Valentine’s Day isn’t about love. It’s not about romance. It’s about marketing. And companies have gotten good at convincing you to buy s**t for your partner.

If you’re in a healthy and loving relationship you don’t need a day to let your partner know you care. You do it all the time.

If you’re in an unhealthy or abusive relationship Valentine’s Day is an excuse for empty apologies (think “It will never happen again”) and Love Bombing disguised as romance.

Am I right?

02/11/2026

Is it just me or does filming content feel like SOOOO much work? I try to do it in batches but even then it feels like such a chore. I always seem to find some reason to put it off. I know how important it is to market yourself on social media as a therapist but I’m not someone who’s always filming or has my phone at the ready. I feel like I have to carefully plan out what I’m going to post. Then you have to edit it, find music to go with it and write a cute little blurb.

UGHHHHHHHHH! The struggle is real.

02/07/2026

If you're not feeling well whether it's physically or mentally
YOUR BODY NEEDS TO REST.
Whether that means taking breaks, taking a day off, having a nap or whatever helps you feel rested.
Pushing through and hoping things will get better is not the answer.
If you're healing from trauma the process is no different.
If you're interested in trauma therapy in the West end of Ottawa or online in Ontario click the link in my bio.

Address

1439 Woodroffe Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K2G1W1

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 11:30am
Friday 8:45am - 12pm

Telephone

+13433405031

Website

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