Individual Therapy & Psychotherapy in Ottawa

Support That Is Focused on You

People come to individual therapy for many different reasons.

You may be dealing with anxiety, stress, ADHD, burnout, trauma, relationship difficulties, a major life transition, self-esteem concerns, emotional overwhelm, or simply a sense that something in your life isn't working the way you want it to.

Sometimes there is a clearly identifiable problem.

Other times, people come to therapy because they feel stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or find themselves repeating patterns they understand intellectually but haven't been able to change.

Individual psychotherapy gives us the opportunity to slow things down, understand what's happening, and work together toward meaningful change.

What Can Individual Therapy Help With?

I work with adults experiencing a wide range of concerns, including:

• Anxiety, worry and chronic stress

• ADHD, neurodivergence and executive-functioning challenges

• Workplace stress and burnout

• Trauma and difficult past experiences

• Relationship and communication difficulties

• Separation, relationship uncertainty and major changes

• Self-esteem and confidence

• Emotional regulation and feeling overwhelmed

• Boundaries, people-pleasing and perfectionism

• Family difficulties

• Grief and loss

• Major life and career transitions

• Feeling stuck or uncertain about what comes next

You don't need to arrive with a diagnosis or even a perfectly formed idea of what's wrong.

Figuring that out can be part of the therapy.

Individual Therapy for Relationship Difficulties

You don't have to be attending couples therapy to work on a relationship.

In fact, relationship difficulties are one of the reasons people seek individual psychotherapy.

Perhaps you're struggling with conflict, resentment, communication, trust or emotional distance.

Maybe you're trying to decide whether to remain in a relationship.

Perhaps your partner doesn't want to attend therapy, or you're already participating in couples therapy and would benefit from having your own therapeutic space as well.

Individual therapy gives us room to concentrate entirely on your experience — your feelings, reactions, relationship patterns, needs, boundaries and choices.

My extensive experience working with couples can also be valuable in individual therapy because I understand relationship dynamics while keeping the focus on you and what you can influence or change.

Where appropriate, individual therapy can also complement couples therapy with another therapist.

ADHD & Neurodivergence

ADHD can affect much more than attention.

It can influence organization, motivation, emotional regulation, relationships, work, self-confidence and the ability to translate intentions into action.

Many adults have spent years believing they simply need to try harder.

I take a practical and compassionate approach that considers both the emotional experience of ADHD and the everyday challenges it can create.

We can explore strategies that work with the way you function, rather than continually trying to force yourself into systems that don't.

Anxiety, Stress & Feeling Overwhelmed

Anxiety doesn't always look like panic.

It can be constant thinking, difficulty switching off, irritability, avoidance, physical tension, perfectionism, trouble making decisions or repeatedly imagining everything that could go wrong.

Therapy can help us understand both what is driving the anxiety and what keeps it going.

We can also develop practical ways of responding differently when anxiety, stress or overwhelm shows up.

Trauma & Difficult Past Experiences

Past experiences can continue affecting us long after the immediate situation has ended.

Sometimes the connection is obvious. At other times it appears through relationship patterns, emotional reactions, avoidance, anxiety, shame or a nervous system that seems continually prepared for something to go wrong.

Trauma-informed psychotherapy isn't about forcing you to repeatedly revisit painful experiences.

We work at a pace that feels manageable, building understanding and developing greater flexibility in how you respond in the present.

Workplace Stress & Burnout

Work problems can become deeply personal.

Difficult managers, workplace conflict, overwhelming responsibilities, changing expectations, burnout and uncertainty about whether to stay or leave can affect sleep, confidence, relationships and mental health.

Sometimes the work involves practical problem-solving.

Sometimes it involves understanding why a particular situation affects you so strongly.

Often we do both.

I have a dedicated Workplace Stress & Burnout Therapy page with more information about this area of my practice.

An Integrative Approach to Psychotherapy

I don't believe everyone needs the same kind of therapy.

My approach is collaborative and integrative, drawing from more than 20 years of clinical experience and approaches including:

• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

• EMDR-informed and trauma-informed approaches

• Mindfulness and mind-body approaches

• Relationship and Gottman-informed perspectives

Some sessions may involve deeper exploration of longstanding patterns.

Others may be quite practical — preparing for a difficult conversation, working through a decision, developing strategies or figuring out what to do next.

Therapy should be useful for the life you're actually living.

ABOUT RORY

I'm Rory Batchilder, MEd, CCC, RP, a Registered Psychotherapist with more than 20 years of experience.

My background includes extensive work with individuals and couples, and I currently place particular emphasis on individual psychotherapy, while maintaining a smaller couples-therapy practice.

I work with adults from many different backgrounds and particularly enjoy helping people make sense of complicated situations where emotional, relationship, workplace and practical concerns overlap.

My style is active, collaborative and conversational.

Virtual Individual Therapy in Ottawa & Across Ontario

My practice is currently virtual, allowing me to provide individual psychotherapy to people in Ottawa and throughout Ontario.

I've worked remotely with clients for many years and have found that online psychotherapy can provide both continuity and flexibility while still allowing meaningful therapeutic work.

Individual sessions are $235 for 50 minutes.

Many extended health-insurance plans provide coverage for services delivered by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP). Check your individual plan for details.

Ready to Talk?

If you're looking for an individual therapist or psychotherapist in Ottawa, you're welcome to get in touch and tell me a little about what you're hoping to work on.

We can determine whether my experience and approach seem like a good fit for what you need.

If you are looking for therapy together with your partner, you can also learn more about my Couples & Relationship Therapy in Ottawa.