Ljuba, RP, BA, CYC
Hi, my name is Ljuba Udovc, a Registered Psychotherapist (RP), with a BA in psychology and a diploma in Child and Youth Care, in Burlington, Ontario. I help women, children and teens who have anxiety, OCD, stress, overwhelm and burnout using therapies such as CBT, EFT and trauma therapy. I’m here to help guide you in the direction you’d rather be going in.
Training and Credentials
I am happy to say I have been practicing for 20 years and feel very lucky to have found such a fulfilling career; I love my job! How could I not when I get to help people feel calmer, more peaceful and confident in their daily lives.
I'm passionate about helping you to reach your goals and potential. Every individual is unique, and I customize my treatment approach to fit you.
On top of my formal education, I also hold certificates in several therapeutic modalities, such as, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Emotional Freedom Techniques - Tapping (EFT Tapping), Solution Focused Therapy and Clinical Trauma Therapy. I’m also a certified Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) provider. I may use one or several of the above evidenced-based approaches in therapy, depending on your need and preference. You may or may not know much about the therapies I listed above, so please feel free to ask me more about them. We’ll work together to create a therapy plan that you are comfortable with. I also offer the Safe and Sound Protocol that is a powerful music therapy that helps calm the nervous system; this has been known to support and complement the therapy process for many people.
I care deeply about offering therapy that feels thoughtful, grounded, and relevant to what you’re going through. Part of that means continuing to learn. I regularly take part in trainings, workshops, and ongoing education so that I can stay current with new research and approaches in the field of mental health.
For me, learning isn’t just about collecting certifications, it’s about staying curious, staying humble, and making sure I’m offering you the best support I can. The more I grow and deepen my understanding, the more intentional and responsive I can be in our work together.
I'm dedicated to helping you build coping skills, help you change long-held patterns, gain deeper insights and find more peace in your life. I strive to help you to create balance and address areas where problems may persist. I am compassionate and hard working, and I strive to understand you and make you feel comfortable and supported. If this sounds like what you are looking for, contact me and we’ll talk about next steps.
What to Expect in Therapy
I work hard to understand you, not a diagnosis, not other people who have felt something similar, and not from my own perspective, but you and your unique experiences, feelings, and story.
I check in often about how therapy is going and how you’re experiencing the process. Your feedback matters. I want to make sure this feels helpful and that you’re moving toward feeling better, not just talking for the sake of talking.
You are the expert on you. Sometimes you feel like a mystery to yourself. Other times you feel you know yourself quite well. Wherever you are in that moment, our work will focus on what’s happening for you right now.
In therapy, we might:
Try to make sense of something that feels confusing
Decide to dig a little deeper into patterns or experiences
Discover something you already know but haven’t been able to access
Explore what helps relieve some of the emotional weight you’re carrying
We work collaboratively toward your goals.
You’ll likely notice that my energy is calm and steady. I intentionally slow things down in session so we can pay closer attention to what’s happening rather than rushing past it. We may practice calming or grounding techniques. I’ll help you understand why your body reacts the way it does under stress. I integrate different therapeutic approaches depending on what fits you best, so sessions don’t all look the same.
I welcome feedback, especially if you disagree with me or want to try something differently. Therapy works best when it feels like a partnership.
The Importance of the Therapeutic Relationship
Research consistently shows that the relationship between client and therapist is one of the most important factors in meaningful change. More than any specific technique, it’s the experience of feeling understood, respected, and safe that allows deeper work to happen.
Trust takes time. You don’t have to share everything at once. It’s my job to build a space where you feel comfortable being honest.
If something doesn’t sit right, we talk about it. If something feels helpful, we build on it. The relationship itself becomes part of the healing process, a place where you can experience being heard without judgment and supported without pressure.
Frequency of Sessions
In terms of frequency, many people attend weekly sessions. Consistency can support momentum, reflection, and integration of what we discuss. Some studies suggests that more frequent or longer sessions can sometimes enhance progress. At the same time, some people benefit from occasional support when stress increases or during a life transition.
Ultimately, you decide what works for you. I’ll offer recommendations and options, and together we’ll find a rhythm that supports your goals.
Click on the button to reach out to me if you have any questions or would like to talk about starting therapy with me.
About me
I can relate. I’ve been there. I have struggled with anxiety, I have battled burnout, I have grieved the death of people I love. I know how hard dealing with difficult times can be and I also know that it can feel like it’s too big to deal with; so I’ll never push you faster or farther than you are able to go. I did the work to get through difficult times, which helps me understand what it could be like for you.
I continue to work at maintaining peace and balance in my life. I practice self-care, and I engage in positive mental and physical health activities. The self-care activities I engage in range from turning off all the screens in the house and just chilling, or putting a puzzle together, or taking a walk in the forest, or getting a massage, or socializing, or taking a vacation. I regularly practice coping strategies that I know work for me, like mindfulness, breathing, challenging anxious thoughts and EFT Tapping. Then of course I try to stay active; I have 2 dogs, so daily walks happen rain or shine, I also love to play tennis, hike, cross county ski, go for bike rides, and I just like to be outside. Sometimes doing these things comes easily, other times I struggle and fumble along the way; but I try to focus on getting back to doing what works vs focusing on the fumbling.
I have a fabulous K9 co-therapist who joins some of my sessions (upon request and availability). Her name is Sammy and she’s a 5-year-old Leonberger. She is a gentle giant, and her specialty is to make you smile when you get to the session, then she lays down and provides a calm presence in the room. Having a dog in therapy sessions has been known to promote relaxation and studies show that having a dog present can lower blood pressure.
If you are interested in knowing more about me or Sammy, or would like to meet me to determine if I might be the right fit for you, then feel free to contact me now.
