Allison Tugwell, MEd, RP (she/her), is one of our dedicated Associate Clinicians specializing in individual therapy. As a Registered Psychotherapist in good standing with the CRPO (#008098), Allison offers a calm, caring, and supportive environment where clients can feel heard and understood. With a passion for helping individuals navigate life’s challenges, she tailors her approach to meet each client’s unique needs. Outside of her professional life, Allison channels her creativity into art, crafting, and design projects, bringing a thoughtful and reflective touch to everything she does.
2024 Fee Structure: $175.00 per hour for individual therapy. HST is not applicable for clinical services provided by Registered Psychotherapists as of June 20, 2024.
Allison is also an approved provider for the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program. Our clinic offers direct billing for eligible clients enrolled in the NIHB program.
Professional Experience:
Allison brings over eight years of dedicated experience to her role as an Associate Clinician. She began her career working with youth and families, providing crucial crisis support through her roles at Family Services Ottawa (FSO) and Youth Services Bureau (YSB). Her background includes extensive experience in both community and private settings, where she has skillfully offered both short-term and long-term support tailored to individual needs.
Her work at FSO and YSB has equipped her with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by individuals and families, enabling her to deliver compassionate, effective, and personalized care. Allison’s approach combines her extensive experience with a commitment to fostering resilience and growth in her clients.
Specialization & Clinical Focus:
- Enhancing emotional awareness and developing emotion-regulation skills using a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) approach.
- Coping with symptoms of anxiety and depression through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques.
- Exploring and processing childhood trauma to reduce its impact.
- Specializing in support for clients dealing with grief and loss, shame, and guilt.
- Addressing relationship difficulties, conflicts, and attachment struggles with a focus on improving assertiveness and communication skills.
- Setting goals and overcoming barriers to feeling “stuck,” as well as supporting clients through life transitions.
- Using mindful self-compassion approaches.
Education & Training:
Allison holds an Honours BA with a Specialization in Psychology and a Master of Education with a Concentration in Counselling Psychology, both from the University of Ottawa. Her extensive training in narrative therapy, trauma-informed approaches, substance-use issues, Indigenous cultural safety, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) reflects her commitment to providing comprehensive and empathetic care.
With her broad skill set and specialized knowledge, Allison is well-equipped to support clients through a range of challenges, from trauma and substance use to cultural sensitivity and crisis intervention. Her dedication to ongoing education ensures that she brings the most current and effective strategies to her practice, helping clients navigate their difficulties with confidence and resilience.
Clinical Supervision:
For professional development, Allison is currently receiving ongoing external supervision and participating in peer group consultations.
