Dr. Diana Garcia | She/ Her

Clinical Director & Neuropsychologist

With over 20 years of experience in the field of psychology, Dr. Garcia has provided psychological and counselling services in Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

She received her education in the United States of America. Dr. Garcia has completed various clinical internships in psychology and neuropsychology, including an APA-approved internship at Northeast Florida State Hospital. She has been working within the field of psychology since 1991 in a variety of diverse settings within the United States and Canada. She has provided treatment and assessments for individuals and families for a diverse spectrum of issues, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, chronic pain, disability, return to work, acquired brain injuries, learning disabilities, developmental delays/disabilities in children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics, and psychological/neuropsychological assessments including personality, educational, and developmental assessments.

She is a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario and licensed to practice within the province of Ontario in both Psychology and Neuropsychology.

Dr. Garcia currently provides services to clients in our Kanata location. Her areas of specialty include:

  • Diagnosis and treatment of children, adolescents and adults

  • Treatment of eating, anxiety, and mood disorders 

  • Diagnosis and treatment of ADHD

  • Psychological and Neuropsychological testing

Dr. Garcia's professional affiliations include:

  • Member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario

  • Member of the Ontario Psychological Association

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (State of Pennsylvania)

Sarah Mackrell | She/ Her

Psychometrist

Sarah received her Ph.D. and M.Sc. at the University of Western Ontario. She completed her master’s and doctoral degrees in the personality and measurement area, with a program focus on statistical analysis, test design and measurement.

Sarah has worked as a psychometrist since 2015 and has a broad knowledge of academic accommodations and supports available to students at the elementary, high school, and post-secondary level. She currently completes psycho-educational testing with children, adolescents, and adults in the Kanata, Ontario area under the supervision of Dr. Diana Garcia.  

Educational Background:

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Personality & Measurement, University of Western Ontario, 2017

  • Master of Science, Personality & Measurement, University of Western Ontario, 2011

Appointments: Monday-Friday

Robyn Plane | He/ Him

Registered Psychotherapist

Robyn is a Registered Psychotherapist with the CRPO (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario) and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.  He obtained his Master of Arts degree in Counselling & Spirituality from a joint program with the University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University.  During this time, his training focused on individual counselling and his research was primarily around mental health issues within the LGBTQ community.  

Robyn has worked in the mental health profession for over 10 years, beginning his career as a behavioural therapist working with families and children diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum.  He has worked in both institutional and private settings with individuals and families, providing support individually, at home and in the school environment.

During his graduate program, Robyn worked with the Saint Paul Counselling Centre and Carleton University.  At these locations, he supported students and young adults in the community dealing with ADD, learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, sexuality and relationship issues.  

Robyn also works as a supervisor at Saint Paul University Counselling Centre, supporting graduate level students within the program. 

In private practice Robyn enjoys supporting individuals and families from ages 9-65 with their mental health needs, but also offers specialized support in areas such as high functioning ASD, stress management and back to work support, as well as needs related to the LGBTQ community." 

Appointments: Mondays & Wednesdays

Shawna Davis

Registered Psychotherapist

As a Registered Psychotherapist (supervised by a psychologist) with over 25 years’ experience, Shawna has worked with many clients within the mental health field. Although much of her work focuses on working with teens, she is also well versed in the challenges that adults face in daily life.

Much of her work focuses on supporting individuals with the daily struggles they face such as anxiety, depression, school and relationship difficulties, social worries, and wondering if life will ever stop feeling like an uphill battle. It is important for Shawna to be able to meet people where they are at, so she draws from a variety of therapeutic approaches in her work (Internal Family Systems, CBT, ACT, and DBT). Shawna would be happy to explain more about these models when you meet.

Although she grew up in Lanark and Renfrew Counties and occasionally misses country life, she has made Ottawa her home. Shawna has a quirky sense of humour that helps clients share some laughter with her even while you are working together on the tough stuff.

Shawna is looking forward to hearing your story and seeing how you can work together and focus on the goals that need to be met so you can get back to living the life you deserve.

Credentials

Master of Arts in Counselling and Spirituality, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, ON, 2000.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, 1997.

Professional Memberships

Canadian Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) – Reg. #2503

Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)

Hours-Monday to Friday-9 to 4

Mason Flatla | He/ Him

Registered Psychotherapist

Mason works with individuals (ages 9+) who have questions and concerns related to anxiety, depression, self-esteem, neurodiversity, trauma, and identity. As a trans and queer person, Mason's practice centers on supporting the needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Mason’s approach to therapy is collaborative, integrative, and rooted in both person-centred and narrative methodologies. He endeavors to build a strong relationship based on authenticity, honesty, safety, and compassion in the support of client goals. Mason works with clients to co-create a space wherein they can feel empowered to share their stories and move toward wellness through a lens of self-compassion. It is important to Mason that he and his clients work together to determine a therapeutic approach that will be most relevant to his client’s unique circumstances, needs, and goals. Mason utilizes techniques and methods from CBT, emotion-focused, narrative, solutions-focused, and compassion-focused therapy.

