Isabel Sadowski is a PhD candidate in Counselling Psychology at McGill University. She has trained across public and private settings, including the McGill University Health Centre’s Mood & Anxiety Disorders Program, the Douglas Mental Health University Institute’s Centre for Personalized Psychological Interventions for Psychosis, and Medipsy Psychological Services. Isabel has experience supporting adolescents, adults, and older adults with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety and depressive disorders, OCD, trauma/PTSD, perfectionism and self-criticism, emotion regulation and interpersonal difficulties, psychosis-spectrum conditions, and life transitions.
Clinically, Isabel grounds her work in warmth, curiosity, and collaboration, and follows an integrative, evidence-based approach tailored to each person’s goals and strengths. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and inference-based CBT for OCD, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) for trauma, and Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT). She also incorporates mindfulness and compassion-focused strategies when helpful. Isabel’s style can be described as steady, non-judgmental, and practical – balancing insight with concrete tools, and pacing change in a way that feels safe and sustainable.
Alongside her clinical work, Isabel’s research explores how nature, mindfulness-compassion practices, and emerging technologies (including virtual reality) can support mental health and well-being. This blend of science and clinical practice informs her therapy: she is committed to keeping treatment collaborative, goal-directed, and attuned to what actually works in real-world settings.
Outside of work, Isabel recharges in nature, and enjoys staying active through running, cycling, swimming, yoga and hiking. She loves spending time with family and friends, listening to good music, and hunting for Montreal’s best pastries.
