Specialties - Adults
- Adults and young adults (18+)
- Emotional eating, compulsive eating, and body image concerns
- Depression and burnout
- Relationship difficulties, including finding and maintaining a healthy relationship
- Communication problems, including lack of assertiveness, and avoidance of or excessive conflict
Julia Di Nardo, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Mission
Julia's mission is to help you learn to break free from patterns that keep you unhealthy and unhappy by teaching you how to love, nurture and care for yourself.
Educational Background / Professional Training
- Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Concordia University
- M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Concordia University
- B.Sc. in Honours Psychology from McGill University
- Pre-Doctoral internship and practicum training in several Montreal area hospitals, clinics and schools, including the Montreal General Hospital, the Douglas Institute (LaSalle Clinic), Centennial Academy, St-Mary’s hospital, and Concordia’s Applied Psychology Clinic.
Approach
Julia uses an approach that is custom-tailored to the needs of her clients. Generally, however, she works from an insight-oriented approach that strives to uncover the negative patterns that are unconsciously holding you back. She can teach you new tools to cope with the difficulties of life while also helping you learn healthier patterns being, feeling and relating. Because this approach tends to involve longer-term work, clients often find that they are able to achieve lasting change. Shorter-term approaches are used for clients in crisis or who need guidance in making difficult decisions or resolving a current problem.
If you struggle with emotional eating and weight-related problems, this same approach is used. Often patterns surrounding self-sabotage, lack of self-care, and difficulty recognizing and communicating your needs are what need to be worked through. Your relationship with food is used as a vehicle for exploring your relationship with yourself. Very quickly most clients find that the focus shifts from food and eating to more meaningful and important issues. These form the basis of the work in the therapy. Once resolved, clients often find they feel ready for the first time to implement new health and lifestyle changes in a lasting way.
Procedure
The first step is scheduling a complimentary 30-minute telephone consultation; during this time, you will have the opportunity to discuss what your current concerns are, what your goals for therapy might be, and to learn more about how Julia can help you achieve those goals. If you both feel there is a good match, an in-office appointment is scheduled. The first phase is the assessment: one to three sessions are taken to fully explore who you and your background, and the nature of the problem. From here, Julia will share her impressions and recommendations, and some preliminary goals for the therapy are set. Future sessions will focus on working toward those goals.
Personal
Julia has been in private practice since 2006. She practices being mindful in her relationship with food, herself and others and is passionate about expanding her knowledge in her field.