Portage Therapy Group™
Therapy In Ottawa
We help you carry the load, build meaningful connections, and find your path to lasting happiness with therapy for adults in Ottawa. Online therapy across Ontario.


Find A Path To Feeling Better
We help you improve your emotional well-being & guide you toward lasting positive change.

Gain Greater Control
We empower you to take charge of your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours, bringing you balance & peace.

Build Stronger Relationships
We help you create healthier, deeper, & more meaningful connections with yourself & others.
How did I get so stuck?
At Portage Therapy Group™, we offer comprehensive therapy services in Ottawa to help you make sense of what's happened, break free from that feeling of being stuck, and find a path forward.

Do you have thoughts like...
- Why is it so hard to get out of bed and get through the day? I feel so overwhelmed and exhausted.
- It shouldn’t be this difficult to feel like myself. I’m stuck in a cycle of frustration and confusion.
- Why can’t I understand my emotions? Anxiety and emotional outbursts make me feel like I’m out of control.
- My low energy, headaches, and stomach pain make it hard to feel like I’m on solid ground.
- How did I get so stuck? I feel broken and disconnected...I’m not even sure how things got this way.
At Portage Therapy Group™, we provide supportive spaces to make sense of your experiences, break free from limiting patterns, and discover paths toward healing and growth.

Psychotherapy in ottawa
Why Choose Therapy In Ottawa?
Life has a way of throwing challenges our way, sometimes leaving us feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed. When those feelings linger, it can be hard to know where to turn. Therapy in Ottawa offers a safe space to explore, heal, and grow.
At Portage Therapy Group™, we believe in the power of human connection, because you deserve a space that’s all about you. It’s about discovering the root causes of what’s holding you back and learning how to break free from those patterns. Whether you’re navigating a difficult transition, facing past trauma, or just looking to better understand yourself, therapy helps you get clear on your goals, your values, and your path forward. We’re deeply committed to creating a genuine, human-centred experience for everyone from diverse populations, including LGBTQIA2S+, Indigenous individuals, students, and retirees.
We’re not “white coat clinicians” behind a clipboard—we’re approachable, experienced professionals ready to help you make sense of your story.

Therapy Can Help If You’re Struggling With:
- Childhood, developmental, and attachment trauma (complex trauma)
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression
- Low self-esteem and confidence
- Identity concerns including gender, sexuality, race, culture, religion
- Discovering what matters to you, your meaning, and purpose
- Burnout and work-related stress
- Neurodivergence (ADHD, ASD)
- Dissociation
- Interpersonal and relationship challenges, boundary work


therapy in ottawa
Approaches We Use In Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS helps you explore the different “parts” of yourself in therapy sessions in Ottawa, bringing understanding and harmony to inner conflicts. By identifying and healing wounded parts, we guide you toward a balanced, more integrated sense of self.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT focuses on identifying and addressing the emotions driving your behaviours in therapy sessions, helping you form healthier, more secure connections with others. It’s especially effective in improving emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships.
TIST (Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment) with Sensorimotor Integration
TIST incorporates sensorimotor integration to help process trauma, focusing on how the body and mind interact. This approach in therapy in Ottawa supports emotional and physical healing, offering techniques that enable you to stabilize and manage overwhelming feelings.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy helps you reframe and rewrite the stories you tell yourself, shifting from feelings of victimhood to empowerment. By exploring your personal narrative in therapy sessions, we can help you reclaim control and find new meaning in your experiences.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Drawing on psychodynamic principles, we explore the unconscious patterns influencing your current behaviours and emotions. By bringing these patterns to light in therapy in Ottawa, we enable you to gain insight, understand the root causes, and create lasting change in your life.
Art Therapy
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Solution-Focused Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Attachment-Based Therapy

The journey's better when we shoulder it together.
Get started with Portage Therapy Group™ in Ottawa today. Book directly online or contact us for more information.

Kate Higgison, M.A., R.P., CCTPII, Clinical Member of OSRP
Founder

ABOUT US
Why Work With Portage Therapy Group™
A burden is lighter when it’s carried together.
At Portage Therapy Group™ in Ottawa, we believe that life’s challenges are best faced together. Just like a portage—where you must navigate challenging terrain to get to the other side—we walk alongside you through life’s difficulties, helping you navigate transitions and find healing along the way.
The name “Portage” comes from our belief that connection, teamwork, and shared effort make all the difference. In therapy, this means working together to help you move from one phase of life to the next—whether you’re dealing with life’s rough patches, emotional struggles, or personal growth challenges.
Led by a team of therapists in Ottawa who are committed to human-centred care, we combine evidence-based approaches with a genuine desire to understand you as a person, not just a set of symptoms. We let your voice guide the process. As humans, we need balance—the moments of laughter and the tears, the ups and downs. We embrace it all. We’re not just therapists; we’re partners in your journey toward healing.
Portage Therapy Group™ will help you move forward with clarity, strength, and resilience.

Compassion
Compassion is central to our practice—honouring your story and creating a space where you can be yourself, free from judgement.

Connection
Healing begins with connection. It’s through a connection that transformation happens and courage is found.

Evidence-Based Care
Compassionate connection combined with research-informed, evidence-based approaches ensures our methods are both empathetic and effective.
Our Team
Meet Our Therapists In Ottawa
Find the right psychotherapist for you. Visit a therapist near you in Centretown Ottawa. Our Ottawa therapists also provide online therapy across Ontario.


Our Approach
How Our Therapy Works

Understand Your Journey
We begin by exploring where you are today and the experiences that have shaped you. This helps us understand your story and identify what you hope to achieve in therapy.

Chart Your Course
Together, we'll create a clear, personalized plan that aligns with your goals. This plan will guide our work and ensure that each step we take is tailored to your unique needs.

Navigate The Path
With continuous support and evidence-based approaches, we’ll work together to help you overcome challenges, build resilience, and move forward with confidence toward the changes you desire.
Therapy in ottawa
Questions About Therapy
How can therapy help me?
What if I’m scared to share what is going on? What if I can’t find the words?
Do I need a diagnosis to have therapy?
What if I don’t know what I want to work on?
Is therapy confidential?
Yes, therapy is confidential. Whether you’re seeking therapy for elders/retirees, therapy for students, or therapy in Ottawa, we prioritize your privacy and ensure that your personal information is protected. There are certain legal exceptions, such as if there’s a risk of harm to yourself or others, but these will be clearly explained to you at the start of therapy. Rest assured, we are committed to providing a safe and private space for you to express yourself freely.
How long will it take to feel better?


therapy in ottawa
Positive Changes That Follow Therapy

As you continue to grow, you may experience:
- Greater emotional awareness, helping you understand how past experiences shape your current challenges and identify and change unhelpful patterns
- Stronger, healthier relationships with improved communication, boundary-setting, and conflict-resolution skills
- A reduction in the physical effects of emotional strain, such as tension and discomfort
- Increased self-confidence and empowerment, helping you make decisions with clarity
- Lasting positive change, with shifts in your emotional and relational health creating long-term benefits

Portage Therapy Group™ in ottawa
How To Get Started
Our team at Portage Therapy Group™ in Ottawa is here to support you on your journey to healing.


Therapy in Ottawa | Online in Ontario
Portage Therapy Group™
We help you carry the weight on your path to growth, healing and renewal.




