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Veterans & First Responders Therapy · Ottawa

You've carried enough.
You don't have to carry it alone.

Specialized, trauma-informed therapy for Canadian Veterans and First Responders. VAC-approved. Direct billing through Medavie Blue Cross. We understand what this work actually costs.

Therapy Built for Those Who Serve

Walking through the door of a therapy office isn't easy for anyone. For Veterans and First Responders, there are often additional layers: a culture that doesn't always encourage asking for help, hypervigilance that makes vulnerability feel dangerous, and the weight of experiences that most people genuinely cannot understand.

At Believe Therapy & Coaching, we don't just acknowledge that — we build our approach around it. Amelia Dowell, RP brings deep respect, specialized trauma training, and a non-performative understanding of what operational life does to a person. You won't have to explain why you're struggling to someone who thinks "trauma" means something abstract.

Who We Work With

  • Canadian Armed Forces Veterans (CAF) — active and released
  • RCMP members and Veterans
  • Police officers and first responders
  • Firefighters and paramedics
  • Family members of Veterans and First Responders navigating secondary trauma

What We Address

  • Operational Stress Injury (OSI) and PTSD
  • Moral injury — the wound of acting against or witnessing violations of your values
  • Chronic hypervigilance and nervous system dysregulation
  • Depression, anxiety, and withdrawal
  • Substance use as coping
  • Sleep disruption and nightmares
  • Difficulty transitioning to civilian life
  • Relationship stress and family impact
  • Identity and purpose after service
  • Grief, including cumulative loss and survivor guilt

Our Clinical Approach

We use evidence-based modalities that are specifically validated for trauma and OSI:

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) — a gold-standard trauma therapy endorsed by Veterans Affairs Canada and the World Health Organization
  • Trauma-Focused CBT — addressing the cognitions and avoidance patterns that maintain symptoms
  • Somatic and nervous system-informed approaches — supporting physiological regulation alongside psychological healing
  • Attachment and relational work — for the parts of life that matter most: family, partnership, connection

Therapy is paced by you. There is no pressure to go further or faster than you're ready for.

VAC Coverage and Direct Billing

We are approved to provide psychotherapy services to Veterans funded by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). We direct bill Medavie Blue Cross for VAC-covered sessions, meaning you do not need to pay out-of-pocket and seek reimbursement — we handle the billing directly.

If you are a Veteran with VAC coverage or a serving member with access to mental health benefits, contact us before your first appointment so we can confirm your coverage and ensure there are no administrative surprises.

In-Person and Virtual Sessions

We offer in-person sessions at our Westboro, Ottawa office. Virtual sessions are also available across Ontario, which is particularly useful for Veterans in remote areas, those with mobility challenges related to their service, or those who prefer to begin therapy from home.

Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a formal PTSD diagnosis to access therapy?+
No. You do not need a diagnosis to benefit from therapy. Many Veterans and First Responders come to us before any formal assessment, or with presentations that don't fit neatly into a single diagnostic category. If you're struggling, that's enough of a reason to reach out.
How does VAC funding work for therapy?+
Veterans Affairs Canada covers registered psychotherapy for eligible Veterans through their rehabilitation and mental health programs. We direct bill Medavie Blue Cross, which administers VAC benefits. Contact us before your first session to confirm your eligibility and set up direct billing.
What if I'm not a Veteran but a family member who has been affected?+
Secondary trauma is real. Partners, children, and family members of Veterans and First Responders often carry the weight of operational stress themselves. We work with family members too, and can discuss whether VAC benefits may extend to family support services in your situation.
Will you report anything to VAC or my employer?+
Confidentiality is taken seriously. We do not share your clinical information with VAC, your employer, or any third party without your written consent, except in the circumstances required by law (duty to report, imminent risk to self or others). Billing through VAC confirms that you received services; clinical content remains confidential.
I've tried therapy before and it didn't help. Should I try again?+
Yes — and that's a fair concern to bring to a first conversation. Not all therapy is the same, and not all therapists are equipped to work with the specific challenges of operational stress. We'd rather you come in skeptical and find out it's different than not come in at all. The first session is a consultation — no commitment required.
You've held the door open for everyone else.

Let someone hold it open
for you.

Book a Consultation