Nuria Ribas, MEd, RPshe/her
Psychotherapist
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Also available by telehealth: Ontario
Turning painful emotions into guides for healing, one step at a time.
About
Do you feel overwhelmed, numb, anxious, depressed, ashamed, or haunted by the past? At times we can become stuck in these painful emotions, and we desperately wish to avoid them. We temporarily block them or distract ourselves, only for them to return with a vengeance. When we turn toward them instead, to hear and heal what is underneath, those emotions can be truly transformed. In this way, emotions become a guide rather than an obstacle.
Together, we can make connections between current patterns and past experiences. Through developing mindfulness, self-compassion, and creating new meanings from difficult experiences, stressors can be managed more skillfully. I have in-depth training in Internal Family Systems, Emotion Focused, Trauma, Somatic, and Cognitive Behavioural therapies, and I work collaboratively with you to find an approach that fits your circumstances and personality. I specialize in an experiential approach that allows us to go deeper than just talking about the problem, so we can get to the root of the issues and heal the underlying wounds.
I work with people who feel depressed, anxious, or have had traumatic experiences. When we understand that the struggles we face now are actually strategies that helped us cope in the past, and are based in good intentions, a way out becomes possible. I use parts-based awareness, somatic techniques, and mindfulness to help you step back, observe what is happening inside, and create real change rather than temporary fixes.
I have been in practice for over 26 years and I believe in ongoing learning to continuously upgrade my skills and stay in touch with current, evidence-based practices. I offer a free 15-minute consultation, and I look forward to joining you on this journey.
Specialties
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma & PTSD
- Addiction & substance use
- Self-esteem
- Stress management
- Sleep issues
- Grief & loss
Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Somatic / body-based
- Mindfulness-based
- Humanistic / person-centered
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Narrative therapy
- Solution-focused
- Psychodynamic
Works with
- Adults
Sessions
Languages
- English
Logistics
- Fees
CA$190per session
Individual sessions $190. Many insurance companies provide coverage for Registered Psychotherapists through extended benefits plans. Direct billing offered for eligible providers.
- Insurance
Covered by some extended health insurance policies. Many insurance companies provide coverage for the services of a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) through their extended benefits plans. Direct billing offered for eligible insurance providers.
- Office locations
- Primary Location: Yonge St. N. of Major Mackenzie, S. of Elgin Mills, Richmond Hill, ON L4C(416) 450-6127
Licensed or authorized in
Frequently asked questions
- What should I expect when I start therapy?
- Starting therapy is a brave step. I want to ease your concerns and support your process every step of the way. First, contact me to schedule a 15 minute intake call or schedule it online. You can let me know what you want support with and ask me any questions that you may have to get a sense of how I work. Then, prior to the first session, you will be asked to complete some forms and questionnaires. These can be used to take a 'snapshot' of how you are doing initially, so that we can see your progress throughout therapy. Over the first several sessions, together we will develop a plan for how to address your challenges. We will explore what has brought you to therapy, your life circumstances, and your goals for therapy. This will include exploring how past experiences have shaped your view of yourself, how you relate to others and the world, how this relates to your current problems. This will help us to create a roadmap for therapy which leads to healing and wellbeing.
- How much therapy will I need?
- This is a very difficult question to answer because it depends on so many things. A few factors to consider include the frequency of the sessions, the type and intensity of the problem, how long you have been struggling, your goals for therapy including whether you are looking for some improvement, full recovery, or ongoing self-awareness. Although some people will feel significantly better after a few session (5-8), most require more. Research shows that 16 sessions can be effective in improving symptoms of moderate depression and anxiety in the majority of clients. Those have been struggling for years, whose day-to-day functioning is impaired, or those with issues related to childhood trauma or neglect may require much longer (a year or more). Most typically, once per week therapy is recommended. This helps to develop a relationship of trust, and to maintain the gains between sessions. Once significant improvement is achieved, some people opt to decrease the frequency.
- Will I feel better right away?
- Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Although some people feel better right away through having been heard by a supportive person, it is actually common for some people to initially feel worse before they feel better. This can be because people often suppress uncomfortable emotions - the same emotions that are stirred up in therapy. Although feeling emotions that have been buried is a necessary part of the process, like cleaning an old wound, it can be uncomfortable. Ultimately, however, it does provide relief, healing and transformation. Having said this, therapy should not throw you into crisis nor be unbearable - you will work with your therapist to make sure that the pace feels right and you feel safe throughout this process.
- How do I know if I am working with the right therapist?
- The relationship with the therapist is a crucial change factor in therapy. Although trust in the relationship takes time to develop, you should never feel judged or criticized. People open up at different rates and the therapist should respect this and help you build your comfort level at a safe pace. You need to feel confident that the therapist knows how to guide the process towards recovery. Also, if you have questions or concerns about the therapy, the therapist should always be willing to discuss this with you in a respectful way without defensiveness.
- What are the fees and is there HST?
- Typically, sessions are $190 and are 50 minutes in length. However, the first assessment session fee is $228 and is up to 60 minutes. Payment is accepted via eTransfer and is payable immediately following the appointment. As of June 20, 2024 Registered Psychotherapists (RP) were added to the CRA list of providers that are exempt from HST! This is wonderful news meaning that you no longer need to pay HST for psychotherapy services from an RP.
- What is the cancellation policy?
- If you have a contagious illness, but are well enough to participate in therapy, please consider changing your session from in-person to online rather than cancelling. If you need to cancel an appointment, please do so as soon as possible. This allows me to offer the session to another client that may need it. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice will result in a charge of 50% of the session fee and cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will be charged the full fee. I understand that sometimes life happens last minute - emergencies, serious illness, work and childcare responsibilities, deaths in the family, etc., therefore I will waive the cancellation fee twice. After this, the cancellation will be applied without exception. This is not intended as a punishment, but rather it allows me to stay in business so that I can continue to operate and offer this service to you and others.
- Will what I discuss in therapy be kept confidential?
- What you share is confidential and it is not shared without your permission. However, there some rare exceptions including the following: -If I have information about risk of abuse or neglect to a child -If I believe that you are at risk of serious harm to yourself or another person -If I am required by law to release information, e.g. such as receiving a subpoena -If I perceive the need to report another professional to their professional body -If I must defend myself against a complaint filed with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario or any other court action There may be times where I share anonymous information about a client within the confidential context of consultation, for the purpose of providing the highest quality care in the benefit of the client. However, no identifying information would be discussed.
Credentials
- MEd, Counselling Psychology, University of Toronto / OISE, 2000
- Certificate, Emotion Focused Level 3, Sensorimotor Level 1, CBT, University of Toronto / OISE, 2024