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Dr. Brittany Mutsaers C.Psych. (Supervised Practice)

Dr. Brittany Mutsaers is a psychologist practicing under the supervision of Dr. Emma Dargie, C. Psych., and Dr. Jennifer Fernie, C. Psych. She provides individual and couples therapy services to adults and has a special interest in working with individuals adjusting to illness (e.g., cancer, chronic illness, end of life).


Dr. Mutsaers takes an integrative therapeutic approach that is primarily based in cognitive-behavioural and attachment-focused therapies. She views client concerns through a trauma-informed lens and strives to flexibly meet clients’ needs using evidence-based methods.


While studying for her degree, she received training in private practice settings, community clinics, and hospital-based settings working with individuals adjusting to chronic illness, family of origin concerns, relationship issues, anxiety, and depression. She completed a two-year practicum placement at Gilmour Psychological Services®, where she worked with individuals experiencing low sexual desire, pelvic pain, exploration of gender identity, LGBTQIA+ issues, low self-esteem, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.


Dr. Mutsaers completed her internship at the Centre for Psychological Services and Research where she received training in couples therapy, including working through and changing longstanding problematic relational cycles using an emotion focused therapy framework. Furthermore, she has received training in health psychology helping clients adjust to illness, manage chronic illness, and manage health related anxiety.


Dr. Mutsaers has conducted and published academic research on the unmet needs of cancer survivors, and fear of cancer recurrence. She also has experience helping cancer survivors cope with fear of recurrence.

Dr. Mutsaers' Expertise

Areas of specific interest to Dr. Mutsaers include:

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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.
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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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Childhood Trauma

17 Jul, 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)

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.
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Health, Migraines & Chronic Illness

15 Jun, 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

11 Jun, 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

03 Jun, 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

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

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