Meet Emilie Bender

About Me

Hey! I'm Emilie Bender (she/her), a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO) and Independent Contractor with Pothos Counselling & Consultation Services. I believe that therapy should be a space where you feel understood, supported, and free from judgment. I work with adolescents and adults navigating symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, anxiety, and emotional regulation difficulties.

My approach to OCD
I take an evidence-based, compassionate approach to supporting people struggling with OCD - one that recognizes how intrusive thoughts, uncertainty, and compulsive behaviours can affect every area of life. I am committed to ongoing training and consultation to ensure I'm offering high-quality, up-to-date care, and I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help clients better understand the OCD cycle, develop practical coping skills, and gradually build confidence in responding to difficulties without letting OCD dictate their choices.

My approach to other individualized concerns
For clients working through trauma, anxiety, or emotional regulation difficulties outside of OCD, I draw from Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills, Narrative Therapy, and Internal Family Systems, depending on each person's needs and goals. My approach is collaborative and individualized - meaningful therapy involves not only addressing symptoms, but understanding the experiences, relationships, and patterns that may be contributing to them.

Across all of this work, my goal is to create a therapeutic relationship rooted in compassion, where clients feel safe enough to be honest and curious about themselves.