Mrs Aya El Balaa, MA

Registered Psychotherapist

“I am a trauma and culturally informed Registered Psychotherapist working with adults on issues such as self esteem, anxiety, depression, motivation, interpersonal relationships, and shame. I tailor my approach to my client as everyone comes with a unique story. I work in both English and Arabic.”

About Me

I support adults navigating challenges like anxiety, low self-esteem, or the weight of shame. Your unique story and cultural background are central to our work. This guides a truly tailored approach for you. In our sessions, whether in English or Arabic, we can explore your experiences at your own pace. This personalised space helps you feel understood, fostering confidence in your relationships and motivation.

Approach

Your cultural context and life story guide how we move through concerns, with careful attention to what feels safe and useful for you. In Ottawa or online, I offer sessions in Arabic or English, keeping a steady, collaborative pace that balances listening, reflective questions, and practical skill practice. Sessions often include brief between-session experiments and grounding tools to shift anxiety, shame, or stuckness while tracking relational patterns. This approach tends to help adults looking for respectful, practical change rooted in their own experience.

Contact Aya

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Ottawa, Canada

In-person & Online

Services

Services Offered:

Counseling
A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.
Learn more about Counseling
Trauma Counseling
Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.
Learn more about Trauma Counseling
Psychotherapy
In-depth therapeutic work that explores patterns in thoughts, emotions, and relationships to produce lasting psychological change.
Learn more about Psychotherapy
Individual Therapy
One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.
Learn more about Individual Therapy
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy

Works With:

Adults

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Abuse
Emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment by another person that causes lasting psychological harm and disrupts a person's sense of safety.
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
Grief & Loss
The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.
Learn more about Grief & Loss
Stress / Burnout
The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).
Learn more about Stress / Burnout
Cross-Cultural
The psychological challenges of living between two or more cultures, including identity conflicts, acculturation stress, and difficulties with belonging.
Divorce Counseling
Counselling for individuals or couples going through separation or divorce, addressing the emotional, practical, and relational dimensions.
Identity Issues
A person's sense of who they are, including their values, beliefs, roles, and self-perception, and the distress that arises when this sense is unclear, fragmented, or negative.
Self-Esteem
A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.
Learn more about Self-Esteem
Personal Development
The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.