Are you struggling with stress, anxiety, sadness, negative thinking, or patterns you wish you could change?

Do you wish you had a better relationship with yourself?

Hello! I'm Natsumi. I'm an experienced psychologist specializing in mindfulness-based therapies and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Together we'll help you reduce stress, anxiety, and negative thinking; improve motivation and mood; let go of ineffective patterns; heal your relationship with yourself and others; develop psychological resilience and strength; and live a more joyful, balanced, and meaningful life as defined by you.

Whether the issue you're dealing with has been bothering you for a short time or for years, I can help you better understand the difficulties you're facing, make changes, and experience relief.

Approach

My approach is grounded first in building a relationship where clients feel safe and understood. I integrate effective mindfulness based and cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) that tap into the resources of mind and body and are supported by research. We will work collaboratively to tailor these and other approaches to help you get what you want and need out of therapy and feel more at ease.

Expertise

I have 8 years of specialized  training in clinical psychology at the PhD and postdoctoral level and over 10 years of experience providing therapy in private, hospital, and research settings. I've worked with people with a broad range of issues including life transition and relationship difficulties, stress and anxiety, mood difficulties, food/eating related issues, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I continually develop my expertise through ongoing training.​

Accessibility

I offer in-person therapy in a comfortable, peaceful office in Strathcona in Edmonton. I offer online therapy to residents of Vancouver, the rest of BC, and Alberta. For your convenience, online booking and payment as well as appointment reminders are available.

Approach to therapy

The basis of effective therapy is a genuine, caring relationship where clients feel safe and understood. In our work my first priority will always be to foster, grow, and maintain this relationship with you while we work towards your goals. 

On a practical note you can expect that in therapy we will work towards:
  • Clearly defining your goals and what you want and need from therapy
  • Better understanding the issues you're dealing to help you develop a clearer and more compassionate understanding of your patterns, situation, and history and yourself
  • Developing a plan to help you move towards your goals.
  • Executing our plan by:
    • Accessing my expertise in psychology and psychotherapy
    • Helping you tap more deeply into your own knowledge, skills, and resources
    • Ensuring you feel safe and supported as you develop new insights and learn, grow, and make meaningful, transformative, and long-lasting change
  • Evaluating our progress towards your goals and refining our plan as needed​

I integrate effective mindfulness-based therapies and CBT that tap into the resources of mind and body and are supported by research.

What is mindfulness?

In simple terms, mindfulness is about being more awake to the present moment. It's about reducing our tendency to leave present-moment reality and get stuck in our heads where we find ourselves tangled in worries about the future and regrets about the past and the painful emotions that go along with this. It's about curbing our tendency to judge so that we can develop a more peaceful relationship with ourselves, with others, and with life. It can help us befriend ourselves and our experiences and be present for matters most, perhaps finding more joy and appreciation there.

It's a highly practical mental and emotional skill that allows us to relate and react differently to our experiences so that we can be more balanced, skillful, and resilient.
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Research shows mindfulness is effective for reducing anxiety, stress, depression, emotional reactivity and for improving well-being, self-control, and our relationships. My clients often tell me that it has opened their eyes and changed their lives for the better. This is why it's a core part of many of the most effective therapies and why I use it.

​Expertise

I'm a PhD-level psychologist trained at McGill University. I have post-doctoral clinical training through the DBT Centre and Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. I am also a mindfulness meditation and trauma-informed yoga teacher. 

I have worked in university, hospital, and private settings and on research studies at Simon Fraser University and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health with individuals with a wide range of difficulties for over 10 years. Since completing my formal training I continually update and develop my expertise through self-directed study, continuing education, and consultation. 

My expertise is mainly in mindfulness-based therapies and CBT. I have extensive training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as well as training in Mindful Self Compassion, Hakomi, Mindfulness Integrated CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP). I draw from these therapies in my work.

In my private practice I've helped many people experiencing a range of issues including:
  • Anxiety, worry, negative thinking
  • Stress management
  • Depression and mood disorders
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Difficulty managing emotions
  • Emotional and binge eating
  • ​Low self esteem and self confidence and self criticism
  • Family and/or relationship difficulties 
  • Work related challenges and stress
  • ​Struggles with life direction or motivation ​

Accessibility

I offer in-person therapy in a comfortable, peaceful office in Strathcona, Edmonton.​ There is plenty of free parking and it is accessible by transit. I offer online therapy to many clients in Vancouver, the rest of BC, and Alberta.  
Dr. Natsumi Sawada, Psychologist
​MindBright Psychology
10171 Saskatchewan Drive NW, Suite 202
Edmonton, AB
T6E 4R5
info@mindbright.ca