Josée Sovinsky, Registered Psychotherapist

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Josée Sovinsky, Registered Psychotherapist

Psychotherapist in Ottawa, Canada. Co-founder of Blossom Counselling Centre. She/They

10/21/2025

As a neurodivergent-affirming therapist, I’ve seen how often people are handed systems, hacks, and productivity tools as the “solution” to ADHD. But the most profound shifts don’t tend to come from doing more, they come from recognizing our capacity and honouring our needs.

I know this isn’t the shiny or flashy response people often want. It’s painful to exist as an ADHDer in a world shaped by capitalism and ableism. I hold deep compassion for those seeking quick fixes, because of course we want relief.

But the more I saw my brain as something to hack or fix, the more I rejected myself and the more I struggled. When I began redirecting my frustration toward the systems that failed me, and started working with my brain and my capacity, I found something gentler. A bit of relief. A bit of peace.

It’s not perfect. And my goal is never to adjust to oppression.
Instead, I try to reclaim my agency by prioritizing my needs, centering my values, and challenging the internalized pressure to perform.

This is the kind of work I strive to support my clients in too: not just "functioning", but resisting and reclaiming power.

10/07/2025

Honest share: I am caught up on chart notes for the first time in months.

Sharing this comes with some shame, as it's easy to fall into comparing myself to the expectations of what professionals "should" be able to accomplish. These neurotypical expectations don't consider the sheer level of executive functioning that comes with writing notes. I've often heard colleagues share, "I don't know why people complain about notes, I just write them quickly after sessions and I'm rarely behind".

This has never been my experience. There are certainly times where I am more behind than others, but I am nearly always some level of behind. Over the years, as I've learned more about neurodivergent affirming frameworks, I have worked hard on challenging "professional" ableist expectations and approaching myself with gentleness.

Yet, it's still hard. I'm human, and I'm not immune to feeling inadequate, especially in a world that is built to make neurodivergent people feel less than.

I'm working on seeing my slower note writing as resistance to ableist expectations. It's definitely a work in progress.

08/18/2025

I am so excited to welcome Loren to Blossom Counselling Centre as he completes his therapy practicum under my supervision!

Offering lower-cost therapy, Loren supports clients through:
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ journeys
💔 Grief & loss
🌱 Identity exploration
🌊 Life transitions
🤝 Relationship concerns

Rooted in the values of community, equity, and deep listening, Loren believes that every story deserves to be honoured in its social and cultural context. Working from a person-centered, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed framework, he helps clients explore identity, meaning, and resilience—at their own pace.

Outside of his clinical work, Loren is active in local governance and enjoys travel, music, and exploring food culture.

Loren is booking discovery calls for new clients:

https://blossomcounselling.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/14/treatment/71

07/29/2025

Simple tasks are not so simple, especially for neurodivergent folks who might experience differences in executive functioning and sensory processing. The ability to accomplish tasks is also influenced by other factors, like access to time, finances, and social support.

So, next time you think to yourself, "why can't I just do this task?", remember, it's not "just" a task. It's layered, involves many steps, and can be steeped in barriers.

I hope that can lead to a tiny bit of self-compassion.

07/24/2025

This is for the neurodivergent folks who are juggling an ableist world alongside chronic illness, trauma, disability, racism, q***rness, parenting, and *gestures at the state of the world*.

Consistency is a privilege, not a requirement for worth. Every time you care for yourself, it counts.

You’re not failing. You’re adapting in a world that wasn’t designed for you.

Your survival is resistance. Your care is power.

05/20/2025

The student I'm supporting, Lisa Rutledge, started practicum a few weeks ago and I'm already in awe of the curiosity, compassion, and care she is bringing to her work. As a dietitian retraining to become a therapist, Lisa brings such important perspectives to this field.

Lisa has space for new lower cost clients ($50-90) in Ontario (18+). You can learn more about her here:

https://blossomcounsellingcentre.com/lisa-rutledge

05/06/2025

When you are consistently taught that your needs are unreasonable, childish, and invalid, it can lead to disconnection with the body as well as so much self-doubt. It makes sense that this creates challenges recognizing, sharing, advocating for, and meeting physical, emotional, and sensory needs. This is a form of masking that is both protective and exhausting.