Matthew Champ

Registered Psychotherapist

Matthew is a Registered Psychotherapist with the CRPO (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario) with a background in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness Based Therapies & Motivational Interviewing. Matthew provides a safe and confidential place to come and discuss what's on your heart and on your mind because sometimes we just need someone to hear us. Someone to actually hear what we are saying and hear how we are feeling.

Matthew studied Criminology & Psychology in University - with a focus on Addictions & Substance Abuse. He has been involved in the mental health counselling field since 2013 where he has worked with people from all walks of lives, ages and backgrounds including in both institutional and private settings. Matthew has experience in working with youth and young adults in the school boards as a school based addiction counsellor. He also has a background in working with incarcerated individuals as a rehabilitation counselor in a halfway house for men on parole.

In private practice Matthew enjoys supporting individuals and families of all ages and walks of life with their mental health needs. If you are feeling down, anxious, stressed, or just not yourself and want to have an empathetic sounding board don't hesitate to reach out. Get started on working towards better wellness today.

Sandra LeBlanc | She/ Her

Registered Social Worker

Sandra is a registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She has over 25 years experience providing therapy with, children, adolescents, adults and families.

Sandra is very passionate about her work and feels blessed to have walked alongside her clients over the years and share in their journey of growth and healing. Her life experiences and role as a parent have also helped her become the clinician she is today.

Sandra has extensive training in areas such as anxiety, depression, attachment issues, foster care, adoption, trauma, including treatment of child sexual abuse, sexualized behaviours, bullying issues, grief and loss, separation, divorce issues, and LGBTQ+.

Sandra uses a client centred, strength-based, evidence based approach and focuses on each client’s individual strengths and resources. She works from a trauma informed, attachment perspective. She draws upon the following modalities and trainings:

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and Trauma Focused CBT

  • Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy

  • Adoption Competency Training

  • Acceptance Commitment Therapy,

  • Solution Focused Therapy,

  • Brainspotting with children, adolescents and adults,

  • Theraplay and Play Therapy,

  • Violent Threat Risk Assessment Training - Level 1 & 2

  • ASSIST – Suicidal Intervention Training

  • Developmental Trauma Model of Brainspotting

  • Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT): 

Sandra works collaboratively and respectfully with clients to help them obtain their goals in therapy. Sandra believes that all behaviour is communication. Sandra’s work with clients involves helping them listen to what their behaviour is telling them in themselves and in others. Together Sandra will explore the client’s experiences to help them identify what their responses and reactions tell them about their values, beliefs and preferences.

Juliana DeMeis | She/ Her

Registered Psychotherapist

Juliana is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and is a graduate from Yorkville University’s Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology program.

Juliana offers counselling to adolescents and adults experiencing a diverse array of concerns, from anxiety and depression to difficulties relating to stress, relationships school, and self-esteem. Juliana places a strong emphasis on developing a therapeutic relationship formed on trust, honesty, and compassion. She strives to create a safe and supportive environment where her clients feel comfortable in exploring their thoughts, feelings, behaviours and lived experiences. With an empathic and non-judgmental approach, Juliana works collaboratively with her clients to understand the roots of their challenges and work towards developing self-awareness, self-compassion, and personal growth. While she practices primarily from a Cognitive-Behavioural perspective, Juliana believes in integrating elements of other modalities into her approach to best support her client’s unique needs.

Lisa Gagnon

Registered Psychotherapist

Lisa has over 25 years’ experience working with people of all ages within multiple settings to help them with their mental health concerns. She believes that when we experience significant life stressors, it is common to feel fragmented. She is passionate about respecting the natural dignity and value of each person she meets, while being mindful of the differences they bring. Her priority is to create a safe and supportive environment for her clients. She believes that when given the space for healing and growth, everyone can achieve their potential. 

In her practice, Lisa focuses on the use of evidence and strength-based approaches while drawing on each client’s personal experiences. She believes that there is nothing more profound than witnessing someone overcome obstacles presented to them.  Her specializations include working within the areas of anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment disorders, grief and loss, eating disorders, personality disorders, addictive disorders, parent support, family dynamics, adoption - placement and permanency.

Knowing that no single approach works for every individual, she has trained in a range of modalities, with a focus on person-centered and family systems approaches with a principal focus on attachment and trauma treatment, which include the following areas of practice:

  • Brainspotting - Levels 1,2,3,4, Master class, Addictions, Child & Adolescent, Going for the roots- developmental trauma

  • Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy - Level 1&2

  • Somatic approaches – Love, Trauma and Healing, Collective healing Journey, Sensorimotor psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, polyvagal theory.

