Dr. Caroline Ostiguy, C.Psych.

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

She maintains a special interest in health psychology and is currently completing supervision to expand her practice to include adults over the age of 65. Dr. Ostiguy is also deeply committed to helping clients improve their relationships. Through individual or couple’s therapy, she supports clients in enhancing communication, intimacy, and sexuality. She has a particular interest in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions and sexual pain disorders (e.g., vaginismus, vulvodynia) in women.


Dr. Ostiguy’s therapeutic approach is eclectic, allowing her to draw from a range of evidence-based modalities to best support each client’s unique needs. While she integrates various frameworks, her preferred approaches are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). She is deeply attuned to the individual experiences that shape behaviour and relationships, and she thoughtfully tailors her interventions to foster meaningful and lasting change.


Dr. Ostiguy completed her undergraduate studies at McGill University, earning an Honours B.Sc. in Psychology. She then obtained both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Concordia University. Her clinical training included placements at several hospital and university-based clinics, including the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and the Royal Victoria Hospital (now part of the MUHC) in Montreal. She completed her internship at the Centre for Psychological Services and Research at the University of Ottawa and the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.


She is a registered member of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario, and also holds memberships with the Canadian Psychological Association, the Ontario Psychological Association, and the Ottawa Academy of Psychology.


In 2022, Dr. Ostiguy became the co-director of GPS, alongside Dr. Deanna Drahovzal. Together they are dedicated to helping Ph.D. psychologists lead, innovate, and shape the future of mental health care. They recently launched a second website to reflect the community GPS is building — a professional home for Ph.D. students and psychologists who share their commitment to excellence, mentorship, and collaboration in private practice.

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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Adults 65 & Older

August 3, 2022
As individuals age, their physical and mental capacity gradually decrease and the risk of disease and death increases. Aging individuals often face significant physical changes such as reduction in vision and hearing, chronic pain, and other illnesses. As well, aging also brings other significant transitions in life such as retirement, moving into housing with more assistance, and the death of peers.
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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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Bipolar Disorder

July 23, 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

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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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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Grief & Bereavement Counselling

June 17, 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

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