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Dr. Caroline Ostiguy, C.Psych.

Dr. Ostiguy provides psychotherapy to Anglophone and Francophone adults and young adults. She works with clients experiencing a wide range of challenges such as anger problems, low self-esteem, anxiety, and stress management. Her particular area of expertise is in the assessment and treatment of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.


She also maintains a special interest in helping clients improve their relationships. Through individual or couple’s therapy, she works with clients in improving their communication, intimacy, and sexuality. She is also particularly interested in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions and sexual pain disorders (e.g., vaginismus, vulvodynia) in women.


Dr. Ostiguy’s prevailing theoretical orientation integrates cognitive-behavioural and emotionally-focused theories. She also employs other orientations, such as schema therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy, as needed. With every client, she remains sensitive to the ways in which individual experiences impact behaviour and shape human interactions. Consequently, she always tailors her approach to the client’s needs.


Dr. Ostiguy completed her undergraduate studies at McGill University, earning an honours B.Sc. in psychology. She then completed both an M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Concordia University. Her clinical training included work at various hospital and university-based clinics, including the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and the the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. She completed her internship at the the Centre for Psychological Services and Research at the University of Ottawa and the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.


Dr. Ostiguy is a registered member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. She also maintains memberships in the Canadian Psychological Association and the Ottawa Academy of Psychology.

Psychologist Expertise

Although Dr. Ostiguy works with a diversity of adult problems, she has a special interest in the following areas:

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Anxiety

29 Jul, 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.

Bipolar Disorder

23 Jul, 2022
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that can cause significant shifts in mood and energy, including depressive lows and manic highs. Bipolar symptoms usually become apparent during late adolescence or early adulthood. Symptoms can be triggered by events, as well, such as pregnancy and childbirth.
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Burnout

19 Jul, 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.
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

13 Jul, 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.
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Depression

03 Jul, 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.
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Emotionally Focused Therapy

25 Jun, 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.

Grief & Bereavement Counselling

17 Jun, 2022
Grief is the emotional response to the loss of someone, something or some place of emotional significance to the person. Grief is a normal emotion which has impact on people’s physical, mental, behavioural and social states. People who are grieving usually experience fatigue and find that everything takes more effort.
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Marriage & Couples

30 May, 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.
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Pain Therapy

22 May, 2022
Many different factors can effect a person’s experience of pain. Pain therapy by a psychologist involves discovering and adjusting such factors. The issues that make the experience of pain more intense include environment stresses, difficult relationships and individual factors, such as anxious thinking, inaccurate beliefs, having few skills to handle stress, and negative health habits. Psychologists also help people understand how their pain impacts the various parts of their life, and helps them cope with their pain in useful ways to reduce how much the pain interferes with their quality of life.
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Self-Esteem Issues

06 May, 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.
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Sexual Dysfunction

04 May, 2022
Sexual dysfunction is a common problem that affects individuals of all genders.This term covers a broad range of challenges relating to sexual activity and often has multiple causes that can be both physical and mental. Sex can be a significant part of life, and as such, sexual dysfunction can be experienced as distressing, causing feelings of isolation, shame, and depression, which in turn can also have a profound negative impact on existing relationships.
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Sexual Pain

02 May, 2022
Sexual pain can be very distressing and women who suffer from it often feel isolated, ashamed, and depressed. Pain can also have a profound negative impact on existing relationships. Fortunately, psychologists can help manage sexual pain, often in conjunction with physicians and physiotherapists. Psychologists can help address traumatic sexual experiences, reduce negative emotions, and decrease the fear of painful sex in order to improve sexual functioning.
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Stress Management

24 Apr, 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 Dr. Caroline Ostiguy directly, please phone 613-230-4709 ext. 140.

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