Find a Therapist for Negative Thinking

Getting stuck in cycles of negative thoughts can be exhausting. Browse therapists who help with rumination and negative thinking patterns, and watch their intro videos to find someone who resonates with you.

Negative thinking and rumination—when you get stuck replaying worries, criticisms, or worst-case scenarios—can affect your mood, sleep, and overall wellbeing. These thought patterns are common and often develop as a way of trying to solve problems or protect yourself, but they can become overwhelming.

Working with a therapist can help you understand your thought patterns, develop new ways of relating to difficult thoughts, and build skills to break the cycle. On First Session, you can browse therapists who specialize in cognitive approaches. Watch their intro videos to find the right fit and book online when ready.

Kate MacDonald

Psychologist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Calgary, AB)
Virtual Sessions in AB, NS, and NB.
Waitlist
Show More
Kate MacDonald

Kate MacDonald

Psychologist
$200/session
Anxiety, Burnout, Perfectionism, Assertiveness, Attachment, Chronic and acute illness, Couples Therapy, Depression, Health anxiety, Life transitions, Low mood, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mindfulness, Negative thinking and ruminating, People pleasing, Stress, Workplace stress
Anxiety, Burnout, Perfectionism, Assertiveness, Attachment, Chronic and acute illness, Couples Therapy, Depression, Health anxiety, Life transitions, Low mood, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mindfulness, Negative thinking and ruminating, People pleasing, Stress, Workplace stress

Melissa Servello

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Woodbridge, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Show More
Melissa Servello

Melissa Servello

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
She/Her
$140/session
Anxiety, Depression, Negative body image, Anger Management, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Body Dysmorphia, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Self-Care Routines, Bullying, Burnout, Children/Teens, Confidence, Conflict resolution, Coping Skills, Decision making, Depression coping skills, Dissociation, Effective communication, Fears and phobia, General Mental Health, Stress, Self-Regulation, Perfectionism, Negative thinking and ruminating, Health anxiety, Grief and Loss
Anxiety, Depression, Negative body image, Anger Management, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Body Dysmorphia, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Self-Care Routines, Bullying, Burnout, Children/Teens, Confidence, Conflict resolution, Coping Skills, Decision making, Depression coping skills, Dissociation, Effective communication, Fears and phobia, General Mental Health, Stress, Self-Regulation, Perfectionism, Negative thinking and ruminating, Health anxiety, Grief and Loss

Nicky Lightstone

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Newmarket, ON)
Virtual Sessions in BC, ON, NL, SK, MB, AB, YT, and NU.
Waitlist
Show More
Nicky Lightstone

Nicky Lightstone

Registered Psychotherapist
She/Her
$160/session
Life transitions, Interpersonal dynamics, Self-Development, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Depression, Depression coping skills, Familial and social relationships, General Mental Health, Low mood, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Nature-Based Spirituality, Negative thinking and ruminating, Personal Growth, Relationships, Self-Criticism, Self-esteem, Stress, Ecopsychotherapy, Climate Anxiety, Coping Skills
Life transitions, Interpersonal dynamics, Self-Development, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Depression, Depression coping skills, Familial and social relationships, General Mental Health, Low mood, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Nature-Based Spirituality, Negative thinking and ruminating, Personal Growth, Relationships, Self-Criticism, Self-esteem, Stress, Ecopsychotherapy, Climate Anxiety, Coping Skills

Jason Bains

Registered Clinical Counsellor
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Nanaimo, BC)
Virtual Sessions in BC, ON, AB, SK, YT, and MB.
Waitlist
Show More
Jason Bains

