Meet Our Team
Hello! I’m Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela
Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Director
I’m Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela, Psy.D. / Ph.D., C. Psych., PMH-C, and I am a clinical psychologist licensed in the provinces of Ontario and Québec. I am also a certified perinatal mental health clinician with Postpartum Support International (PMH-C) and a Qualified Instructor in Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT-QI). I am the founder and clinical director of Uprise Psychology & Wellness. I work primarily with adults as well as teens and their families struggling with eating disorders and body image concerns, as well as adults struggling with perinatal mental health. I also provide clinical supervision services to team members at Uprise Psychology & Wellness, clinical consultation to professionals outside of the practice and I co-lead several wellness and therapeutic skills groups.
My Approach & Values
My therapeutic approach is collaborative, compassionate, trauma and social justice informed, as well as evidence-based. Working with my clients, I use psychological interventions backed by scientific data to help people make meaningful changes to their lives, ease their suffering, and enhance their well-being.
My licenses: CPO # 6862 / OPQ # 13929-20
My languages: English, French and Spanish
My availability: I provide in-person and virtual services.
My Areas of Expertise:
- Eating disorders and body image concerns
- Perinatal mental health difficulties
- Anxiety disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Trauma-related disorders
- Stress management and burnout
- Grief and loss
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship Issues
My Education
- Baccalauréat spécialisé approfondi en Psychologie (B.A.) from the University of Ottawa (Magna Cum Laude)
- Doctorat en Psychologie (Psy.D./Ph.D.) from the Université du Québec à Montréal
- My doctoral thesis focused on understanding how multicultural people identify with their cultural groups and negotiate their cultural differences as well as the repercussions of these processes on their psychological well-being.
- My thesis received a doctoral fellowship by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
My Training
- Throughout my doctoral studies, I trained in various clinical settings including a university clinic, a mental-health hospital and private community clinics.
- I completed my predoctoral internship at the McGill University Health Center’s Cognitive Behavioural Therapy center.
- Since then, I have received additional training at the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders, Contextual Psychology Institute, Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, Compassionate Mind Foundation, Mindful Eating Training Institute
Radically Open LTD, Postpartum Support International.
Hello! I’m Gregory Rokhlenko
Registered Psychotherapist
I am a Registered Psychotherapist registered in Ontario. I hold a Master of Education in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. I provide individual psychotherapy to adults (18+). I am experienced in providing therapy for depression, anxiety, stress, grief, body image and eating disorders, trauma, relationship and communication difficulties, procrastination, perfectionism, self-esteem, chronic pain, disability, and burnout. I have experience working with LGBTQQ2SIA+, university students, teachers, academics, lawyers, government employees, creative professionals, healthcare workers, people in non-monogamous relationships, and others.
My Approach & Values
I offer a non-judgmental space where you will be accepted unconditionally. Just as pain and suffering are an integral part of human life, so is our inherent capacity for healing. The safety of the therapeutic relationship offers you an opportunity to face past hurts and present difficulties, let go of defences that no longer serve you, and adopt new coping mechanisms. I use an integrative approach, drawing from a range of therapies to help you process emotions, change unhelpful thinking patterns, develop a mental well-being toolbox, and live a life more in line with your goals and values.
My licenses: CRPO # 007618. I practice under Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela’s supervision (CPO # 6862).
My languages: English, Russian and Hebrew
My availability: I provide virtual services only.
My Training
In addition to the training I received as a university trainee, I have received additional training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Mindful Self Compassion (MSC), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
My Expertise
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Body-image concerns
- Trauma-related concerns
- Grief and loss
- Negative self-esteem
- Chronic pain and disability
- Stress and Burnout
My Education
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with Honours in Women’s Studies and Peace Studies from McMaster University
- Master of Arts in Women’s Studies and Feminist Research from the University of Western Ontario
- Master’s of Education in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto
Hello! I’m Mackenzie Bacon
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). I hold a Master’s in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. I have experience working with individuals struggling with anxiety, disordered eating, body image concerns, depression, sleep disturbances and trauma-related concerns.
My Approach & Values
I take a collaborative, client-centred approach to therapy. My goal as a therapist is to provide my clients with a safe, non-judgemental space to process their experiences. I assist clients in understanding their patterns of behaviour and gaining an appreciation for why certain behaviours or emotions exist. By understanding the roots of our concerns, we can enact meaningful change to help us progress towards a more fulfilling life.
My licenses: CRPO # 11506. I practice under Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela’s supervision (CPO # 6862).
My languages: English
My availability: I provide in-person and virtual services.
