Lara MacPherson

Accepting virtual and in-person clients (ages 8+)

Language – English

Pronouns: They/Them

Rate: $180

Sliding scale available upon request.

It can be exhausting to navigate a world that demands you camouflage or conform your natural way of being, often leading to a profound disconnection from your body, your community, and your environment. You may be carrying the weight of masking, rejection, or isolation, or finding it difficult to trust after experiencing violence or systemic harm. You deserve support that acknowledges these realities and their impact on you, rather than pressuring you to internalize blame. I invite you to a therapeutic space where we can process the shame you may have been taught to carry, moving toward empowerment and a restorative path back to yourself.

I offer a practice woven from the intersections of my identity as a 2SLGBTQIAP+, AuDHD person with lived expertise in chronic illness and gender-based violence. Grounded in a dedicated systems approach and a social justice lens, I work alongside children (8+), youth, adults, and seniors across the 2SLGBTQIAP+, neurodivergent, and disability spectrum communities. If you are seeking a truly neurodiversity-affirming, safer environment rooted in shared understanding, I can support you across a variety of areas. This includes navigating neurodivergence and unmasking (Autism, ADHD, or burnout), identity and gender exploration, trauma, and systemic wounds, or chronic illness and pain realities that honour your body’s capacity. I also work with individuals processing anxiety, stress, and perfectionism through nervous system regulation, as well as those exploring self-compassion, boundaries, and the complexities of grief or life transitions.

In our sessions, we are co-collaborators. Because I believe you are the expert on your own life, I practice eclectically rather than fitting you into a single framework. Drawing from Person-Centred, Compassion Focused, Narrative, Relational, Somatic, Transpersonal, and Eco-psychotherapy frameworks, alongside techniques from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS), allows me to honour and adapt to your unique individual needs. Integrating Art Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy, I welcome creativity as a transformative tool for emotional processing, expression, and growth, with absolutely no previous artistic background needed. Our work holds room for your full human experience, attuning to meet whatever is needed in the moment, whether that means engaging in deep emotional processing, developing practical tools, or co-regulating in a safer, relational space together.

I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the CRPO (#20945), practicing under the clinical supervision of Terri Roberton (CRPO #006027). I hold a Master’s level dual diploma in Art Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy from WHEAT Institute and am a Professional Member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA), the Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association (OEATA), and the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA). I offer services in English, providing both online and in-person options at Grounded Psychology in both the East end (Gloucester) and West end (Nepean) of Ottawa.

You are worthy of a sanctuary where you can practice softening the need to perform, empowering you to rebuild self-trust and explore who you are when you feel safe enough to just be. If my approach resonates with you, I welcome you to schedule a free 20-minute consultation. Together, we can work toward a wellness that is uniquely yours!

IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE:

While keeping our sessions consistent is a top priority, I live with a chronic health condition. To make sure my practice is sustainable, I may occasionally need to cancel or reschedule an appointment on short notice. If this happens, I will give you as much notice as I can and follow up when able to reschedule. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility as I work to keep disruptions to your care minimal.