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About Stephanie Kale -
Embodied Mind Psychotherapy, Ottawa

Hello! My name is Stephanie Kale and I'm the founder of Embodied Mind Psychotherapy, a somatic therapy and trauma-informed psychotherapy practice in Ottawa, Ontario. I'm a Registered Psychotherapist and member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO #10101). I offer individual therapy to adults 18 and older, in person in Ottawa and virtually across Ontario.

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I have worked in private practice and in community health settings, supporting individuals navigating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma (c-PTSD); anxiety and depression; self-esteem; substance use and addiction; interpersonal challenges; grief and loss; spiritual and existential issues; chronic pain and illness; and life transitions. 

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In addition to somatic therapy, I support individuals interested in exploring non-ordinary states of consciousness through breathwork. I have training and experience in Holotropic Breathwork and Conscious Connected Breathwork, and can hold space for individuals wishing to explore and integrate these experiences as part of their therapeutic treatment.

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Without condoning the use or purchase of psychedelic substances, I also offer psychedelic integration coaching in Ottawa for individuals seeking to explore their use of psilocybin or MDMA as a tool for psycho-spiritual growth. I have received training through TheraPsil, a leading Canadian organization helping those in medical need access psychedelic-assisted therapy. I am currently completing my PhD dissertation exploring the somatic experiences of individuals with PTSD in MDMA-assisted therapy - bringing cutting-edge research directly into my clinical understanding. ​

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Before becoming a therapist, I worked for more than a decade in the federal public service, primarily in support of postsecondary research. That midlife career transition gives me a deep appreciation for the questions of meaning, purpose, and risk that arise when we follow what calls to us.

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Dance, yoga, and meditation have been lifelong embodiment practices that guide me toward greater health, connection, and wellbeing - and I bring that lived experience of the mind-body connection into my work with clients. 

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I've listed my education and training experience below so you can see whether my background aligns with what you're hoping to explore.  I warmly invite you to reach out for a free consultation to see if we're a good fit. Your comfort with me is the most important ingredient in good therapy outcomes. 

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Education

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Relevant Trainings

  • Pranayama training, "Unlock the Breath, The Road to Bliss" (ongoing)

  • Yin yoga teacher training

  • TheraPsil, Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy

  • TheraPsil, MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Developmental Injury (Level 2)

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma (Level 1)

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Complex Trauma and Dissociation

  • Navigating Safe Touch in Therapeutic Spaces

  • Grof Legacy Training (Holotropic Breathwork; Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy training)

  • Integrated Treatment for Concurrent Disorders, Canadian Mental Health Association

  • Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced Focusing (Gendlin)

  • Psychedelics and Somatics, Embody Lab

  • Motivational Interviewing Level 1, Canadian Mental Health Association

  • SMART Recovery and Family & Friends Facilitator Training

  • ASIST suicide intervention / prevention

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My Approach

Client-centred.

I believe you are the expert of your own experience. My role is to support your exploration of your inner world and help you reconnect with the inner compass that leads toward growth, healing, and health.

 

Attachment-oriented. 

Early relationships shape our sense of self, others, and the world. Together we explore ways to listen and respond to your deep emotional needs, and find pathways towards safe, secure connection.

 

Somatic-oriented. 

Our body holds patterned ways of relating to self, others, and the world. Through mindful exploration of the mind-body connection, we learn to slow down and shift these patterns towards greater self-awareness, self-compassion, and joy.

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Trauma-informed and relational. 

Healing from trauma begins with establishing a trustworthy space and a relationship. Together, we will build on your strengths and resilience, creating a stable foundation from which we can journey towards processing difficult experiences and creating new meaning.  

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“There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy.”
Friedrich Nietzsche

What does the body have to do with therapy?

We think in bodies. We feel in bodies. Our body carries us through this world. 

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My integrated approach to somatic therapy combines traditional talk therapy with body-based and mindfulness approaches - including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Focusing-oriented therapy. These methods draw from current neuroscientific research on trauma processing and emotion regulation, helping you access a deeper felt sense of yourself.  

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Together, we explore your thoughts and feelings while also inviting mindful awareness of inner sensations, patterns of tensions and release, and the body's impulses to move - as we explore the stories of your life.

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In my research and clinical experience, cultivating embodied awareness opens new paths toward wellbeing and groundedness, especially when we feel stuck in habitual thoughts, feelings, and physical reactions.   

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Together, we can move towards embodied change.

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