Registered Social Worker & Supervised MSW Intern
Rachel Oussoren
RSW · MSW Intern
Warm, strengths-based psychotherapy for people navigating anxiety, grief, social anxiety, stress, spiritual questions, life transitions and concerns connected to family relationships.
I am Rachel Oussoren, a Registered Social Worker. My passion for psychotherapy began through a healing journey of my own. Since that time, I have been inspired to support individuals and families as they work toward healthier relationships, stronger support systems and meaningful change.
My professional experience has shown me that people do not exist in isolation. Our families, relationships, communities, culture and life experiences can all influence how we understand ourselves and respond to challenges.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
Helen KellerThis quote reflects the way I think about therapy. Sustainable change does not always happen through individual effort alone. It can also involve recognizing the supports around us and understanding how the systems we are part of have shaped our experiences.
Therapy can be one place to begin that work. Together, we can explore what may be contributing to the way things are now, identify your existing strengths and consider the people, relationships and resources that may help support meaningful change over time.
Continue reading Rachel's bio More about Rachel's perspective on support systems, change and resilience
Looking at the systems around you can be a useful place to begin understanding why certain patterns, relationships or emotional responses may have developed.
Change may initially begin on a smaller level in the therapy room, but supportive relationships and networks can help those changes continue beyond the session.
I look forward to working with you to better understand yourself, recognize the strengths you already carry and explore the networks that may be able to support you through different seasons of life.
Areas Rachel Supports
You can begin with what is happening now and explore the connections from there.
Rachel works with individuals across a range of emotional, relational and life concerns. Therapy can help you better understand what is happening, recognize your strengths and explore what may support change.
Anxiety Worry, overthinking, uncertainty, self-doubt and feeling overwhelmed
Explore the thoughts, experiences and situations that may be contributing to anxiety while identifying strengths and practical ways of responding differently.
Explore Anxiety TherapySocial Anxiety Fear of judgment, avoidance, self-consciousness and difficulty feeling comfortable around others
Understand the thoughts and emotional responses connected to social situations while gradually building greater confidence and flexibility.
Explore Anxiety TherapyGrief & Loss Loss, adjustment, change and making space for difficult emotions
Therapy can offer space to process grief, understand how loss has affected different parts of your life and explore what support may look like as you adjust.
Explore Grief & Loss TherapyStress Management Pressure, competing responsibilities, overwhelm and difficulty finding balance
Explore what may be contributing to stress, identify the resources available to you and develop realistic strategies for responding to demands.
Explore Individual TherapyParent-Child Relationship Concerns Family patterns, parenting stress, communication and understanding relational dynamics
In individual therapy, Rachel can support clients who want to better understand family patterns, parenting stress and concerns related to parent-child relationships.
Explore Individual TherapySpiritual Exploration Faith, spirituality, values, meaning and questions about how beliefs intersect with life
If faith or spirituality is important to you, it can be included in therapy. Christian counselling is available as an option rather than an expectation.
Explore Christian CounsellingRachel's Therapy Approaches
Therapy can build on the strengths and resources you already have.
Rachel takes a person-centred, strengths-based approach and draws from several therapeutic perspectives depending on the client's needs, experiences and goals.
Professional Experience
Experience supporting people across different stages of life.
Rachel has worked in social services since 2011, with experience in child welfare, family services, developmental support, trauma, mental health and addiction-related concerns.
Read Rachel's professional experience Learn more about Rachel's education, child welfare experience, family-services work and professional background.
Rachel Oussoren is a Registered Social Worker with a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology.
Since entering the social work field in 2011, Rachel has developed experience supporting people with mental health concerns, trauma, addiction and family-related challenges across different stages of life.
Before 2011, Rachel worked in frontline support roles with individuals living with developmental disabilities. In 2011, she joined Huron-Perth Children's Aid Society and later joined Bruce Grey Child and Family Services in 2013 as a Family Services Worker.
Through this work, Rachel developed experience in child welfare, family support and working alongside Indigenous families and communities.
Rachel brings a trauma-informed and client-centred perspective to her work. Her approach emphasizes each person's strengths, experiences and circumstances while remaining flexible about what may be most useful for that individual.
She is committed to creating a respectful and empowering space where clients can better understand themselves, recognize their resources and work toward healing, growth and resilience.
Therapist Fit
Rachel may be a good fit if you are looking for...
A therapist's approach matters alongside the concerns you want support with. The goal is to find someone whose style and perspective feel workable for you.
A warm, person-centred approach
You want therapy to begin with your experience, your priorities and what you would like to understand or change.
A focus on strengths
You want to understand what is difficult without losing sight of the strengths, resources and supports you already have.
A systems perspective
You want therapy to consider how family, relationships, community, culture and support networks may be affecting your experience.
Optional faith integration
Christian faith or spirituality is meaningful to you and you would like the option to include it in therapy when relevant.
Practical Details
Before you book with Rachel
Rachel provides individual psychotherapy for clients ages 16 and older.
A lower-cost option for individual psychotherapy. Learn more about sliding-scale therapy.
In-person therapy is available in Waterloo, with virtual psychotherapy available across Ontario.
OCSWSSW #821608. Insurance reimbursement depends on your specific benefit plan and its requirements.
Supervised MSW Internship
Experienced in social work. Growing into psychotherapy with supervision built in.
Rachel brings an established career in social work into this next stage of her training as a therapist.
What supervision means for you
Your therapy sessions are with Rachel. Behind the scenes, her clinical work is supported by Lydia Forge, MSW, RSW, Clinic Director & Founder, giving Rachel an additional layer of experienced clinical consultation as she works with clients.
Rachel continues to receive psychotherapy training, regular supervision and feedback while building on the professional experience she already brings to the work.
As part of supervision, Rachel may discuss aspects of her clinical work with Lydia. Client information is handled according to applicable privacy requirements, professional standards and Heart & Mind Therapy's privacy practices.
Compare therapist styles, professional designations, fees and availability before deciding who you would like to meet.
Rachel Oussoren · RSW · MSW Intern
You do not have to make change alone.
If Rachel's approach feels aligned with what you are looking for, you can begin with a free 20-minute consultation to ask questions and see whether the fit feels right.