Deborah has come to psychotherapy later in life, with a deep belief that her life journey has given her the insights and experiences that now shape her work.
Her interest in the field of psychotherapy sparked in high school, but she shifted her focus toward a health studies program at Brock University, where she became especially drawn to mental health and eating disorders. She then moved on to work as a nurse and life went on. Eventually, she decided to return to her original goal of becoming a therapist. She enrolled at Adler Graduate Professional School and graduated in 2022, feeling like she had finally returned to the path she was meant to take.
Deborah is accepting new clients and focuses on adults, nurses, and professionals. You can find her here: https://www.deborahwalkerpsychotherapy.com/
We’re a community of over 1,000 members, and I’d love to meet and showcase as many of you as possible! If you’d like to be featured, please reach out through the form below — I can’t wait to hear and share your story!
With love,
Mahshad
OSRP members, apply to be a Member Spotlight!
If chosen, your spotlight will also be shared on OSRP's social media platforms.
World Teen Mental Wellness Day 2025 is observed on Sunday, March 2nd. This is an annual event that is always held on the same day each year.
World Teen Mental Wellness Day is dedicated to creating conversations, raising awareness, and destigmatizing issues around teen mental health. The day seeks to help teens in the right way and get them talking about the issues that are relevant to them. Teen mental health can drastically affect the rest of their lives and lead to depression and other negative outcomes. It is so important to create an environment in which teens feel comfortable enough to share their true feelings to ensure their mental wellbeing. It is also necessary to participate in the process of destigmatizing mental illnesses so that teens can feel more at ease about getting the help that they need.
World Teen Mental Wellness Day was founded in 2020 by the Hollister Confidence Project. This was the first day to be established solely focusing on the mental health of teenagers. The Hollister Confidence Project is a 24/7 organization that is supported by people. They are dedicated to helping teens around the world feel their best and have the best possible mental health. In addition to their other work, the Hollister Confidence Fund provides grants to non-profit organizations such as teen mental health and equity for marginalized youth.
Teen mental health and wellbeing deserves extra attention because this is around the age that young people become more independent and potentially, withdrawn. Teenagers are going through the formative years of their lives as they are experiencing changes in their physical and emotional states. They need support, encouragement, and a comfortable, safe environment that they can express themselves in. Unfortunately, many teens do not have this kind of environment and as a result struggle to express themselves emotionally. This can have many negative effects, particularly on their mental health. Additionally, identifying and beginning to resolve mental health issues from an early age can be hugely beneficial for the individual.
Observing Teen Mental Wellness Day 2025 is all about ensuring that the teens in your life are being supported and cared for in a way that benefits their mental wellbeing. This may sound like a tall order but in fact, doing what you can to help is all that is asked of you. Any assistance that you provide to a teen will likely improve their mental health. There are a number of ways you can do this including: having a conversation with them, sharing your own mental health journey, and creating a space that is safe for frank conversation.
For informational and helpful materials to help support Teen Mental Wellness Day, please click here.
CRPO registrants are required to renew their registration annually. Registration renewal for the upcoming 2025-2026 registration year opened on February 10, 2025, and will close March 31, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET.
Please note that, according to OSRP’s by-laws, Clinical and Qualifying members must be registered in good standing with the CRPO in order be eligible for membership with OSRP.
As of February 10, registrants can go to the “Renewal” page of their CRPO user accounts to complete the renewal form and pay their annual renewal fee. Detailed information about this year’s renewal process is available on CRPO’s Annual Registration Renewal Information page.
In 2023, OSRP entered into a trademark co-existence agreement with the CRPO, which allowed us to register and use OSRP’s slogan "For RPs, by RPs."
Interested in helping out but don’t want to Chair a committee? Volunteer to be a member of a committee or assist with a project. Volunteering is one of the most rewarding benefits of membership!
Information on all OSRP’s committees — and their terms of reference — can be found on the governance page of our website. Click here to see a list of our committees and read their terms of reference.
Our committee Chairs are:
If you are interested in joining a committee, please click here to complete our online volunteer application form. The Chair(s) of your chosen committees will reach out to you soon.
In celebration of Heart Health Month this coming February, we’re excited to introduce GoodLife’s new 30-minute, on-demand wellness seminar topic: Heart Healthy Habits for Longevity and Healthspan.
Available in English and French, these 30-minute seminars offer practical tips empowering individuals to adopt heart-healthy habits that can positively impact not just lifespan, but overall healthspan, starting at any age.
Purchase by January 31, 2025 to access the recordings from February 1–28, 2025.
It’s not too late to support your January goal setting with our current on-demand seminar: Stronger Mind, Stronger Body: Setting Goals for Physical and Mental Well-being. These 30-minute seminars are available in English and French, supporting goal setting to promote optimal well-being. Viewing will be available until January 31, 2025.
