Complex trauma · PTSD · Ottawa & online

Start settling before you even book.

The weight you’ve been carrying is real, and it’s not just in your head. We provide somatic and EMDR therapy for complex trauma and PTSD in Hintonburg, Ottawa and online across Ontario. You don’t have to hold this alone anymore.

breathe in

in · 4s  ·  out · 6s

Book a free consult What to expect
CRPO-registered therapists In person · 9 Melrose Ave, Hintonburg, Ottawa Virtual across Ontario No referral needed

Does this sound familiar?

Maybe you’ve tried to explain it before and felt brushed off, or reached for words that never quite fit. You don’t need the perfect words here. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re in the right place.

When the past won’t stay in the past

Memories that intrude, dreams that repeat, a body that reacts as if it’s happening all over again. EMDR therapy helps those memories settle into the past, so they can stop shaping your present.

EMDR therapy

When your body won’t power down

You’re exhausted, but your body won’t switch off. Tense, scanning, never quite off duty. Somatic therapy works with your nervous system directly, so calm becomes something you can actually feel.

Somatic therapy

When you’re at war with yourself

The inner critic that never lets up. The part of you that wants change, and the part that’s terrified of it. Parts work (IFS) helps the conflict inside quiet down, so every part of you can be on the same side.

Parts work (IFS)

What we work with

You don’t need to arrive knowing what kind of therapy you need. Figuring that out together is part of the work. Start with what you’re carrying, and we’ll match the approach to it.

EMDR therapy

For trauma, PTSD, and the triggers they leave behind.

Somatic therapy

For chronic tension, hypervigilance, and stress that lives in the body.

Parts work (IFS)

For the inner critic and the parts of you pulling in opposite directions.

Anxiety therapy

For the 3 a.m. overthinking, the panic, the perfectionism nearing burnout.

Couples counselling

For the same fight on repeat. Faith-informed counselling available on request.

Individual counselling

For depression, grief, transitions, or “something isn’t right.”

What to expect

Reaching out takes courage, and not knowing what comes next makes it harder than it needs to be. So here’s the whole path, step by step.

  1. 1

    A free 15-minute call

    No forms, no preparation, no commitment. You share as much or as little as you want, we talk about what’s been going on, and you decide whether this feels like the right next step. You’re also welcome to just ask questions.

  2. 2

    First sessions build ground, not pressure

    We take time to understand your history and your goals, and we build the settling skills that make deeper work possible. You’ll never be pushed to tell your story before you’re ready.

  3. 3

    Deeper work begins only when you’re ready

    Processing happens at your pace and with your consent. Your nervous system sets the speed, and you can change course or stop at any time.

The Ripple Effect therapy room at 9 Melrose Ave: a calm space with a deep green accent wall, a cream couch by the window, plants, and soft lighting.
Our room at 9 Melrose Ave, Hintonburg.
Masood Suliman, Registered Psychotherapist in Ottawa, smiling in a dark shirt and glasses.

Our clinical approach

Hi, I’m Masood. I’m a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #11921) and the founder of Ripple Effect Counselling and Psychotherapy in Hintonburg, Ottawa.

This practice is built on one belief: healing happens when your nervous system feels safe enough to allow it. So safety is where we begin. Stability and trust come first, and deeper processing follows only when you’re ready, never the other way around.

I’ve practised as a psychotherapist for the past four years and hold membership with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), EMDR Canada, and EMDRIA. We draw on EMDR (including the Flash Technique), somatic work, parts work (IFS), and DBT-informed skills, with sessions available in English, Pashto, Urdu, and Hindi.

Nothing about you is broken. Our work is about helping you feel more connected to yourself and steadier in your life, so you can move forward in a way that feels like you.

Meet Our Therapists

Fees and practical details

  • Free 15-minute consultation: $0. The honest way to find out if this fits.
  • Individual therapy (50 min): $200. One-on-one sessions in person or online.
  • Couples therapy (50 min): $220. A separate, relationship-focused service. More on couples counselling.
  • Insurance: you pay per session and claim with a receipt that includes the CRPO registration number. Most Ontario plans cover Registered Psychotherapists. No direct billing.
  • No referral needed. In person at 9 Melrose Ave, Hintonburg, or online anywhere in Ontario.
  • Full details: counselling services & fees

Questions people ask before reaching out

Do I have to talk about the trauma right away?

No. The first stretch of therapy builds stability and trust; deeper processing comes only when you’re ready, and approaches like EMDR and somatic therapy don’t require retelling your story in detail at all.

Is EMDR safe for complex trauma?

Yes, with the right pacing. Standard protocols applied too fast can overwhelm a nervous system shaped by long-term trauma, so preparation and grounding come first, and processing waits for your system to be ready. More on the EMDR page.

Do you direct-bill insurance?

No. You pay per session and receive a detailed receipt with the CRPO registration number to claim through your extended health plan. Most Ontario plans cover Registered Psychotherapists; check your specific coverage.

How much does therapy cost?

$200 for a 50-minute individual session, $220 for a couples session, and the first 15-minute consultation is free. No referral needed.

Can we do sessions online?

Yes, anywhere in Ontario, with the same structure and pacing as in-person work. Details on the virtual therapy page.

What happens on the free 15-minute call?

You describe what’s going on, in as much or as little detail as you want. We answer questions, suggest a starting point, and you decide. No forms before it, no pressure after it.

Recent clinical insights

Plain words for heavy things, from the blog.

All articles

One small ripple is enough to start.

Reaching out is the hardest step, and you’ve already come this far. A free 15-minute call is enough to begin. No forms, and no pressure to tell your story before you’re ready.

Book a free 15-minute call
Book a free 15-minute call