Dr. Julie Desjardins, C.Psych.

Co-Founder, Co-Director, Psychologist

613-567-0777
Hi!

I am Dr. Julie Desjardins, a Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychologist, and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Child, Adolescent, and Family Centre of Ottawa (CAFCO).

I provide therapy to children, adolescents, and families with a range of mental health needs. I mainly focus my practice on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD),  giftedness and family therapy. I also provide comprehensive social-emotional assessments and psycho-educational assessments.

I use an integrative approach to meet clients’ needs, primarily anchoring myself in attachment theory, and drawing from therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). I focus on a client-centered and strength-based approach in my therapeutic work with youth and their families.

I completed my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa and my residency at the Centre for Psychological Services and Research. Outside of my clinical work, I am a Clinical Professor and Replacement Professor at the University of Ottawa,  and I provide clinical training and supervision to Ph.D. students in Clinical Psychology. I am also the mother of two teenagers.

I am honored to have been the recipient of the Harvey Brooker Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching from the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA) for my passion and dedication to clinical teaching, training, and supervision as well as the Award of Merit from the OPA – the OPA’s highest award for people who have made a significant contribution to the profession.

Clients I work with:
  • Children and youth aged 0-18
  • Parents
  • Families
Areas where I can help:
  • Initial Consultations
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • OCD
  • Perfectionism
  • Difficulties with emotion regulation
  • Parent-child conflict
  • Trauma
  • Psychodiagnostic assessments (i.e., diagnosing mental health conditions)
  • Psychoeducation assessments (i.e. for learning disorders, ADHD, ASD, Giftedness, etc.)
Types of Therapy Provided:
  • I use an integrative approach to meet clients’ needs, drawing from therapeutic modalities such as:
    • Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
    • Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
    • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)