January: Stronger Mind, Stronger Body: Setting Goals for Physical and Mental Well-Being with Nathalie Lacombe
February: Heart Healthy Habits for Longevity and Healthspan with Nathalie Lacombe
March: Brain Foods and Stress Solutions With Lisa Tsakos and Sara Tarek
Click here to view the January Workplace Wellness On-Demand Flyer.
Click here to view the February Workplace Wellness On-Demand Flyer.
Click here to view the March Workplace Wellness On-Demand Flyer.
Contact GoodLife for more details and to make a purchase now.
Yours in good health,
Workplace Wellness
GoodLife Fitness
Our committees are welcoming new members and would love to hear from you. We are seeking volunteers to provide diverse and varied perspectives to our association.
All members are welcome to join a committee that fits with their interests. Your voice is important. Join the OSRP Community!
All committee meetings are virtual, so you can volunteer from the comfort of your home/workspace, wherever you live!
Complete and submit the following form to start the volunteering process.
You will be contacted by the Committee chair to discuss next steps. Please allow up to 30 days for a response.
Volunteering on a committee is a member benefit. Volunteers must maintain a current membership with OSRP while volunteering.
Dear OSRP Community,
Thank you for embracing the Member Spotlight feature with me over the past year. When I joined the board and started chairing the Connect Committee, my goal was to highlight the incredible diversity within our membership and create opportunities for connection.
The Connect Committee serves as OSRP's communications arm. Our role goes beyond sharing news and updates; we aim to foster a sense of belonging across our wonderfully diverse community. OSRP is made up of members with unique identities, psychotherapy approaches, and life experience. I truly believe our differences enrich us, and by leaning into them, we can find deeper connection and understanding.
This belief inspired the Member Spotlight. I wanted the monthly newsletter to not only share information but also give us a chance to know one another better. Behind every member is a beautiful human with something unique to contribute to our collective.
This month, I'm writing this piece in lieu of a Member Spotlight. I thought it was a perfect opportunity to start the year by sharing the intention and vision behind this feature:
Each conversation has been an incredible learning and growth opportunity for me. I hope it offers you the same gift — a chance to see the world through someone else’s eyes and/or to feel kinship with a member you may have otherwise not known.
If you'd like to be featured in the Member Spotlight, please fill out the form below. We'd love to hear from you!
Mahshad Aryafar
Bell Let's Talk Day 2025 to Prioritize Youth Mental Health as Young Canadians Face Growing Crisis
A new comprehensive national report was released on October 10, 2024 by Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) which shows there is a growing mental health crisis among young Canadians. Bell announced it will prioritize youth mental health on Bell Let's Talk Day and will launch a text-to-donate campaign with 100% of the funds raised going to six youth mental health providers: Integrated Youth Services, Jack.org, Kids Help Phone, National Association of Friendship Centres, Strongest Families Institute and Youth In Mind Foundation.
On Bell Let's Talk Day, Canadians can give $5 by text with Bell matching all donations up to a total of $1 million, as part of Bell's $10 million mental health commitment in 2025.
Bell has created a toolkit that includes stickers, posters and activities to share with your family, friends and colleagues to help start the conversation and show your support.
If you are in a crisis, please go to your nearest emergency department or call the appropriate crisis line that meets your needs. Here are some suggestions:
Mental Health Crisis Line: 1-888-893-8333
Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (text: 45645)
Distress Centres of Greater Toronto: 1-416-408-4357
Women’s Health in Women’s Hands: 1-416-593-7655
LAMP Community Health Centre: 1-416-252-6471
TAIBU Community Health Centre: 1-416-644-3536
Youth Line for LGBTQ+ youth 26 and under: 1-800-268-9688
Gerstein Crisis Centre, Toronto: 1-416-929-5200
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Mia Omara, our final Spotlight member of the year — and what a beautiful conversation it was.
Mia came to psychotherapy as a second career after working as an editor in medical publishing. Her path into this field began in 2019, when she graduated from Yorkville University. Mia’s approach is both trauma-informed and deeply human, drawing on somatic, attachment-based, EMDR, CBT, and person-centred modalities.
Her journey into therapy is a touching one. After the sudden loss of a close family member, Mia had a transformative experience with her own therapist — an experience that sparked her passion for this work and the deep curiosity about human behaviour that still guides her today.
Mia’s practice focuses on neurodiverse young adults and healthcare workers, offering both in-person and virtual sessions. Outside of therapy, Mia is a voracious reader, drawing inspiration from Stoic and Buddhist philosophies. When we spoke, she was excited about attending 2024 PESI ADHD Conference — if you’re curious, here’s the link: PESI ADHD Conference.
Mia is currently accepting new clients, and you can learn more or connect with her here: Mia on Psychology Today.
Thank you, Mia, for sharing your story and your warmth with us. You are truly a gift to this profession!
Warmly,
We’re a community of over 1,000 members, and I’d love to meet and showcase as many of you as possible! If you’d like to be featured, please reach out through the form below—I can’t wait to hear and share your story!
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