I have been practicing clinical psychology since 2008. After a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Quebec in Outaouais, I completed my master’s degree as well as my doctoral studies at the University of Quebec in Montreal.

Through this academic journey, I have had the pleasure of experiencing the birth of my two children, now aged 10 and 12, who have taught me a lot and who help me every day to become a better person.

During my studies, I worked in the research sector in a Clinical Cyberpsychology Laboratory and I also taught several course-loads at the baccalaureate and doctoral level. My research projects were specifically focused on the development of virtual therapies for the treatment of anxiety disorders and the cognitive behavioral therapy treatment for anxiety disorders.

As soon as I obtained my clinical practice permit, I began my work as a clinician in a hospital, then in a psychiatric hospital with diversified clienteles (outpatient clinic for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, short hospitalization unit stay, adult mental health, and psychiatric care unit for adolescents).

While providing psychology care within a multidisciplinary team, I observed the effectiveness of complementarity in treating the individual as a whole. Unfortunately, with limited resources and the model of care being primarily pharmaceutical, I often felt that I could do more. Although rich, my experiences in the field of university education and in hospital centers made me aware of the shortcomings of the system: I felt them even more when my son was diagnosed on the autism spectrum (ASD). After trying alternative approaches that were very successful with my son’s development and recovery, I developed a real passion for integrative health. So, I started my self-taught training which aimed both to help my child, but also to quietly develop a model of holistic psychology based on integrative health. All of these upheavals in the academic knowledge I had acquired confirmed to me that I was on the right track. My deep beliefs and the new knowledge I acquired led me to the path of private practice. I had in mind then the idea of ​​setting up a multidisciplinary clinic where we could apply a complete holistic model to address mental health issues.

For 6 years now, I have owned a multidisciplinary clinic and I have developed a collaboration with other clinics in the Outaouais region in order to have as many professionals as possible involved in my holistic psychology project.

The clients I work with are adults, adolescents and couples. I mainly use the cognitive-behavioral approach as a basic psychological approach.

I am also trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, EMDR Therapy, Pattern Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Using these fairly powerful psychological tools, I developed, with my observations, clinical experiences and in collaboration with fellow nutritionists, naturopaths and chiropractors, a neuro-nutrition and psychophysiology protocol adapted to various mental health disorders and aimed specifically at treating the microbiota and the body to modulate mood and reduce mental health symptoms. Our protocols demonstrate efficacy with the following issues: anxiety, depression, insomnia, temper tantrums, mood fluctuations linked to hormonal disturbances, addictions, eating disorders, inflammatory type chronic pain, fibromyalgia, neurological disorders such as autism and learning disabilities, as well as psychotic disorders.

The results are incredible and I have long wanted to start publishing on the subject! Lack of time and mainly being busy in the clinic, I have put off this duty to share crucial information for too long.

I joined, with 54 other founding members, the Professional Association for Integrative Health, which was founded in December 2020. Being part of this integrative health association will allow me, not only to exchange with other professionals on our common interests, but also to take the time to share my clinical observations which could, in my opinion, revolutionize the way of treating mental disorders!

 

Looking forward to discussing it further,
Dr Geneviève Labonté-Chartrand, psychologist.