Ottawa, ON, Canada · Online & In-Person
Online sessions across Canada, except Quebec
Maria Bayman
Registered Psychotherapist, BA, MA
When life feels stuck, heavy, or without direction
Individual therapy that helps you gently understand yourself - and, when you're ready, work deeply through what holds you back.
About Me
Imagine a therapeutic relationship in which you feel understood, supported, and empowered - where your thoughts and emotions are met with empathy and insight. I will invite you to explore your inner world and confront your personal challenges. Whether struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, relationships, or navigating life's transitions, I offer a compassionate guide to uncover your strengths and achieve your goals.
My holistic approach combines the depth of Gestalt therapy with the flexibility to integrate ACT, CBT and EMDR when needed. I tailor the therapeutic process to your unique needs, ensuring an effective journey toward healing. My neuropsychology training allows me to offer specialized support for neurodivergent individuals, understanding their unique challenges.
Your journey is personal, and my role is to facilitate a deeper understanding of yourself, fostering resilience and empowering you to make meaningful changes. Together, we can work towards a more fulfilling life, where you feel equipped to face challenges with confidence and clarity.
Credentials
- BA, MA - Odesa State University, 2018
- Registered Psychotherapist - Province of Ontario #17287
- OAMHP Member #7548-G · Verified by Psychology Today
- Languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian · 8 years in practice
You May Recognize Yourself Here
You feel disconnected from yourself or your life
You seem "okay" on the outside, but inside something feels off
You experience anxiety, emptiness, or emotional overwhelm
You keep repeating the same patterns in relationships
You don't fully understand why you feel this way
You feel stuck and unsure how to move forward
You want more than just coping - you want real change
It Doesn't Have To Be "Big Trauma" To Affect You
Trauma is not only about extreme events. Often, it's about experiences that felt overwhelming, confusing, or too much to process at the time.
These experiences may include:
- Growing up feeling unseen, unsupported, or emotionally alone
- Being criticized, dismissed, or misunderstood
- Bullying or social exclusion
- Family conflict or instability
- Feeling responsible for others at a young age
- Moving, losing a sense of belonging, or starting over
- Painful or repeated relationship experiences
- Chronic stress, anxiety, or burnout
How This May Show Up In Your Life Today
Even if these experiences are in the past, their impact can stay with you:
- You overthink, but don't feel clarity
- You feel too much - or not much at all
- You want closeness, but something gets in the way
- You doubt yourself, even when you're capable
- You struggle to trust or open up
- You feel disconnected from yourself
- You lack a sense of direction or meaning
What We Build Together
Not quick fixes - but something you can actually rely on
Emotional Stability
Learning to understand and regulate your inner experience
Inner Support
Developing a more stable, compassionate relationship with yourself
Meaning & Direction
Reconnecting with what feels real, important, and alive for you
My Approach
Trauma-informed, relational, and depth-oriented
Gestalt Therapy
My primary approach. Focuses on present-moment awareness, personal responsibility, and the integration of mind, body, and emotions. Helps you discover authentic ways of being.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Explores emotional patterns and attachment needs. Helps you understand how you connect - and disconnect - from yourself and others.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. A research-backed method for processing trauma and distressing memories - gentle yet powerfully effective.
CBT
Practical tools for identifying and reshaping unhelpful thought patterns that keep you stuck.
ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - helps you act in line with your values even when difficult emotions arise.
Body Awareness & Mindfulness
Attending to physical sensations and present-moment experience as a pathway to deeper self-understanding and regulation.
Therapy can be short-term (10-20 sessions) or long-term, depending on your needs.
Life Transitions & Relocation
I support individuals navigating relocation, cultural transition, and the experience of rebuilding a sense of belonging.
Who I Work With
Individuals (16+) who are ready to better understand themselves, work through past experiences, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Services & Fees
We accept most private health insurance. Happy to work with you to make therapy affordable.
Free Consultation
A no-commitment 15-minute call to see if we're a good fit before starting therapy.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions for adults and teens dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, life transitions, and more.
Couples Therapy
Support for partners navigating communication challenges, conflict, or relationship transitions.
Session Formats
Accepted: BlueCross/BlueShield · Canada Life · Manulife · Medavie Blue Cross · TELUS Health · Veterans Affairs Canada
Payment: Cash, Cheque, e-Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, ACH/Wire transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practical answers before you write
Do you offer therapy in Ukrainian or Russian?
Yes. I work in English, Ukrainian and Russian. Pick whichever is easiest for you.
How much does a session cost?
$175 CAD for a 50-minute individual session. $225 CAD for a 60-minute couples session. The first 15-minute call is free. You can pay by cash, cheque, e-transfer, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal or ACH/wire transfer.
Is therapy covered by my insurance?
Most private plans cover a Registered Psychotherapist, including BlueCross/BlueShield, Canada Life, Manulife, Medavie Blue Cross, TELUS Health and Veterans Affairs Canada. Where an employer or organization pays (nurses, veterans, police and similar plans) I bill the insurer directly. Otherwise you pay for the session and send the receipt to your insurer. It is worth checking your plan for the words “Registered Psychotherapist” and for the annual limit.
Do you offer online sessions?
Yes. Video sessions run on a secure platform and you can join from anywhere in Canada except Quebec. In-person sessions are in Ottawa.
Where is your office?
Ivanova Psychology & Associates, Preston Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1R.
What is a Registered Psychotherapist, and how is that different from a psychologist or psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor and can prescribe medication. A psychologist holds a doctoral degree and can do formal assessment and diagnosis. A Registered Psychotherapist is trained in doing therapy itself, and in Ontario the profession is regulated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, which sets the standards and keeps a public register you can search. I do not prescribe medication or give formal diagnoses. If you need either, I will say so and help you find someone who does.
What happens in the first session?
It starts with a free 15-minute call. You say briefly what brings you, I explain how I work, and you can ask me anything: my training, the method, the fee, confidentiality, what to expect. Nothing is decided on that call. If we go ahead, the first full session is mostly your history and what you want to be different, plus the consent form and the limits of confidentiality.
What kind of therapy do you practise?
Gestalt therapy is my main approach: working with what is happening right now, in the room, between us. I bring in EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy, CBT and ACT where they help. All of it is trauma-informed.
Do you work with neurodivergent clients?
Yes. I have training in neuropsychology and work with ADHD and autistic clients. In practice that means adjusting the pace, the structure and the sensory load to suit you.
Is what I tell you confidential?
Yes. Sessions and records are protected under Ontario's Personal Health Information Protection Act and CRPO standards. There are a few legal exceptions: risk of serious harm to you or someone else, suspected harm to a child, a court order, or a college investigation. I go over them with you at the start.
How long does therapy usually take?
Short-term therapy is usually 10 to 20 sessions, weekly or every second week. Long-term work is 20+ sessions. We look at progress as we go and decide the pace together.
What is your cancellation policy?
Let me know at least 48 hours ahead if you need to cancel or move a session. Anything later is charged the full fee.
Do you have a waitlist?
No. I am taking new clients and can usually start soon after the free consultation.
Get in Touch
You don't have to go through this alone. We can start at your pace - with safety, curiosity, and depth when you're ready.
Phone:
(343) 501-2308Location
Ivanova Psychology & Associates
Ottawa, ON K1R (Preston St)
Online sessions available across Canada, except Quebec
Hours
Weekdays, 9am to 5pm
VERIFIED ON
4 Endorsed · Ontario #17287