Our Mental Health Professionals

Yara Nassar

Psychometrist and Coordinator of Psychometric Services

Yara Nassar has a strong academic and professional background in psychology, with specialized training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. She has experience across clinical, educational, and academic settings, including work as a school psychologist, involvement in special education services, and teaching as a university instructor training future educational psychologists.
In her home country, Yara provided psychoanalytic psychotherapy to adolescents and adults.
In her current role, Yara works as a Psychometrist and Department Coordinator. She administers and scores psychoeducational assessments and collaborates with clinical psychologists to support accurate diagnostic and intervention planning.
Fluent in Arabic and English, Yara values cultural sensitivity and is committed to respecting all cultures and beliefs. She strives to deliver ethical, precise, and client-centered psychological services.

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Yara Tanios, M. Psych, RP (Qualifying).

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

As an empathic psychotherapist with a background in humanitarian work, Yara has had the privilege of witnessing the incredible strength of individuals in the face of life’s challenges and adversities. Her approach to counseling is person-centered, collaborative, evidence-based, and rooted in empathy and resilience, guiding individuals towards transformative personal growth. Key skills and qualities that define her practice include cultural competence, empathetic listening, multicultural awareness, and effective communication, along with language proficiency.

Being trilingual (Arabic, English, and French-speaking), she can bridge language gaps, ensuring that therapy is accessible to all. Yara strives to create a safe and inclusive space where individuals can express themselves freely without fear of miscommunication or judgment, allowing them to grow and find their own path to positive change. Yara is committed to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and celebrate their unique strengths and resilience.

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Yasmine Benali, CCH

Registered Psychotherapist

Yasmine is a compassionate and skilled Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). She holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and is a Certified Hypnotherapist, accredited by the National Guild of Hypnotists.

Specializing in trauma-informed and client-centered practices, Yasmine provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and youth, focusing on creating safe and supportive spaces for exploration, healing, and growth. Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, she ensures culturally sensitive and accessible care for clients from diverse backgrounds.

At JFS Ottawa, Yasmine is part of the Refugee and Vulnerable Newcomers (RVN) program, the Counselling Group, and the Counselling Walk-In Clinic (CWIC).

Yasmine integrates a range of evidence-based psychotherapy modalities to create personalized treatment plans, including:

  • Narrative Therapy, to reframe life stories and uncover personal resilience
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), to foster emotional regulation and mindfulness
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to address and shift unhelpful thought patterns
  • Logotherapy and Meaning-Centered Therapy, to explore purpose and meaning in life
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), to embrace life’s challenges and focus on values-driven living

When relevant, she integrates hypnotherapy with these modalities to provide a holistic approach to mental well-being.

With over 10 years of experience in the corporate environment, Yasmine brings a unique perspective to psychotherapy, helping clients navigate organizational stressors and enhance psychological safety at work. By combining her corporate background with therapeutic expertise, she offers practical tools and strategies to support individuals facing workplace challenges, including burnout, conflict, and career transitions.

Passionate about advocacy and social justice, Yasmine is dedicated to empowering her clients as they navigate both personal and societal challenges.

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