Meet Your Therapist

Natalie Baillargeon, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

CRPO #18704 | Currently Under Supervised Practice

Who I Am & How I Work

Hi, I’m Natalie—a compassionate, down-to-earth therapist dedicated to walking alongside individuals through healing, self-discovery, and meaningful change.

I believe everyone deserves a space where they feel safe, seen, and supported. Therapy with me isn’t about rushing to fix—it’s about sitting with what’s real. Together, we make space for your story to unfold—on your terms—so you can reconnect with what matters, build clarity, and root more deeply into your sense of self and worth.

How I Support You -

I work with individuals navigating:

Anxiety, depression, and emotional overwhelm

Family, relational, or attachment dynamics

Life transitions and burnout

Neurodivergence (Autism, ADHD, learning differences)

Trauma, identity, and systems of oppression

My approach integrates evidence-based therapy with creative, somatic, and justice-informed tools. I draw from lived experience, academic training in Women’s & Indigenous Studies, and over 25 years in the arts to help clients access insight, regulation, and authentic self-expression.

The Creative Lens

Healing isn’t always linear or logical. Sometimes it sings.

I offer music-based, art-based, and narrative therapies when talk therapy alone doesn’t feel like enough. My background includes:

Vocal training (Royal Conservatory of Music)

Improv & acting (Second City)

Lyric and poetry work

Creative expression becomes a bridge—to inner truth, emotional release, and healing.

My Tools & Modalities

  • Existential Therapy – Exploring meaning, freedom, and authentic living

  • Narrative Therapy – Re-authoring your story through metaphor and art

  • Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) – Deepening emotional awareness and healing

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Working with your inner “parts”

  • Person-Centred Therapy – Empathy, presence, and unconditional regard

  • Adlerian Therapy – Exploring purpose, belonging, and early life impact

  • CBT – Practical tools for thought/emotion connection

  • Solution-Focused Therapy – Building hope and actionable steps

  • Somatic & Breathwork – Supporting nervous system regulation

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Evidence-based relational repair

  • Trauma-Informed & Harm Reduction – Safety, choice, and care at the centre

Areas We Can Explore

  • Emotional Regulation & Self-Awareness

  • Fostering Self-Worth & Confidence

  • People-Pleasing & Masking

  • Processing for Highly Sensitive People

  • Identity, Meaning & Life Transitions

  • Justice, Boundaries & Relational Power

  • Navigating Neurodivergence (Autism, ADHD)

  • Family or Narcissistic Dynamics

  • Developmental, Relational & PTSD-Informed Work

  • Somatic Symptoms & Emotional Stress

  • Creative Processing (Narrative, Music, Art)

  • Psychoeducation & Personal Insight

Qualifications

Education & Credentials

Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology | Yorkville University (2023 – Present)

Training includes a range of evidence-based modalities: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Adlerian Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Person-Centred and Strength-Based Approaches, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Family Systems, Couples and Group Counselling, Somatic Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Education is grounded in trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming, and culturally responsive frameworks, with advanced coursework in psychopathology, ethics, and counselling skills.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Minor in Women’s Studies | Laurentian University & Athabasca University (2018–2022)

Focus on social and counselling psychology, psychopathology, human rights, criminology, Indigenous mental health, and women’s sexuality and gender studies. This interdisciplinary education deepened my trauma-informed and feminist lens while building a solid foundation in cultural and systemic mental health dynamics.

Occupational Therapist Assistant & Physiotherapist Assistant Diploma | Niagara College (2013–2015)

Explored the intersection between physical and emotional wellness through anatomy, physiology, rehabilitation concepts, disability awareness, and therapeutic strategies across the lifespan. This background supports my body-based work in trauma recovery and nervous system regulation.

Intro to Medical Administration Certificate | Georgian College (2008–2009)

Developed a strong foundation in healthcare ethics, administrative protocols, medical procedures, and patient-centred care within medical and rehabilitation settings.

