Complex trauma · PTSD · Ottawa & online

Start settling before you even book.

Somatic and EMDR therapy for complex trauma: the same nervous-system work this breath is doing for you right now.

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?

You don’t need the right words for it. One of these is usually enough.

When the past won’t stay past

Memories that intrude, dreams that repeat, a body that reacts like it’s happening again. Processing them so they file away as finished: that’s what EMDR is for.

EMDR therapy

When your body won’t power down

Wired but exhausted. Tense, scanning, never quite off duty. Somatic therapy works with the nervous system directly, so calm stops being a performance.

Somatic therapy

When you’re at war with yourself

The inner critic, the self-sabotage, the part that wants change and the part that’s terrified of it. Parts work helps them stop fighting.

Parts work (IFS)

What we work with

You don’t need to know which modality you need. That’s our job. Start with what you’re carrying.

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

The unknown is half the fear. Here’s the whole path.

  1. 1

    A free 15-minute call

    No forms, no preparation, no commitment. You say as much or as little as you want; we suggest a starting point. You can just ask questions.

  2. 2

    First sessions build ground, not pressure

    Your history, your goals, and the settling skills that make everything else possible. You will never be pushed to tell your story before you’re ready.

  3. 3

    Deeper work only when you’re ready

    Processing happens at your pace, with your consent, and your nervous system sets the speed. 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 smiling while seated in a leather chair at his Ottawa clinic.

Our clinical approach

We’re a trauma-focused practice in Hintonburg, led by Masood Suliman, Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #11921). Our approach is body-aware and paced: stability and trust first, deeper processing only when you’re ready, and never before.

We draw on EMDR (including the Flash Technique), somatic work, parts work (IFS), and DBT-informed skills, and we offer sessions in English, Pashto, and Urdu/Hindi. Culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and honest about what we can and can’t promise.

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.

A free 15-minute call. No forms, no pressure to tell your story before you’re ready.

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