Finding your way
to a sense of clarity, calmness, and well-being

through evidence-based, compassionate psychotherapy and nervous system regulation.

It is difficult to escape the negative effects of our stressful world. However, restoration and healing are possible. My hope is to help you have a more compassionate understanding of yourself and your responses so that you can find room to grow, restore yourself and be resilient in the face of life’s challenges.

My Therapy Approach

Welcome! Let me tell you a bit about my therapy approach.

I believe therapy should feel like a place to exhale. I offer a kind, compassionate, nonjudgmental space where clients can feel safe to slow down, reflect and explore whatever feels heavy, confusing, painful, or unresolved. My approach is guided by evidence-based practices while being collaborative, grounded in genuine connection and tailored to your goals. Together we create room for healing, insight, and change.

My work is centred in warmth, authenticity, and deep respect for each person’s story. Whether you are navigating anxiety, burnout, relationship challenges, trauma, or a desire for greater clarity and fulfillment, we will focus on building practical tools that can support meaningful growth and lead to lasting change.

Sessions take place in a calming, comfortable, private office designed to feel supportive, welcoming, and restorative—a space where you can step away from daily pressures allowing therapy to feel like a steady refuge within a busy life.

Sharon Howk-Ventrudo, M.A., C. Psych.

I am a Clinical and Health Psychologist living and working in Thunder Bay. I am registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario. My experience has spanned more than 30 years, working in the areas of community mental health and chronic disease management.

It is a privilege to be invited into people’s lives during times of struggle, change, and healing. I am continually inspired by the courage, resilience, and insight that can emerge in this work.

30+
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Community mental health & chronic disease management

M.A., C. Psych.
Clinical & Health Psychologist

Registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario

Sharon Howk-Ventrudo, M.A., C. Psych. - Clinical and Health Psychologist in Thunder Bay
Psychotherapy Modalities

Psychotherapy Modalities

I offer therapy, focused on the life you want to live, that is supported by approaches that include:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
Polyvagal-informed therapy
Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Neuromodulation techniques including biofeedback

Areas of Focus

  • Anxiety/panic
  • Chronic stress
  • Depression/low mood
  • Poor self-esteem
  • Grief
  • Trauma-related symptoms
  • Dysregulated emotions
  • Sleep difficulties

Health-related concerns such as:

  • Diabetes-related stress or emotional burden
  • Adjustment to chronic illness
  • Nervous system dysregulation
  • Support with health behaviour change
Areas of Focus - Sharon Howk-Ventrudo

Mind-Body Therapies

Therapy at SHV Psychology can include technology-supported techniques to calm your nervous system. These mind-body neuromodulation interventions can include:

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRV-B)

Uses a sophisticated yet simple technology to help you increase your personal balance, energy, and overall well-being. The technique helps you synchronize your heart, brain and autonomic nervous system which is called “coherence”. Coherence has been proven to have numerous mental, emotional and physical benefits. It can relax and revitalize at the same time.

Benefits can include:

  • Better emotional regulation
  • Improved focus and sleep
  • Lower anxiety and PTSD symptoms
  • Reduced symptoms of burnout and depression

What to Expect:

  • HRV baseline mapping
  • Breathing regulation techniques
Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (aVNS)

This is a gentle, non-invasive method of stimulating the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, which is in specific regions of the outer ear. This branch of the vagus nerve plays an important role in regulating the body’s stress response, autonomic balance, and emotional regulation. It can help people recover from chronic stress and promote mind-body health.

Benefits can include:

  • Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system (the body’s relaxation response)
  • Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression
  • Improved sleep
  • Improved focus
  • Reduced symptoms of PTSD
FUTURE service: Brain Training/Neurofeedback

Presently training in brainwave biofeedback to promote calm, focus and improve symptoms of various mental health conditions.

Can make mental self-regulation skills more tangible and measured, especially for beginners who struggle with “quieting the mind”. Real-time feedback is provided to show that meditation, body scanning, and visualization are actually improving your body’s stress level and positively impacting your nervous system.

Services

I offer individual therapy for adults and older adults living anywhere in Ontario. Sessions are available virtually across the province or virtually or in person in Thunder Bay, depending on what works best for you.

Each appointment is 50 minutes. Please see the FAQ page for more details about fees and coverage.

If you are interested in meeting, you’re welcome to book a session at your convenience. If you’d like to connect first or ask a question, you can reach out anytime.

SHV Psychology
Sharon Howk-Ventrudo, M.A., C. Psych.
Masters level Clinical and Health Psychologist
SHVoffice@ventrudo.ca
807-627-1616
PHIPA-compliant Fax 807-

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do you support and where do you support them?

I work with adults (18 years of age +) and older adults who live in Ontario. You can choose to meet in person or virtually, whether or not you live in Thunder Bay or not.

What Are Your Fees?

A standard therapy session is 50 minutes, and the fee is $215 per session. Psychological services are not covered by OHIP, but many extended health plans offer partial or full reimbursement. After each appointment, you’ll receive a receipt that you can submit to your insurer.

Payment is collected at the time of the session, and clients handle their own insurance submissions.

Fees are reviewed annually, and any changes will be shared ahead of time.

Will my insurance cover sessions?

Many extended health plans offer coverage for services provided by a registered psychologist. It is helpful to check directly with your insurance provider to understand your specific benefits, since every plan is different. Receipts for psychological services can also be submitted as medical expenses on your income tax return.

How do I pay for a session?

Payment is collected at the time of your appointment. I accept e‑transfer, credit card, or cash. Once payment is processed, you’ll receive a receipt that you can submit to your insurer if you have coverage.

What happens if I need to cancel?

It is understandable that at times we need to reschedule or cancel an appointment. If this is the case for you, please provide 24 hours of notice so the appointment time can be offered to someone else. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice, as well as missed appointments, are billed at the full session fee. Exceptions may be made in emergencies.

What can I expect in a first session?

In our first session, I will share information about how therapy works and about privacy. We’ll spend time discussing what brings you in, any relevant background, and what you are hoping to work on, change or understand. You’re welcome to ask questions at any point, and together we’ll start shaping your goals and a direction for our work.

How does confidentiality work in therapy?

Everything you share in therapy is treated with care and kept confidential. There are a few rare legal exceptions related to safety and protection. We’ll review them together in your first session so you know exactly how your information is handled.

How do we communicate and can I call in crisis?

You may send me a text, call and leave a voicemail or email. These will be checked regularly and I will keep this communication confidential on my end. Because email cannot be guaranteed fully private across all systems, please avoid sharing sensitive personal information. I will do my best to respond promptly, however, there may be delays since my work with SHV Psychology is on a part‑time basis. Please note that I will not be checking messages while I am on vacation.

Please note that any urgent or crisis situations should be addressed by calling or texting the Crisis Response Services in Thunder Bay at 807-346-8282. For additional support, you can call 1-866-888-8988 for the District of Thunder Bay.

I am not set up to provide immediate mental health support so it would not be helpful to text, voicemail and email me during these times. However, you can call or text 9‑8‑8 or go to your nearest emergency department. For emergencies, call 9‑1‑1. We can discuss your situation in an appointment after the immediate crisis has been resolved.