Tarni Kaur

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Show More
Tarni Kaur

Tarni Kaur

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
$155/session
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, BIPOC, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Building Self-Care Routines, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Confidence, Conflict resolution, Couples Therapy, Cultural Challenges, Depression coping skills, Emotional regulation, Existential questions, General Mental Health, Goal Setting, Identity and Self-Exploration, Intergenerational trauma, Life transitions, Mindfulness Practices, Negative thinking and ruminating, Neurodiversity, OCD, Self-esteem, Social anxiety
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, BIPOC, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Building Self-Care Routines, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Confidence, Conflict resolution, Couples Therapy, Cultural Challenges, Depression coping skills, Emotional regulation, Existential questions, General Mental Health, Goal Setting, Identity and Self-Exploration, Intergenerational trauma, Life transitions, Mindfulness Practices, Negative thinking and ruminating, Neurodiversity, OCD, Self-esteem, Social anxiety

Cassandre Quan

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Vaughan, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Show More
Cassandre Quan

Cassandre Quan

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
She/Her
$120/session
Intergenerational trauma, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Depression, Anxiety, Workplace stress, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Building Self-Care Routines, Childhood trauma, General Mental Health, Imposter syndrome, Panic attacks, Navigating challenging relationships, Mindfulness Practices, Meaning and purpose, Perfectionism, People pleasing, Decision making, Trauma, Relationships, Nervous system regulation, Negative thinking and ruminating
Intergenerational trauma, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Depression, Anxiety, Workplace stress, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Building Self-Care Routines, Childhood trauma, General Mental Health, Imposter syndrome, Panic attacks, Navigating challenging relationships, Mindfulness Practices, Meaning and purpose, Perfectionism, People pleasing, Decision making, Trauma, Relationships, Nervous system regulation, Negative thinking and ruminating

Khysandra Lee

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Oakville, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Show More
Khysandra Lee

Khysandra Lee

Registered Psychotherapist
$160/session
Anger, Anxiety, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Childhood trauma, Confidence, Depression, Eating disorders, Emotional regulation, Fears and phobia, Health anxiety, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Negative thinking and ruminating, Panic attacks, People pleasing, Perfectionism, Self harm, Social anxiety, Suicidal ideation, Trauma, Women's Health
Anger, Anxiety, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Childhood trauma, Confidence, Depression, Eating disorders, Emotional regulation, Fears and phobia, Health anxiety, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Negative thinking and ruminating, Panic attacks, People pleasing, Perfectionism, Self harm, Social anxiety, Suicidal ideation, Trauma, Women's Health

Ariella Boehm

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON, AB, BC, MB, NL, NT, NU, SK, and YT.
Waitlist
Show More
Ariella Boehm

Ariella Boehm

Registered Psychotherapist
she/her
$180/session
ADHD, Anxiety, Familial and social relationships, Anger Management, Boundaries and boundary setting, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Confidence, Court Mandated Counselling, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Effective communication, Family issues, Goal Setting, Intergenerational trauma, Interpersonal dynamics, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Maternal mental health, Motivation, Navigating challenging relationships, Negative thinking and ruminating, Parenting, Personal Growth, Relationships, Self-Criticism, Self-esteem, Self-Regulation, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal)
ADHD, Anxiety, Familial and social relationships, Anger Management, Boundaries and boundary setting, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Confidence, Court Mandated Counselling, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Effective communication, Family issues, Goal Setting, Intergenerational trauma, Interpersonal dynamics, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Maternal mental health, Motivation, Navigating challenging relationships, Negative thinking and ruminating, Parenting, Personal Growth, Relationships, Self-Criticism, Self-esteem, Self-Regulation, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal)

Christine Scovell

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Caledon, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Show More
Christine Scovell

Christine Scovell

Registered Psychotherapist
she/her
$160/session
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Burnout, Caregiver burnout, Confidence, Conflict resolution, Connecting with your Inherent Power, Depression, Effective communication, Emotional regulation, Grief and Loss, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mindfulness, Navigating challenging relationships, Negative thinking and ruminating, Relationships, Stress, Trauma, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Wellness Counselling
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Burnout, Caregiver burnout, Confidence, Conflict resolution, Connecting with your Inherent Power, Depression, Effective communication, Emotional regulation, Grief and Loss, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mindfulness, Navigating challenging relationships, Negative thinking and ruminating, Relationships, Stress, Trauma, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Wellness Counselling