My Expertise
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Body-image concerns
- Stress and burnout
- Sleep disturbances
- Trauma-related concerns
My Education
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology and Criminology from Western University
- Master’s in Counselling Psychology (M.A.) from Yorkville University
Hello! I’m Ryan Wyatt
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and hold a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Ottawa as well as a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. I have experience working with adolescents and adults dealing with anxiety, depression, work-place stress, low self-esteem, relationship issues and difficulties adjusting to life transitions. I also have experience and a special interest working with athletes and sports performance.
My Approach & Values
My aim is to work together to address the areas of concern that are important to you by creating an atmosphere where you feel heard and know that it is safe to be open and honest. I seek not to solve your problems, but to assist you in developing the skills that will help you to overcome them. My approach is collaborative, evidence-based, culturally sensitive and founded on mutual respect and a strong therapeutic alliance.
My licenses: CRPO # 11661. I practice under Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela’s supervision (CPO # 6862).
My languages: English, French (Conversational)
My availability: I provide in-person and virtual services.
My Expertise
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sports performance
- Low self-esteem
- Stress and burnout
- Academic and relationship issues
- Life transitions
My Education
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with Honours in Psychology from Carleton University
- Bachelors of Education (B. Ed.) from Queen’s University
- Masters in Counselling Psychology (M.Ed.) from the University of Ottawa
- My master’s research focused on safe and effective use of the self in the counselling relationship and the effectiveness of ACT therapy in working with anxiety, depression, eating disorders and promoting positive health measures (diet, sleep and exercise).
Hello! I’m Kayla Spicer
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I am a Master’s student in Counselling Psychology at the University of Ottawa and I am a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) at Uprise Psychology & Wellness under the supervision of Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela, C. Psych. I work with people struggling with depression, anxiety, eating disorders and body image concerns, grief and loss, stress and burnout, as well as self-esteem and relationship issues.
My Approach & Values
My therapeutic approach is warm, non-judgmental, collaborative, trauma-informed, as well as evidence-based. Working with my clients, I use a compassionate and mindfulness-based perspective to help them attain experiential integration and move towards living a meaningful life.
My licenses: CRPO #11395. I practice under Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela’s license (CPO # 6862). I am also a member of the Ontario College of Teachers #693993.
My languages: English and French
My availability: I provide in-person and virtual services.
My Expertise
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Body image concerns
- Grief and loss
- Stress and burnout
- Self-esteem and relationship issues
My Education
- Bachelor degree specialized with honours in English Literature (B.A.) from the University of Ottawa
- Bachelors of Education (B. Ed.) from the University of Ottawa
- Masters degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Ottawa (in progress)
- My master’s thesis focuses on the perceived benefits, challenges, changes in the way one copes with stress, and overall impressions of the experience of the 6-week Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion (SC-MSC).
Hello! I’m Christie Lim
Practicum Student
I am a Master’s student in Counselling Psychology at the University of Ottawa and I am completing my practicum at Uprise Psychology & Wellness under the supervision of Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela, C. Psych. I work with people struggling with depression, anxiety, disordered eating and body image concerns, stress and burnout, as well as self-esteem and relationship issues.
Need a Mindful Break? Join me for a FREE mindfulness session here
My Approach & Values
My therapeutic style is collaborative, compassionate, and client-centred. I also strive to provide clients a safe space by practicing from a social justice and trauma-informed lens. My goal in therapy is to provide clients with empathic care and work with them to develop the skills necessary to live a more enjoyable and meaningful life through exploring their strengths and areas that can be worked on.
Through navigating my role as a graduate student and therapist intern, I found formal and informal mindfulness practice to be a positive impact in my professional and personal life as it allows me to connect with myself, others, and my environment with more intention, awareness, and non-judgment.
My licenses: CRPO #13584. I practice under Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela’s license (CPO # 6862).
My languages: English, Mandarin and Cantonese (conversational)
My availability: I provide in-person and virtual services.
My Expertise
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Disordered eating
- Body image concerns
- Stress and burnout
- Self-esteem and relationship issues
My Education
- Bachelor of Public Health, Joint Honours Public Health and Psychology from the University of Waterloo
- Masters degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Ottawa (in progress)
Hello! I’m Gabriella Hilkes
Social Media Intern
I am joining Uprise Psychology as a social media intern. I am currently a Masters student in Experimental Psychology at Carleton University and plan to continue my education in Counselling Psychology afterwards. I work to maintain work-life balance and integrate mindfulness and self-care practices daily. My favourite self-care practices include going for walks, reading, baking, and spending time with my family.
Our Services
Assessments & Therapy
Supervision & Consultation
Wellness
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