Think about it. If every time you expressed that exposure to a certain food makes you feel nauseous, you were told to "push through", "deal with it", or "overcome the anxiety", you might start to disconnect from your body’s signals, internalize the belief that you are being unreasonable, and ultimately ignore your own needs. This kind of narrative shows up not only from friends and family members, but also from many healthcare professionals.

People with ARFID deserve to be validated, heard, accommodated, and supported.

04/03/2025

I am thrilled to share that I will be supervising Lisa Rutledge as she completes her psychotherapy practicum. Given her previous career as a dietitian, Lisa brings incredibly valuable and insightful experience as she enters this new field.

Lisa is accepting new clients for lower cost counselling starting in May!

A few details:
- Lisa supports adults (18+)
- Residents of Ontario
- Session fees range from $50-90 per session

To book a free discovery call with Lisa:
https://blossomcounselling.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/13/treatment/68

02/11/2025

I have spent the last few weeks (read: years) talking to many clients, many of whom are part of LGBTQ+ communities, about their increasing fear given the sociopolitical climate.

This is not a question of people being "snowflakes" or "too sensitive". People's safety and wellbeing are being threatened by hatred and willful ignorance. It is terrifying, shameful, and deeply troubling.

Therapy is political. As therapists, we cannot remain neutral in the face of oppression. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

11/27/2024

Fellow ADHDers: Instead of questioning, “Why do I keep failing?” try asking, “How is the system failing me?”

So often, ADHDers blame themselves when things go wrong. Over time, this can have a very big impact on how ADHDers see themselves, leading to a sense of inadequacy and failure.

In a world built for neurotypical people that often doesn’t accept or accommodate ADHDers, let’s redirect the blame where it belongs (i.e. NOT on you!).

I assure you, you are not the problem, even though society often makes you feel like one. ♥️

11/07/2024

🌟 Accepting New Clients 🌟

I'm excited to share that I currently have space to accept a few new psychotherapy clients!

Here's what you can expect from our sessions:

🧠 ADHD support: Let's dig into how living in a world that wasn't built for you brain has impacted you. Let's explore masking, burnout, sensory processing, executive functioning, relationships, etc.

🌈 LGBTQ+ identities: As a fellow q***r person, I love holding space for people to explore who they are, sharing in anger about anti-q***r and anti-trans narratives and policies, and affirming the heck out of their identities and experiences.

✨ Eating disorders/challenges: Let's explore how your current eating patterns have served you, what you'd like to change, and how you might do that in a way that aligns with YOUR values, instead of the values promoted by diet culture, fatphobia, white supremacy, ableism, etc.

My approach:

🌿 Humanistic: I believe in your innate value and I strive to see your abundance. I focus on what matters most to you, and I don't see you as deficient or broken.

❤️ Heart-based: I listen deeply, I empathize, and I aim to create enough safety for vulnerability to emerge. I aim to hold you in the deepest care, so that you may find a way to do that for yourself too.

🌍 Social justice & anti-oppression: I am curious about the ways that systemic oppression has harmed you, and I make space for anger, grief, and sadness towards the state of our world.

Some details:
- Open to residents of Ontario
- 18+ years old
- Daytime availability
- Virtual-only

If this sounds interesting, feel free to reach out! I offer a free 20 mins call to discuss whether we might be a good fit to work together.

📧 josee@blossomcounsellingcentre.com
💻 www.blossomcounsellingcentre.com

10/29/2024

A goodbye note to dietetics ❤️

October 31, 2024 is the last day I can use the title of Registered Dietitian.

After over 9 years in this field, it is extremely bittersweet. It has been part of my identity, which is why it has taken me years to make this decision.

I remember the first time I was able to write:
Josée Sovinsky, Registered Dietitian

I felt so proud. It was the result of years of learning and growing (with a healthy dose of privilege). I felt so passionate about the work and the field.

Nearly a decade later, I simply do not feel the same passion. So many things have contributed to this change.

My ADHD and my ever-changing interests.

The fatphobia in the field that conflicts with my fat liberation values (though we are seeing slow positive changes in this area!)

The constraints of the medical model.

It no longer feels like where I belong.

I will always feel immense gratitude for my time as a dietitian. What I have learned from the people I supported and from the colleagues I met along the way will shape me forever. Thank you. Truly.

I will forever feel a special connection to this field, despite my decision to step away.

And now, onwards and upwards in my role as a psychotherapist!

Josée

Address

Ottawa, ON
K1T1T3

Website

http://www.blossomcounsellingcentre.com/

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