Michelle Brewer

Counselling Therapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Edmonton, AB)
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
Waitlist
Show More
Michelle Brewer

Michelle Brewer

Counselling Therapist
she/her/hers
$210/session
Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, ADHD, Attachment trauma, Attachment wounds, Body Dysmorphia, Boundaries and boundary setting, Childhood trauma, College or University Coaching, Break-up recovery, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Eating disorders, Fertility, Group Therapy, Mind-body connection, Mindfulness, Negative body image, Negative thinking and ruminating, Parental divorce, People pleasing, Personal Growth, Trauma, Women's Health
Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, ADHD, Attachment trauma, Attachment wounds, Body Dysmorphia, Boundaries and boundary setting, Childhood trauma, College or University Coaching, Break-up recovery, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Eating disorders, Fertility, Group Therapy, Mind-body connection, Mindfulness, Negative body image, Negative thinking and ruminating, Parental divorce, People pleasing, Personal Growth, Trauma, Women's Health

Nisha Thakkar

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Cambridge, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Show More
Nisha Thakkar

Lotus Huyen Vu

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Regina, SK)
Virtual Sessions in SK, ON, AB, BC, and MB.
Waitlist
Show More
Lotus Huyen Vu

Lotus Huyen Vu

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
$160/session
Addiction, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment trauma, Behavioural Issues, Borderline Personality Disorder, Caregiver burnout, Aging, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Childhood trauma, Life transitions, Trauma processing, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Thought Restructuring, Negative thinking and ruminating, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Mindfulness Practices, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration
Addiction, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment trauma, Behavioural Issues, Borderline Personality Disorder, Caregiver burnout, Aging, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Childhood trauma, Life transitions, Trauma processing, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Thought Restructuring, Negative thinking and ruminating, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Mindfulness Practices, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration
No results found. Your criteria may be too specific.
Search finds the closest match while filters exclude profiles that do not match your criteria. Try clearing your filters and using search to find a match.
We add therapists weekly. Sign up to receive updates.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
A man and woman sitting at a table looking at a phone

Therapy is hard work.

Finding the right therapist shouldn’t be. Over 10,000 Canadians found their new therapist with First Session.
What is therapy for negative thinking?

Therapy for negative thinking helps you understand and change unhelpful thought patterns. Approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focus on identifying negative thoughts, examining their accuracy, and developing more balanced perspectives. Your therapist will work with you to understand your specific patterns and develop strategies that work for you.

How can therapy help with rumination?

Many people find that therapy helps them recognize when they're ruminating, understand what triggers these thought cycles, and develop techniques to redirect their attention. Therapy can also address underlying factors like anxiety or depression that often accompany rumination. The skills you learn can help you respond to difficult thoughts more effectively.

What causes negative thinking patterns?

Negative thinking patterns can develop for many reasons—past experiences, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or simply habits that formed over time. Often, these patterns started as ways of coping or problem-solving but became unhelpful. A therapist can help you understand your unique patterns and their origins without judgment.

How do I find a therapist for negative thinking?

On First Session, you can browse therapists who work with negative thinking, anxiety, or cognitive approaches like CBT. Watch their intro videos to get a sense of their style and personality. Finding a therapist you feel comfortable with is important. Learn more about what makes a good therapist.

What therapeutic approaches help with negative thinking?

Several evidence-informed approaches can help with negative thinking. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps you identify and change unhelpful thought patterns. Mindfulness-based approaches teach you to observe thoughts without getting caught up in them. Your therapist can help you find the approach that works best for your situation.

How do I get started?

Browse therapists on First Session who specialize in cognitive approaches and negative thinking. Watch their intro videos to find someone whose style resonates with you, then book a session online. Many therapists offer free consultations so you can ask questions before committing. Taking steps to address negative thinking is an investment in your wellbeing.