Ottawa Valley Wellness

Frequently Asked Questions

Wellness Support for Busy Professionals

We know that navigating mental health, nutrition, and wellness services can bring up a lot of questions. Whether you’re considering integrative psychotherapy and nutrition counselling, exploring our Balanced Meals, Balanced Minds group program, or looking into workplace wellness workshops, we’re here to help!

Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about our services, approach, and what to expect. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to chat!

Email us at: hello@ottawavalleywellness.ca

GENERAL INFORMATION

Mental and physical health are deeply interconnected. Nutrition impacts mood, energy, and cognitive function, while emotional wellbeing influences eating patterns and food choices. By addressing both simultaneously, we create more effective and sustainable solutions for overall wellness.

Many extended health plans cover registered psychotherapy services. Nutrition counseling may be covered separately depending on your plan. We provide detailed receipts with appropriate codes for insurance submission.

Each client’s journey is unique. During your complimentary connection call, we’ll discuss your specific goals and create a recommendation tailored to your needs. Many clients report noticeable improvements within 4-6 sessions.

Our integrated approach recognizes how mental health and nutrition impact each other, providing you with coordinated care that addresses the whole person. This saves you time, prevents conflicting advice, and creates more effective, personalized solutions.

Clients must provide at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule a session via the Practice Better client portal. A late cancellation fee (equal to the full session fee) will apply for cancellations made with less than 48 hours’ notice. This fee must be paid before booking future appointments. Emergencies will be considered at the Provider’s discretion.

Yes, we believe everyone deserves access to quality care. We offer a limited number of sliding scale spots based on financial need. Payment plans are also available for clients who would benefit from multiple sessions. Please discuss these options during your complimentary connection call so we can find an arrangement that works for you.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and some Visa debit cards. For your convenience, you’ll be asked to add a payment card to your file, which will be automatically charged after each appointment. If automatic card payments aren’t possible for you or if you need to use another payment method, please let us know in advance so we can discuss alternative arrangements.

Yes, our fees are consistent regardless of whether you choose virtual or in-person sessions. Both formats provide the same quality of care and expertise from our practitioners.

The 20-minute connection call allows us to understand your specific needs, answer any questions, and determine if our services are the right fit for you. This call is completely free with no obligation.

Booking an appointment with us is easy! Simply visit our Booking Page, where you can choose a time that fits your schedule. If you prefer to speak with us first, feel free to reach out via email at hello@ottawavalleywellness.ca, and we’ll be happy to assist you with scheduling your first session.

If you need to pause your sessions, we’re here to support you. We’ll work with you to create a plan that fits your needs and timeline. Whether you need to take a break for personal reasons or feel you’ve reached your goals, we can discuss the next steps together. 

We encourage open communication between sessions! If you have a question or need some guidance, feel free to send a message in our secure chat, and we’ll do our best to respond within 1-2 business days. Please note that we do not offer immediate crisis support between sessions, but we can help connect you with appropriate resources if needed.

Yes, absolutely! Your privacy is our priority. All services are confidential and comply with Canadian privacy laws and professional ethics guidelines. Any information shared during sessions will remain private, except in rare situations where there is a legal or ethical obligation to disclose (such as in cases of immediate harm or abuse). If you ever have questions about confidentiality, we are happy to discuss them in detail.

I specialize in helping busy professionals navigate a range of mental health and wellness concerns, including stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. I also support individuals with emotional eating, chronic stress management, and nutrition-related issues that may impact mental health. My holistic approach integrates both psychotherapy and nutrition counseling to help you build a balanced and sustainable lifestyle.

You don’t need to choose! Many clients benefit from integrating both therapy and nutrition counseling. By addressing both your mental health and nutritional needs, we can help you create lasting shifts that impact your overall well-being. If you’re unsure which path to start with, we can discuss your specific concerns during our complimentary connection call and determine the best approach for you.

The best way to know if this is the right fit is to book a complimentary connection call with me. During the call, we’ll discuss your goals, challenges, and how my services might help. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, struggling with burnout, or looking to improve your overall health and well-being, we’ll figure out the best course of action for you. I aim to ensure that you feel comfortable and confident in the support you’re receiving.

A typical session is personalized to meet your unique needs. For psychotherapy sessions, we’ll explore your emotional well-being, challenges, and develop strategies to improve your mental health. For nutrition sessions, we’ll dive into your eating habits, lifestyle, and create practical nutrition plans to support your mental health. Whether we’re working on stress management, emotional eating, or burnout, each session is designed to be collaborative, empowering, and focused on your well-being.

Yes, I offer flexible scheduling to accommodate busy professionals. You can book sessions during the lunch hour, and I have availability on the following days and times:

  • Tuesdays: 10 AM – 6 PM

  • Wednesdays: 10 AM – 4 PM

  • Thursdays: 10 AM – 5 PM

If these times don’t work for you, feel free to reach out, and we can discuss alternative options. I strive to make scheduling as convenient as possible for you.

