A Collaborative Mental Health Practice
Psychotherapy has recently been recognized as a regulated profession. Our mission is to transform the current culture and set a higher standard for accessing top-quality mental health care in a private practice setting.
Julie Clarke, a visionary leader, psychotherapist, and expert in complex trauma, is expanding her renowned solo practice by establishing and nurturing a unique mentorship-driven collaborative practice. This new endeavour is designed to meet the mental health requirements of the broader Ottawa community.
We are proud of our internship program, which brings together a diverse group of early-career clinicians, seasoned professionals, and skilled advisors.
Under Julie’s dynamic and compassionate mentorship, our dedicated and diverse team of clinicians is developing a radically simple and effective way for people to access the mental health support that everyone needs from time to time.
JCT boasts a team of Somatic Experiencing (SE™) practitioners who are currently treating clients, as well as supervising and mentoring student interns and established clinicians in this somatic therapy approach.
The collaborative team of JCT takes pride in offering our clients this unique and highly sought-after specialized body-oriented psychotherapy that is immensely impactful within their healing journey.
Our Founder
Julie Clarke has extensive and varied experience as a community volunteer, a child and youth care practitioner, a registered psychotherapist, a clinical supervisor, a facilitator, a podcaster and a writer.
Establishing strong therapeutic connections with clients is Julie’s top priority in helping them achieve better results in their therapeutic journey. She advocates for meeting clients where they are, rather than where they “should” be. Julie often emphasizes that the therapeutic journey is unique and distinct from any other life experience.
In her early career, Julie’s passion was to support children and young people. She gradually developed an interest in helping people who have experienced trauma or chronic stress. Her orientation towards supporting these struggles has led Julie to work specifically from a trauma-informed and Somatic Experiencing® lens. She specializes in working with adults, military and first responders, and healthcare providers. Her approach to her work is integrative, honouring the unique presentation of each client, while maintaining a strong foundation in psychodynamic psychotherapy.
In addition to managing a client load, Julie sees herself as a guide for student interns and new therapists. She aims to light the way on a path towards developing exceptional, inclusive, and stigma-free mental healthcare. She is passionate about fostering a team of skilled and dedicated professionals, drawing on the wealth of experience and insights of seasoned clinicians to enrich their mentorship program.
An essential observation regarding Somatic Experiencing® trauma therapy
Prolonged engagement in the fight-or-flight response can result in survival energy becoming trapped in the body, causing an individual to become stuck in their protective motor responses. This can significantly hinder their ability to navigate daily life with resilience and fluidity.
Understanding the concept of trauma work is crucial to recognize that it is not the traumatic event that causes the trauma in an individual, but rather the overwhelming response to the perceived threat. This response can vary greatly among individuals, as no two people will react to a perceived threat in the same way.
Julie has extensive expertise in a type of body-centric therapy called Somatic Experiencing® (SE™), a psychobiological approach to resolving the effects of trauma and alleviating persistent stress.
Her passion for SE stems from the fact that it is more organic and gentle in processing highly complex and challenging trauma-related issues and other stress disorders.
Julie serves as a training assistant for all levels of SE™, a facilitator for Beginning Level Sessions, and a provider of the Crisis Stabilization and Safety (CSS) Facilitator program offered by Somatic Experiencing International.
Follow and watch JCT blossom.
We eagerly anticipate sharing the growth and development of JCT in the greater Ottawa community as we move forward to:
- Establish a collaborative mental health clinic. All therapists will provide mental health services that meet the diverse needs of today’s society, while remaining grounded in a clear understanding of the complexity required for adequate clinical support.
- Recruit experienced healthcare professionals who excel in various fields.
- Nurture the development of specialization support for healthcare professionals and uniformed personnel.
- Offer mentorship programs to early-career clinicians.
- Design and implement the Crisis Stabilization and Safety Program, using the Somatic Experiencing International methodology.
Begin today
Whether you’re facing challenges, feeling stuck, or simply curious about how therapy can transform your life, we are here to help you.
At JCT, our team of therapists is expanding, and they are eager to assist you.
There is no complicated evaluation procedure. Instead, it’s simple therapy tailored to your needs, promoting positive mental health, fostering equilibrium, enhancing self-discovery, cultivating healthy connections, and maximizing job success.
It’s time for you to reach your full potential. We’re here to help.