Michela DiStefano, PhD

Therapist

Hi!

I’m Michela, a clinician at the Child, Adolescent, and Family Centre of Ottawa (CAFCO). I provide psychological assessment and treatment services to children, adolescents, and families in both French and English under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. In therapy, I work with a diverse range of clients facing challenges related to anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, self-esteem, trauma, emotion regulation difficulties, and parenting concerns.

My approach to therapy is strengths-based and tailored to each client’s individual needs, drawing from evidence-based and integrative frameworks such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Exposure/Response Prevention Therapy (E/RP), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). I strive to create a warm, caring, and collaborative environment where clients feel fully supported. Working from an attachment-based perspective, I recognize the vital role caregivers and parents play in their child’s well-being. For this reason, I try to involve parents in treatment whenever possible.

I completed my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa (2025) with a concentration in child and family services, and I am pursuing licensure in Ontario and Quebec. Prior to my role at CAFCO, I gained experience in hospital, school board, and community mental health settings. Outside of my clinical work, I enjoy reading, spending time in nature, and socializing with friends and family.

Clients I work with:
  • Children and youth aged 6-18
  • Parents
  • Families
Areas where I can help:
  • Anxiety
  • OCD/perfectionism
  • Depression
  • Trauma
  • Difficulties with emotion regulation
  • Parent-child conflict
  • Psychodiagnostic assessments (i.e., diagnosing mental health conditions)
  • Psychoeducational assessments (i.e., diagnosing Learning Disorders, Intellectual Disability, ADHD, Gifted Status)
Types of Therapy Provided:
  • Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
  • Exposure/Response Prevention (E/RP)
Languages: French and English