Gentle. Trauma-informed. Human.
Mego Nerses is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) in Ottawa, Ontario, offering full-time virtual therapy to adults (18+) anywhere in Ontario. Mego supports clients navigating trauma, relationship challenges, sexuality and gender identity-related concerns, and the impacts of forced migration and resettlement. His approach is humanistic and existential, grounded in dignity, meaning-making, and a deep respect for each person’s lived experience.
In my Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) training, I learned that storytelling isn’t just a tool; it’s how we reclaim truth, coherence, and dignity after chaos. Therapy, to me, is the act of witnessing someone’s lived experience and helping them rebuild meaning from the fragments.
At the heart of my work is a deep belief in the power of storytelling. I view therapy as a sacred space where your lived experiences can be voiced slowly, safely, and in your own words. When we speak our stories aloud, we reclaim meaning. We stitch coherence back into the places where life unravelled. We begin to see not just what happened to us, but how we’ve carried it, survived it, and made meaning from it.
My approach is rooted in both narrative and existential traditions. I don’t ask, “What’s wrong with you?” — I ask, “What have you lived through?” and “What matters to you now?”
Together, we explore how you’ve made sense of suffering, how systems have impacted your identity, and how you might live more fully and freely, on your own terms. This isn’t surface work. It’s slow, gentle, liberating work grounded in dignity.
I’m Mego Nerses, a psychotherapist who meets people where they are — gently, respectfully, and without judgment. I walk alongside people carrying invisible weight: grief, trauma, longing, or the quiet ache of trying to belong. Over the years, I’ve sat with stories shaped by injustice, exile, and pain — not only personal, but systemic. I am a long-time therapist-witness to social injustice and institutional betrayal, and I carry that awareness with care into every session. My work is grounded in deep listening, ethical presence, and a belief in your capacity for healing — even if you’re not sure it’s possible yet.
From my earliest days as a student to my current role supporting clients and organizations across Canada, this timeline shares the key moments that shaped my work.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, can offer a wide range of benefits for individuals struggling with mental health issues. Some of the potential benefits of psychotherapy include:
It’s important to note that different people may respond differently to different treatments, so it may take some trial and error to find the right one for you. It is best to consult a mental health professional to determine the best treatment plan for you.
Psychotherapy (often called “talk therapy”) is a structured, confidential, and collaborative process where you meet with a trained mental health professional to better understand what you are experiencing and to support meaningful change. People seek psychotherapy for many reasons—such as stress, anxiety, low mood, trauma-related impacts, grief, relationship challenges, identity exploration, or major life transitions. Therapy can help you make sense of difficult experiences, strengthen coping skills, improve relationships, and build a life that feels more stable, meaningful, and aligned with your values (American Psychological Association [APA], 2012).
Effective psychotherapy is also culturally responsive and trauma-informed. Culture influences how people understand distress, emotions, healing, family roles, spirituality, and what feels respectful or safe in a helping relationship (Sue et al., 2009). A trauma-informed approach recognizes that many people have lived through experiences that affected their sense of safety, trust, and control. In trauma-informed care, the therapist prioritizes emotional and physical safety, collaboration, choice, and empowerment, and works at a pace that respects your boundaries—without requiring you to share painful details before you are ready (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2014). This approach also attends to power dynamics and seeks to reduce the risk of re-traumatization while supporting dignity and agency (SAMHSA, 2014).
There are many evidence-based approaches to psychotherapy, each with a different focus. Examples include:
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours and learning practical strategies to reduce distress and improve daily functioning (Hofmann et al., 2012).
Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Therapy: explores recurring patterns, emotions, and relational themes—often including how past experiences may influence present-day responses and relationships.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): focuses on relationships, communication, and how interpersonal stress and life changes can affect mood and well-being.
Humanistic/Person-Centred Therapy: emphasizes growth, meaning, self-understanding, and the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT): supports people in understanding, processing, and transforming difficult emotions, often with attention to attachment needs and relationship patterns.
The “best” type of therapy is usually the one that matches your goals, preferences, and needs—and where you feel understood and able to collaborate with your therapist. Research also shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship (trust, fit, and shared goals) is a key contributor to positive outcomes across many approaches (Flückiger et al., 2018; Wampold & Imel, 2015). Many people benefit from integrating elements from more than one approach, depending on what they are working on and what feels most helpful at different times.
Psychotherapy is widely supported by research and is generally effective for a range of concerns when provided by a qualified, regulated professional (APA, 2012).
