Ottawa EMDR is seeking a compassionate, skilled EMDR associate therapist to join a specialized trauma-focused practice in Ottawa.
Job title:
EMDR Associate Therapist / Registered Psychotherapist
Location:
Ottawa, ON — near Smyth Road and Alta Vista Drive, close to The Ottawa Hospital General Campus
Hybrid/in-person clinical work; virtual appointments may also be available
Job type:
Part-time, Independent Contractor / Associate
Compensation:
$120 per completed clinical session
Expected commitment:
Minimum 8 client sessions per week, delivered across a maximum of 2 days per week. Additional client sessions and days available as requested.
About Ottawa EMDR
Ottawa EMDR is a specialized psychotherapy practice dedicated to helping clients process trauma, reduce distress, and move toward meaningful, measurable improvement. We provide EMDR therapy in person in Ottawa and virtually throughout Ontario. Our approach is compassionate, grounded, client-centred, and informed by evidence-based trauma treatment.ottawaemdr
We are seeking an EMDR-trained associate therapist who is thoughtful, clinically skilled, and committed to providing excellent trauma-informed care. This is an ideal opportunity for a clinician who enjoys focused trauma work and wants to grow within a supportive, specialized EMDR practice.
The opportunity
As an EMDR Associate Therapist, you will provide individual psychotherapy to adult clients presenting with trauma-related concerns, anxiety, depression, relational difficulties, and other concerns appropriate for EMDR and integrative trauma therapy.
Ottawa EMDR will provide a steady stream of appropriate client referrals, allowing you to focus your energy on excellent clinical care, therapeutic relationships, and professional growth.
What we offer
- Compensation of $120 per completed session
- Minimum caseload expectation of 8 sessions weekly across 2 days
- Clients and referrals provided
- Monthly EMDR case consultation with an EMDRIA-Approved Consultant
- Opportunity to work in a specialized EMDR-focused practice
- Brand new, professionally designed psychotherapeutic office space in a central Ottawa location near The Ottawa Hospital General Campus
- Flexibility to provide in-person and, where appropriate, virtual care to clients
- Collaborative, respectful, and low-stress practice culture
- Opportunity to develop an integrative trauma-treatment caseload and professional niche
Key responsibilities
- Conduct thorough intake, assessment, treatment planning, and ongoing risk assessment
- Determine client readiness for trauma processing and provide stabilization, resourcing, and skills development as clinically indicated
- Maintain timely, accurate, and clinically appropriate documentation
- Manage a consistent caseload of at least 8 sessions per week over a minimum of 2 days
- Participate in monthly EMDR consultation and engage thoughtfully with feedback and case discussion
- Maintain professional registration, liability insurance, and ethical standards of practice
- Collaborate respectfully with the Ottawa EMDR team and external providers when clinically appropriate, with client consent
Required qualifications
- Current registration in good standing with an Ontario regulatory college permitting independent or appropriately supervised psychotherapy practice, such as:
- College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
- College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO)
- Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), where scope and competence permit psychotherapy practice
- Another relevant Ontario-regulated health profession
- Formal EMDR training that meets or is consistent with EMDRIA-recognized foundational training standards
- Demonstrated competence in trauma-informed assessment, stabilization, pacing, dissociation awareness, and clinical risk management
- Experience providing individual psychotherapy to adults
- Professional liability insurance
- Excellent written documentation, communication, organizational, and time-management skills
- Availability to provide a minimum of 8 sessions per week across 2 days
Strong assets
We welcome clinicians who can offer EMDR within a broader, integrative trauma-treatment framework. Additional training or experience in any of the following would be a strong asset:
- Flash Technique
- Brainspotting
- Somatic Experiencing
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) or parts-informed therapy
- Attachment-focused therapy
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for individuals or couples
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Trauma-focused CBT
- Mindfulness-based interventions
- Grief, loss, or complex trauma treatment
- Experience working with healthcare professionals, first responders, military members, or clients with workplace trauma
Additional languages that can be offered for therapy also a strong asset.
Who will thrive in this role
The right candidate is not only trained in EMDR; they are also clinically mature, grounded, and attentive to the pace of the client’s nervous system. They understand that effective trauma therapy involves more than moving quickly into processing. They can establish safety, assess readiness, recognize when stabilization is needed, and adapt treatment thoughtfully.
A strong associate therapist will be:
- Warm, empathic, and able to build trust with clients from diverse backgrounds
- Confident but humble, with good clinical judgment and a commitment to consultation
- Comfortable working with complex trauma, anxiety, grief, attachment injuries, and relational concerns
- Skilled at explaining EMDR clearly and collaboratively to clients
- Attuned to dissociation, overwhelm, window-of-tolerance concerns, and the need for pacing
- Reliable, responsive, and consistent in attendance, scheduling, and documentation
- Interested in ongoing learning and maintaining high standards of ethical, evidence-informed care
- Able to work independently while valuing connection, consultation, and collegial support
Application instructions
Please submit your resume/CV and a brief cover letter describing:
- Your professional designation and Ontario registration status
- Your EMDR training, level of experience, and consultation history
- Your experience with trauma and complex trauma presentations
- Any additional somatic, parts-based, attachment-focused, or trauma-treatment modalities you offer
- Your available days and preferred weekly session capacity
- Whether you are available for in-person, virtual, or hybrid appointments
We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Pay: $120.00 per hour
Expected hours: No less than 8.0 per week
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Flexible schedule
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Are you located in Ottawa and can offer in-person sessions?
Work Location: In person