Royal Conservatory of Music & Second City Conservatory (2000–2010, Ongoing)

With over 25 years in music and the arts, I completed Grade 8 RCM voice and Level 5 Improv Conservatory. My background in lyric writing, poetry, and performance deeply informs my approach to narrative therapy, creative processing, and expressive healing.

Core Skills & Competencies

  • Self-Worth & Personal Growth Facilitation (2022 - Ongoing)
    Tools to cultivate confidence, identity development, and empowerment.

  • Harm Reduction & Trauma-Informed Care (2015 & 2022 - Ongoing)
    Experience in supporting individuals through trauma, crisis, addiction, and healing, grounded in compassion and client readiness.

  • Somatic Therapy & Body-Centred Techniques (2015 & 2024 - Ongoing)
    Skill in movement-based healing, stress regulation, and nervous system awareness.

  • Mind-Body Pain & Relaxation Therapies (2015 & 2024 - Ongoing)
    Biofeedback, guided imagery, and progressive relaxation to support clients managing trauma or chronic pain.

  • Psychoeducation & Communication Skill Building (2019 & 2024 - Ongoing)
    Specialties include assertiveness, boundary-setting, conflict resolution, and navigating difficult relationships.

  • Neurodivergent Support (ADHD, Autism, Learning Disabilities) (2015 & 2020 - Ongoing)
    Use of affirming and adaptive strategies that support executive functioning, regulation, and identity affirmation.

  • Group & Individual Therapy Facilitation (2024 - Ongoing)
    Experience leading group and individual sessions across diverse settings with a relational and collaborative focus.

  • Mental Health Rehabilitation Techniques (2015, 2019, & 2024 - Ongoing)
    Integrated approaches for emotional healing, cognitive support, and functional recovery.

  • Cultural Sensitivity & Indigenous Mental Health (2020 & 2024 - Ongoing)
    Incorporates cultural awareness, advocacy, and respect for traditional Indigenous healing practices.

  • Gender, LGBTQ2S+ & Women’s Support (2015, 2018, 2024 - Ongoing)
    Rooted in feminist and human rights frameworks, with a dedicated focus on identity, empowerment, and intersectionality.

  • Couples Therapy - Gottman Level 1 (2025)

    Gottman Method Couples Therapy provides an evidence-based approach to strengthening relationships by enhancing communication, fostering emotional connection, and rebuilding trust. Through Level 1 training, therapists gain advanced skills in identifying relationship dynamics, managing conflict, and deepening intimacy. This approach empowers couples to develop healthier patterns, heal past wounds, and build a resilient and fulfilling partnership.

Goals for the Near Future

Existential, Narrative, and Focusing-Oriented Therapy Approaches:

I’m currently exploring advanced training in existential and narrative therapy, as well as Focusing-Oriented Therapy. These approaches align closely with my philosophy of therapy as a space for meaning-making, embodiment, and emotional depth. Existential analysis invites reflection on identity, freedom, mortality, and purpose; narrative therapy supports clients in reshaping the stories that have defined them; and Focusing helps reconnect with the body’s quiet wisdom. Each of these modalities strengthens my ability to hold space for clients who are navigating the deeper questions of self and life.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing):

EMDR is a structured, evidence-based therapy developed by Francine Shapiro to help people heal from trauma, PTSD, and distressing life experiences. It’s based on the idea that unprocessed memories can get “stuck” in the brain and continue to cause emotional distress.

Advanced Emotion-Focused Therapy Approaches and Skills:

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is a humanistic, evidence-based approach grounded in the belief that emotions are key to identity, choice, and change. Developed by Leslie Greenberg, it’s especially powerful in working with individuals, couples, and families to process and transform painful emotional experiences.

Internal Family Systems (IFS):

Internal Family Systems (IFS), developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, is a deeply compassionate, parts-based therapy that recognizes the inner world as a complex system of “parts” — each with its own voice, role, and history. IFS helps clients unblend from internal conflict, release burdens held by wounded parts, and reconnect with their Self — a core place of calm, clarity, and care. I am pursuing training in IFS to support clients in healing from trauma further, softening self-criticism, and building inner trust.