Danielle Baldwin

Danielle Baldwin, M.A., provides individual psychotherapy and couples counselling to adults experiencing a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, difficulties with emotion regulation, interpersonal challenges, and the effects of difficult or traumatic experiences. She has a particular interest in helping clients better understand themselves and their relationships, develop greater emotional awareness and self-compassion, and work toward meaningful and lasting change.

Danielle takes a warm, collaborative, and individualized approach to psychotherapy. She views the therapeutic relationship as an important part of the treatment process and works collaboratively with clients to understand their unique experiences, identify their goals, and develop a treatment approach that fits their needs. Her therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing primarily from psychodynamic, emotion-focused, cognitive-behavioural, dialectical behaviour therapy, compassion-focused, and attachment-based approaches. She thoughtfully integrates strategies from these modalities based on each client’s concerns, goals, and individual circumstances.

Danielle is currently completing her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa while working as a therapist at Gilmour Psychological Services® under the supervision of Dr. Deanna Drahovzal, C.Psych. Her clinical training has included placements at the Royal Ottawa Hospital’s Community Mental Health Program, the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Psychological Services and Research, the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships, Gilmour Psychological Services®, and the Ottawa Hospital’s Ontario Workers Network.

Alongside her clinical training, Danielle conducts research in group psychotherapy at the University of Ottawa, with a focus on therapeutic relationships in group psychotherapy develop and impact treatment outcomes. She has presented her research at academic conferences and has co-authored publications on topics including shyness, shame, and group psychotherapy.

Therapist Expertise

Areas of specific interest to Danielle Baldwin include:

Anxiety

July 29, 2022

Anxiety has been frequently described as feelings of fright, flight or freeze. This means that people experiencing anxiety have both the mental and the physical, visceral feelings of wanting to escape the situation, fight what is challenging or simply cannot move in any direction to deal with what is troubling them.

Assessments

July 27, 2022

Psychological Assessments are used by psychologists to help determine a diagnosis and inform the course of treatment. There are many different components to these assessments such as different tests, interviews, school and medical records, medical information, and observation.

Borderline Personality Disorder

July 21, 2022

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is essentially a disorder of emotional dysregulation and those of us who are experts in the field would like to see it renamed as such. Those at risk for developing BPD are genetically and neurologically predisposed to a greater sensitivity to life events, particularly interpersonal events. If this greater sensitivity is combined with an early invalidating or abusive family environment, the person is at higher risk of developing the disorder. Alternatively, if the family cannot teach the sensitive child to manage or regulate his or her emotions, general life experience may also foster the development of BPD or BPD traits.

Burnout

By Kristi Rudolph • July 19, 2022

Burnout is a condition in which the individual feels completely overwhelmed from an increasing inability to cope with a build-up of stressors considered within the normal range of human experiences. Many of the symptoms are common to depression, including diminished interest and enjoyment of work and personal life.

Childhood Trauma

By Kristi Rudolph • July 17, 2022

Childhood trauma refers to when a child experiences a traumatic event that results in negative and pervasive physical, psychological and cognitive effects.

Co-Dependency Issues

July 15, 2022

Codependency is an emotional and behavioural condition that leads to imbalanced relationships. In codependent relationships, there is often one individual enabling another’s self-destructive behaviour, such as substance abuse, poor mental health and coping skills, immaturity, and under-achievement. Codependency can lead to individuals staying in unhealthy or abusive relationships because they feel as though they cannot live without the other person.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

By Kristi Rudolph • July 13, 2022

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy that focuses on reframing harmful or painful thoughts and behaviours. This form of therapy is often used to treat anxiety and depression but can be helpful with many different mental and physical challenges.

Conflict Resolution

July 11, 2022

Throughout life, in the various contexts such as home or work, it is very common to come across conflicts and differences of opinions. It is often possible to resolve these challenges alone, but sometimes these disagreements can cause intense negative emotions, which can escalate the situation. In those cases, it can be helpful to have a mediator to filter through the emotions and clarify the facts.

Depression

July 3, 2022

Depression is a state of low mood in which people feel helpless, hopeless, worthless, lethargic and unable to enjoy the things that used to give them pleasure. People who are depressed are often irritable or pessimistic. Their low mood goes beyond having “the blues” or being sad. Even people who are grieving usually do not sink into depression. People diagnosed with a Major Depressive Disorder cannot just “pull up their socks” to get better. They require professional help. Psychologists use a variety of scientifically based psychotherapeutic approaches to help people recover from depression.

Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

By Kristi Rudolph • July 1, 2022

Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is a form of talk therapy that is particularly helpful for individuals experiencing very intense emotions and can be used to treat mood disorders and interpersonal conflicts. It focuses on accepting feelings and thoughts. DBT addresses feelings directly through techniques focused on emotional regulation and distress tolerance.

Eating Disorders

June 27, 2022

Eating disorders are common illnesses that are very serious and can be fatal. These disorders refer to changes in the eating and exercise behaviours of individuals as well as thoughts or emotions surrounding eating. Some possible signs of an eating disorder are preoccupations with body weight, body shape, and food.

Emotionally Focused Therapy

June 25, 2022

Couples and families often go through experiences that can challenge the stability of the relationships, leading to feelings of anger, fear, betrayal, and lack of trust. In these instances, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) can be beneficial to provide guidance on how to improve the relationships. EFT can also be helpful for individuals who are experiencing depression or the effects of trauma, such as individuals who are struggling to cope with their own illness or the illness of their child.

Marriage & Couples

May 30, 2022

If you and your partner have been having constant unresolved relationship difficulties, you may find couples’ therapy extremely rewarding, even if at times it is difficult, stressful and frightening.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

May 16, 2022

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can follow the experiencing or witnessing of a severe trauma involving the actual or threat of death or serious injury to the self or others. The traumatized person has typically reacted to the trauma with intense fear, helplessness or horror. Alternatively, an accumulation of less intensely damaging situations (‘small ‘t’ traumas’) can over time also lead to PTSD.

Self-Esteem Issues

May 6, 2022

Self-esteem refers to the perception of oneself (values, abilities, self-worth, etc.). It impacts one’s relationships, mental health, and achievement. For instance, negative self-regard can lead to mood disturbances, anxiety, and loneliness; It can increase the likelihood of conflict in relationships and increase vulnerability to substance abuse. On the other hand, individuals with positive self-views are generally more likely to maintain positive relationships, maintain a positive outlook on life, and achieve success.

Stress Management

By Kristi Rudolph • April 24, 2022

It is important to look at the effect or impact that stress and anxiety has on your work and home life. A professional therapist – psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker or counsellor can assist in the stress management process.

Contact

To reach Danielle directly, please phone 613-230-4709 ext. 225

< Older Post

Newer Post >