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Dr. Emma Dargie, C.Psych.

Dr. Dargie completed her undergraduate studies, M.Sc., and Ph.D. at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and her clinical psychology residency through Vancouver Coastal Health Authority in British Columbia. Both programs are accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association. Dr. Dargie’s clinical training included work at various hospitals and community settings, such as Health Psychology at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre (Vancouver), the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions (Vancouver), the Eating Disorders unit at St. Paul’s hospital (Vancouver), the Adult Outpatient Eating Disorders Clinic at Hotel Dieu Hospital (Kingston), and the Queen’s University student health center (Kingston). Dr. Dargie also trained as a sex and couples therapist at the Sex Therapy Service at Queen’s University, at Vancouver General Hospital, and at BC Women’s Hospital. Dr. Dargie is a published academic author, and recipient of multiple academic awards, such as a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She has conducted research about the assessment and diagnosis of chronic vulvar pain, romantic relationships, gender identities, and sexual orientations.


Her primary theoretical orientation integrates cognitive-behavioural and emotionally-focused theories (CBT and EFT). She also uses tools from other orientations such as dialectical behaviour therapy, schema therapy, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapy. Dr. Dargie works collaboratively with clients to determine patterns that are linked to difficulties being experienced, and draws from a range of techniques to tailor the course of treatment.


Dr. Dargie maintains a client-centered, evidence-based, sex-positive, LGBTQ-positive approach to psychotherapy. She provides individual and couple therapy to Anglophone adults experiencing a wide variety of challenges and circumstances.

Dr. Dargie is a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO), the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA), the Ottawa Academy of Psychologists (OAP), the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR), and the Canadian Sex Research Forum (CSRF).

Psychologist Expertise

In her practice Dr. Dargie works with clients struggling with a wide variety of issues. Some of them are:

Addictions

August 2, 2022
An addiction refers to having a dependency on a substance or a process. An example of a substance dependency is alcoholism. Examples of process addictions include having a gambling or an Internet addiction. Addictions involve compulsive, self-defeating behaviour that continues in spite of negative consequences. Stopping the behaviour results in extreme physical and mental discomfort, which tends to contribute to people returning to their addiction. Many psychologists are experts in helping people recover from their addictions and live successful and more comfortable lives.
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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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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.

Eating Disorders

June 27, 2022
Eating disorders are common illnesses that are very serious and can be fatal. These disorders refer to changes in the eating and exercise behaviours of individuals as well as thoughts or emotions surrounding eating. Some possible signs of an eating disorder are preoccupations with body weight, body shape, and food.
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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.

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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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.

Infertility

June 7, 2022
Infertility often has a detrimental effect on an individual’s self-esteem, emotions, relationships, identity and beliefs about life. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common. There can be a profound sense of loss of the desired child and ensuing sense of helplessness and powerlessness. One may harbour a sense of shame, alienation, isolation or jealousy and anger of others. There is inevitable strain on the couple in their physical and emotional intimacy, such as blame or guilt. Sex may even become less enjoyable and fraught with anxiety as they try to conceive during particular time periods.
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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.

Life Transitions

June 3, 2022
A life transition can be any change or adjustment that impacts your life in a significant way. We all experience transitions throughout our lives — big and small, planned and unplanned, easy and difficult.
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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.

Mindfulness

May 28, 2022
Mindfulness is the ability to be aware of present thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and the surrounding environment and label them from an objective viewpoint, without judgment.
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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.

Sleep Disorders

April 30, 2022
Sleep disorders are common conditions that negatively affect the quality and/or amount of sleep. Sleep disorders can result in individuals receiving too much or too little sleep, poor quality of sleep, and sometimes strange or dangerous behaviours while sleeping.
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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. Emma Dargie directly, please phone 613-230-4709 ext. 175.

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