Finding a qualified psychotherapist in Ontario can be done through a few different methods:
Referral from a family doctor or other healthcare professional: Your family doctor or other healthcare professional may be able to provide you with a referral to a qualified psychotherapist in your area.
The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) : The CRPO maintains a public register of all members who are authorized to practice psychotherapy in Ontario. You can search the register by therapist name, location, or area of practice.
It's important to note that when searching for a qualified psychotherapist in Ontario, it's important to look for someone who is registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and ensure that the therapist has the appropriate education, training and experience to help you with your specific needs.
In Ontario, Canada, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) provides funding for psychotherapy through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), however the coverage and access to psychotherapy services vary depending on the type of service and the individual's needs.
Psychotherapy services provided by a physician, such as a psychiatrist, are covered under OHIP. This includes assessments, follow-up appointments, and medication management.
However, psychotherapy services provided by a registered psychologist or a social worker or a registered psychotherapist who is not a physician are not covered under OHIP.
Some of these services may be covered by a private health insurance plan or employee benefit plan, or by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) of Health Canada for Indigenous people, or the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program for eligible First Nations and Inuit people.
It's always best to check with your insurance provider or with the MOHLTC to confirm what type of psychotherapy services are covered under OHIP and what other options are available if OHIP coverage is not sufficient.
The duration of psychotherapy can vary depending on the individual's specific needs and the type of therapy being provided. Some people may benefit from a few sessions, while others may require ongoing therapy for several months or even years.
The duration of therapy sessions themselves also vary, some last for 50 minutes and others for 90 minutes.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), for example, is often considered a short-term therapy and may be completed within 10 to 20 sessions. Whereas, psychoanalytic therapy, which often involves deeper exploration of unconscious thoughts and feelings, may take longer to complete, typically several years.
It's important to note that the duration of therapy is not necessarily an indicator of the therapy's effectiveness. The most important factor is the progress the individual is making towards their therapy goals, and that should be evaluated regularly.
It's also important to note that the therapist and the individual should have regular check-ins to evaluate the progress and adjust the therapy plan if needed. And that the therapy should be discontinued if the individual is not benefiting from it or if the individual reaches their therapy goals.
It can be difficult to know whether you should see a psychologist or a psychotherapist, as both types of professionals are trained to help individuals with mental health issues. The main difference between the two is that psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology, while psychotherapists may have a master's degree or a diploma in a related field.
Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to see a psychologist or a psychotherapist:
Answer these 5 short questions to see if therapy might help you right now.
I am an Ottawa-based Registered Psychotherapist and have a full-time private practice. In the past, I worked in social service agencies for many years. I offer individual, relationship, and sex therapy in English, Arabic, and Armenian to adults 18+, and I do not work with minors.
In 2011, I earned a master’s degree in Counselling from the University of Ottawa. I am a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario (CRPO#001132) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. In addition, I am a Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA#3058). My clinical training focuses on relationship and sex therapy and trauma/PTSD. Since 2013, I have been at Algonquin College as a seasonal professor, teaching courses in mental health and addiction.
I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to publish peer-reviewed articles and contribute chapters concerning Counselling, coming out, and trauma related explicitly to LGBTQ+ refugees and newcomers to Canada. I have presented numerous workshops and continue to offer trainings nationally and internationally on the mental health of LGBTQI+ and SOGIE refugees and asylum seekers.
Professional Work
Early in my professional career, I specialized in individual therapy and served clients with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and grief. Since then, I have taken my clinical work to a higher level and gained more experience in four areas: PTSD and Trauma, Sexuality and Gender Identity, Sex and Relationship Therapy, and Refugee mental health issues. I have received various trainings in these areas since choosing to specialize. As an example, I received training from Division 56, Trauma Psychology, Physicians for Human Rights, and the Global Institute of Forensic Research in writing immigration evaluations for immigration courts. Furthermore, I have completed multiple trainings in trauma/PTSD therapy and relationship therapy (Poly. Kink). I have participated in numerous training opportunities in the field of sex therapy, sexuality, and gender identity.
I am a LGBTQI+/poly/kink/CNM supportive and informed therapist.
Therapeutic approaches
In addition to Narrative Exposure Therapy for PTSD (NET), I have also been trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD and Experiential Therapy and Focusing. I integrate social justice and rights-based principles into my work as a trauma-informed therapist.
Awards
In recognition of my dedication to helping LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers in Canada, I received the 2017 Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).
AffiliationsI have an international affiliate membership with Division 56, Trauma Psychology, the American Psychological Association (APA), and the Global Institute of Forensic Research.
For the time being, we will be conducting appointments exclusively through virtual means.
Thank you for your understanding.
