Tara Cohen, MSW, RSW

About Me

I am a registered social worker offering counselling and psychotherapy in Ottawa to individuals (16+), families, and groups experiencing life’s challenges. My areas of focus include life transitions, adjustment to illness, caregiver stress, end-of-life concerns, and bereavement. I work with people seeking greater quality of life and meaning through all stages of life, up to and including dying and death.

My “Why”

I’ve been reflecting on why I do the work I do, because when we connect with our why, we connect more deeply with others.

My why is this: I have become comfortable with discomfort. That is the foundation of the work I find most fulfilling. It wasn’t always this way. For much of my early adult life, I had buried my emotions, creating inner disharmony. Outwardly, I appeared calm; inwardly, I was suffering. Over time, with courage and support, I began to face the difficult emotions I had avoided. I discovered that by allowing myself to feel pain fully, I could move through it, and survive. This journey led me to mindfulness.

How Mindfulness Helps

Mindfulness offers a way to turn toward life, even in its challenges. It helps us:

• Notice what’s happening in the body, pause, and respond with compassion.

• Step out of the stories our minds create and see more clearly what’s real.

• Recognize impermanence and knowing that everything changes.

• Slow down, be present, and learn how to best care for ourselves.

My Approach

Alongside mindfulness, our work together may draw from Somatic Experiencing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Existential Counselling. My approach is grounded in compassion and non-judgment, with the belief that you are the expert in your own life.

Taking the step to seek support is an act of courage. My hope is that through our work, you’ll recognize that facing challenges is not a sign of weakness, but a natural part of being human.

I look forward to walking with you on your journey toward greater understanding, calm and healing.