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Dr. Brittany Mutsaers C.Psych.

Dr. Mutsaers provides individual and couple psychotherapy for adult clients. Her work primarily focuses on helping adults and couples cope with acute and chronic health issues (e.g., cancer, infertility, chronic pain, and sexual dysfunction). Dr. Mutsaers obtained a Ph.D., in Clinical Psychology from the University of Ottawa in 2023, and she completed supervised practice at Gilmour Psychological Services® in 2024. She is a registered member of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO).


Dr. Mutsaers received training in private practice settings, community clinics, and hospital-based settings. She has experience working with individuals coping with chronic illness, anxiety, depression, low sexual desire, pelvic pain (e.g., vaginismus, provoked vestibulodynia), exploration of gender identity, 2SLBGTQIA+issues, and fertility/post-partum concerns. With couples, Dr. Mutsaers’ approach focuses on changing longstanding relational cycles using an emotionally focused therapy framework. She also has experience supporting couples as they adjust to illness and caregiving roles, and supporting couples experiencing sexual dysfunction. Dr. Mutsaers provides an empathic, compassionate, and client-centred therapeutic environment. She views client concerns through a trauma-informed lens and strives to flexibly meet each client’s individual needs.


Dr. Mutsaers has published academic articles on the unmet needs of cancer survivors, facilitating the transition of cancer survivors back to primary care for long-term follow-up, and fear of cancer recurrence. She regularly engages in supervision, workshops, lectures, and keeps up with scientific literature for her ongoing professional development.


Ares of interest to Dr. Mutsaers Include:

  • Emotionally Focused therapy
  • Health, Migraines, and Chronic Illness
  • LGBTQ2S+ Issues
  • Marriage and Couples
  • Pain Therapy
  • Sexual Dysfunction
  • Sexual Pain
  • Infertility

Dr. Mutsaers' Expertise

Areas of specific interest to Dr. Mutsaers include:

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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.
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Burnout

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.
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Childhood Trauma

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.
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

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.
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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.
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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.
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Health, Migraines & Chronic Illness

June 15, 2022
Chronic pain and mental health disorders often occur together. In fact, research suggests that chronic pain and mental health problems can contribute to and exacerbate each other.
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Identity Issues

June 11, 2022
Identity relates to an individual’s sense of self that is built through experiences, relationships, beliefs, values, and memories. This sense of self stays mostly consistent regardless of any aspects of the self that develop or strengthen as time progresses. Certain factors or events might contribute to an overall sense of uncertainty regarding one or more areas of an individual’s identity, including career aspirations, sexual and gender orientation, social circles, values, and behaviour.
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LGBTQ2S+ Issues

June 3, 2022
Psychologists can provide a safe space to address issues related to gender and sexuality. Common themes include mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, substance use, gender dysphoria), rejection/bullying, relationship difficulties, confusion, the coming out process, isolation, etc.
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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.
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Pain Therapy

May 22, 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

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.
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Sexual Dysfunction

May 4, 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

May 2, 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

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 Dr. Brittany Mutsaers directly, please phone 613-230-4709 ext.181.

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