GROUP PROGRAM: BALANCED MEALS, BALANCED MINDS

This is a 6-week group program that uniquely combines psychotherapy and holistic nutrition approaches to help busy professionals manage stress, prevent burnout, and build sustainable wellness habits. Each session includes both nutritional guidance and mental health strategies tailored to the current season.

Unlike programs that focus solely on either mental health OR nutrition, we address both simultaneously because they’re deeply interconnected. Most programs don’t account for how stress affects eating habits and how nutrition impacts mental wellbeing. Additionally, our seasonal approach recognizes that your body and mind have different needs throughout the year.

Not at all! This program is designed for people at all stages of their wellness journey. Whether you’re completely new to these concepts or have tried other approaches before, the content is accessible and adaptable to your needs.

The program addresses many common challenges faced by busy professionals, including stress management, emotional eating, energy depletion, burnout prevention, and creating sustainable health habits. During our complimentary connection call, we can discuss your specific concerns to ensure the program aligns with your needs.

Each 6-week program includes:

  • Weekly live virtual group sessions (60-90 minutes each)
  • Season-specific recipes and meal planning guidance
  • Practical mindfulness and stress management techniques
  • Access to a private community for support
  • Weekly Q&A opportunities
  • Recordings of all sessions
  • Supplemental resources and worksheets

The program is designed for busy professionals! Beyond the weekly live session (60-90 minutes), we recommend setting aside 15-20 minutes a few times per week to implement the strategies. The beauty of our approach is that many techniques can be integrated into your existing routine without requiring significant additional time.

We understand that life happens! All sessions are recorded and provided to participants within 24 hours. You’ll have access to these recordings for 60 days after the program concludes.

To ensure quality interaction and personalized attention, groups are limited to 12-15 participants.

The full investment for the 6-week program is $497. We offer flexible payment plans to make it accessible:

  • Pay in full: $497
  • Two payments: $250 now and $247 in 30 days
  • Three payments: $167 now, $165 in 30 days, and $165 in 60 days

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for the first week of the program. If after attending the first session and reviewing the materials you feel this isn’t the right fit, let us know within 48 hours of the first session for a full refund.

Yes! Early registration (before [specific date]) qualifies for a complimentary 30-minute private consultation to discuss your specific needs.

Many extended health benefits plans cover services provided by Registered Psychotherapists and Holistic Nutritionists. We can provide you with a receipt that you can submit to your insurance provider. We recommend checking with your specific provider about coverage for group programs.

Currently, all sessions are held virtually via Zoom to accommodate participants from across Ontario. This allows us to create a diverse community regardless of location. However, if you are interested in attending in-person, please let us know for future sessions.

While individual results vary, past participants typically report:

  • Reduced stress levels and better coping strategies
  • Improved energy and focus throughout the day
  • Better understanding of how nutrition affects their mood and mental health
  • Practical tools for managing work-life balance
  • Sustainable habits that fit into their busy lives
  • Reduced symptoms of burnout
  • More mindful relationships with food and self-care

The program is led by Samantha, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and Holistic Nutritionist with extensive experience supporting busy professionals. Samantha combines her clinical expertise with practical, real-world strategies that work for people with demanding schedules.

We offer a complimentary 20-minute connection call where we can discuss your specific situation and determine if this program aligns with your needs. There’s no obligation, and even if the program isn’t the right fit, we’re happy to provide recommendations for other resources. [Book your call here]

Simply click any “Register Now” button on this page, and you’ll be guided through the registration process. If you have any questions about registration or the program, please email hello@ottawavalleywellness.ca

Corporate & Community Wellness

We recommend booking at least 4-6 weeks in advance to ensure availability and allow time for any customization.

Yes, we offer special rates for registered non-profit and charitable organizations. Please mention this during our consultation.

Absolutely! All our workshops are available in both virtual and in-person formats to accommodate your team’s needs.

Our workshops work best with groups of 10-50 participants, though we can accommodate larger groups with additional planning.

Our workshops uniquely blend evidence-based psychotherapy approaches with nutrition science, addressing both mental and physical well-being for a truly holistic approach to workplace wellness.

Yes, recordings can be arranged for an additional fee. We provide these along with digital resources to ensure all team members benefit from the content.

Both! We can create custom wellness programs with multiple sessions spread over weeks or months to build lasting change within your organization.

We provide optional pre and post-workshop assessments to measure impact, and can work with your organization to develop specific metrics aligned with your wellness goals.

small shifts can create A big Impact

At Ottawa Valley Wellness, we’ll help you identify those small, sustainable changes that fit into your busy life and lead to significant improvements in how you feel.