Navigating Mental Health Through Psychotherapy in Northern Ontario

Original article by Matt Sookram, Bay Today – “Helping clients navigate mental health through psychotherapy” Read the full article here

For me, becoming a registered psychotherapist has been a journey rooted in curiosity, learning, and a deep desire to help people through life’s challenges. I began working in the mental health field in 2019, first as a counsellor, and have now been fully registered for three years. Throughout this time, I have seen how powerful a safe, compassionate space can be for exploring emotions, patterns, and past experiences.

Understanding Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is different from counselling in important ways. While counselling tends to be goal-oriented and focused on short-term stabilization, psychotherapy allows us to explore historical trauma, childhood experiences, and recurring patterns. It is more vulnerable work and requires a trained professional to ensure a safe and supportive environment.

My approach blends mindfulness, self-compassion, and evidence-based tools such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Therapy is not about fixing your life. It is about helping you understand yourself, build resilience, and develop strategies that you can use outside of our sessions.

Supporting Emotional Growth

A central part of therapy is helping you sit with difficult emotions safely. Society often tells us that feeling sadness, fear, or anger is wrong, but these are natural human experiences. Therapy gives you space to experience these feelings without judgment and to develop self-compassion, which means being kind and gentle with yourself while navigating pain or discomfort.

We also explore the roots of behaviour, relationship patterns, and attachment styles. Understanding why you react the way you do can bring relief and allow you to create healthier patterns in your present and future relationships. The therapeutic relationship itself is foundational. It is through this safe connection that real growth and change occur.

Preventing Burnout in Therapy

Being a psychotherapist requires emotional resilience. Holding space for deep personal pain can be rewarding, but it can also be draining. That is why I prioritize a balanced workload, self-care, and professional consultation. These practices ensure I can show up fully for every client while maintaining my own wellbeing.

Accessible Virtual Therapy Across Ontario

Although I am based in North Bay, I offer virtual sessions across Ontario, including Ottawa, Toronto, and Sudbury. This allows therapy to be accessible and convenient, meeting clients where they are while adhering to the standards of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.

Taking the First Step

The bravest step is often just reaching out. Even if life feels stable, therapy can provide a nonjudgmental, supportive space to better understand your relationships, patterns, and behaviours. You can start with a free 20-minute meet-and-greet to see if we are a good fit, and from there, we can book your first session.

Mental health is a journey, and you do not have to navigate it alone. Together, we can work toward clarity, understanding, and growth in a safe, professional space.

Book your free consultation with me today!

Original article by Matt Sookram, Bay Today – “Helping clients navigate mental health through psychotherapy” Read the full article here

Jessy Boudreau,
Owner of Boudreau Counselling

Registered Psychotherapist, Masters in Counselling Psychology