  • Relational Life Therapy- Level 1&2

  • Safe and Sound Protocol - SSP

  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy - DBT

  • Internal Family Systems - IFS

  • Compassionate Inquiry

  • Narrative Therapy

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (Trauma Focused)

  • Adoption Competency Training – ACT

  • Brief Solution Focused Therapy

  • Intergenerational Trauma Treatment Model - ITTM

  • Threat Assessment Training - Level 1 & 2

  • ASSIST – Suicidal Intervention Training 

In life, Lisa’s family has provided with her with one of the most precious gifts of all – lifelong learning. The shared experiences with her children continue to humble her and fill her with joy.  In her free time, Lisa enjoys being close to water and nature and learning about different cultures and human experiences. She enjoys creating things, gardening, music and can always be convinced to take a trip up North, back to her roots!

Lisa is continually focusing on personal growth and strengthening her spiritual self; the art of being ever present and mindful.

Her inherent belief is that people are doing their best with what they have; if supported with information and the guidance needed to make meaning out of life challenges, we will move through these challenges, achieving our highest self - Lisa looks forward to sharing this experience with you.

"We don’t need to fix ourselves we need to create a life worth living"   Marsha Linehan

Selena Ladouceur | She/ Her

Registered Psychotherapist

Selena Ladouceur is a Registered Psychotherapist with the CRPO (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario) and a good standing member of the CCPA, CPA, OSRP, and CAMFT. Selena received her Master of Arts Degree in Counselling & Spirituality from a joint program with the University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University. During this time, her training focused on individual, couple, and family therapy and her research focused on understanding codependency within the scope of alcohol dependency and familial ties. Selena also graduated from Carleton University with an honours degree in Psychology, concentration in Forensic Psychology, and has her SSW (Social Service Worker) diploma from Loyalist College. 

Selena has always had an interest in Mental Health and has previous experience working with individuals struggling with a variety of mental health concerns. Selena’s therapeutic intention is to focus on working with individuals and families to help them heal and process emotions in a supportive, non-judgmental, and safe environment. She tends to take an empathetic approach to treatment concentrating on theoretic lenses best suiting Humanistic, Person-centered, and Emotion-focused therapy. She finds integrating treatment approaches very useful for emotion recognition and regulation, along with providing insight into understanding thought processes and the perspective of others. Selena believes that integrating facets from other modalities will allow for the unique needs of her clients to be best supported and met. This will ultimately contribute to their development in areas of personal growth, self-awareness, and altered behavioural change.  

Belinda Hartsgrove

Practicum Student

Belinda is the latest practicum student to join the Capital Psychological Team. She is currently working towards completion of her Master of Psychology through Adler Graduate Professional School. While she is new to our team, she is not new to the field. Belinda has completed a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology – but has pursued the Master of Psychology degree to expand the services she can offer. She has worked in Aboriginal Youth Justice initiatives, provided case management and rehabilitative services to Veterans, offered community mental health support to individuals on parole and currently provides mental health services such as acute mental health care to incarcerated individuals and psychotherapeutic services within the community.

While expanding her practice areas, she looks forward to working with children, adolescents and adults through an integrative and holistic lens. She strives to offer a space of warmth and respect in hopes of building a trusting relationship that is supportive and facilitative of growth for her clients. Her areas of interest include psychological assessments and therapy across various concerns.

Her practicum is supervised by Dr. Diana Garcia

Dan Egarhos | He/ Him

Vocational Assessor

Dan is a Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator (CCVE) with more than 20 years of experience in the Province of Ontario. He completed his graduate studies in Psychology at Carleton University where he obtained his Master’s degree in 1993.

He has experience administering Vocational Evaluations, Psychological-Vocational Evaluations, Transferable Skills Analyses and Labour Market Surveys. He has worked with insurance companies, WSIB, CPP, Veteran’s Affairs, ODSP and legal clients.

He is a member in good standing of the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals (CVRP), Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada (VRA) and the Canadian Assessment, Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Society of Canada (CAVEWAS).

Brenda Weaver | She/ Her

Practice Manager

Brenda has been the friendly face of Capital Psychological since June 2015.  Brenda started at Capital Psychological as an administrative assistant and quickly became a valued member of the team; she now holds the title of Practice Manager. Brenda is responsible for managing all day to day aspects of Capital Psychological, including new patient intake, scheduling and general office order at Unit I-1.  Prior to working at Capital Psychological, Brenda ran a home daycare while she raised her three children.   

Kristin Davey | She/ Her

Operations Manager

Kristin is the Operations Manager of Capital Psychological. Her responsibilities include social media, invoicing, scheduling and various “behind the scenes” tasks. Prior to joining the team, she worked in the administrative field at a recruiting company; she has also run a small business, and has many years of customer service experience. 

Brooke | Good Girl

Office Pup

Brooke was born on January 15th, 2019 in Kingston, Ontario. She joined the Capital Psychological team in May 2019 and began her training as a therapy dog. Brooke enjoys meeting new people, playing with her toys, sleeping, and learning new tricks. Brooke is still in training, but is eager to join in therapy sessions from time to time to help comfort patients within the office.