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If you’ve ever felt like your healthcare team doesn’t understand the mental and emotional toll of managing diabetes—you’re not alone. Clinic founder Michelle Sorensen, Clinical Psychologist, shares her reflections on her own journey living with Type 1 diabetes and building a team who truly understands.
When I opened Resiliency Clinic in 2018, I had spent a decade immersed in the diabetes field—presenting across Canada, meeting people living with diabetes and their families at patient-focused events, and teaching healthcare professionals about the psychological aspects of diabetes care.
My question to audiences was always: “Psychology: the Missing Piece in Diabetes Care?”
As a parent of four young children, traveling became difficult. But I found new ways to support the diabetes community right here at our clinic. As a diabetes psychologist in Ottawa and one of the few diabetes-focused psychologists in Canada, I knew we needed more therapists who truly understand concepts like hypoglycemia anxiety, diabetes distress, and diabetes burnout.
Building a Team Who Gets It
Something incredible happened as I built our team. One day, therapist Ashley Currie saw me checking my continuous glucose monitor and asked about symptoms of Type 1 diabetes—she hadn’t been feeling well. I tested her blood sugar right there in the office. It was much higher than it should be. She had developed Type 1 diabetes herself.
Since then, we’ve grown our diabetes-focused team to include Vivian Eyre et Emma Harvie—all excellent clinicians with lived experience of Type 1 diabetes.
Why Choose a Diabetes Psychologist in Ottawa?
Finding a therapist who truly understands the psychological aspects of diabetes management makes all the difference. At Resiliency Clinic, we’ve built Ottawa’s only team of diabetes-focused mental health professionals, many of whom live with Type 1 diabetes themselves.
The Misunderstood Reality
Nearly half of Type 1 diabetes diagnoses happen in adulthood—something poorly understood even within the healthcare system. This can lead to misdiagnosis as Type 2 diabetes and unnecessary suffering.
Many clients need support while adapting to life on insulin and grieving their diagnosis. Those diagnosed as children sometimes “burn out” as adults, needing to process their grief in ways they couldn’t as children.
Diabetes Distress: Not Depression
Diabetes distress and grief follow parallel paths. Diabetes distress can look like depression, but it’s specific to living with diabetes and the many life stages that challenge management.
A client might struggle postpartum with unpredictable blood sugars despite tight control during pregnancy. Lack of sleep, hormonal changes, and stress all impact glucose control—and it can be startling and discouraging.
We help clients foster self-compassion, set manageable goals, and talk to someone who just gets it on a very human level.
The Fears We Address
Fear of low blood sugars often leads to running sugars high to avoid lows. We use cognitive behavioural therapy to challenge these thoughts and gradually incorporate behaviour changes to face the fears.
“Insulin mistrust” is another phenomenon we see—clients know their insulin-to-carb ratios but don’t trust the insulin to behave as expected. This leads to over-eating or snacking the moment blood sugar starts to drop, even slightly.
Many health professionals can’t understand these fears without lived experience of managing the psychological side of diabetes.
At Resiliency Clinic, we get it. And we will never judge you.
Ready to Work with a Diabetes Psychologist in Ottawa Who Truly Understands?
Living with Type 1 diabetes myself, I understand the invisible weight you carry every day. Building a team of therapists who share this experience has been one of the most meaningful parts of creating Resiliency Clinic. We’re here because we know how much it matters to talk to someone who just gets it.
Our specialized diabetes psychology team includes clinicians with lived experience of Type 1 diabetes:
- Michelle Sorensen, PhD, C.Psych – Clinical Psychologist and Clinic Founder
- Ashley Currie, MA – Psychotherapist (Associate)
- Vivian Eyre, MA – Psychotherapist (Associate)
- Emma Harvie, MSW, RSW – Social Worker & Psychotherapist
Whether you’re living with diabetes yourself or caring for a child, spouse, or parent who does—reach out. Family members also experience the grief and burnout that comes with Type 1 diabetes.
Ready to connect with someone who truly understands? Réserver une consultation gratuite de 15 minutes to see if we’re the right fit. Serving the Ottawa community with bilingual (English/French) diabetes psychology and psychotherapy services.
Common Questions About Diabetes Psychology
What is diabetes distress?
Diabetes distress is the emotional burden and worry that comes from managing diabetes daily. Unlike depression, it’s specifically tied to the challenges of blood sugar management, fear of complications, and the relentless nature of diabetes care.
How can therapy help with Type 1 diabetes management?
Therapy addresses the psychological barriers to diabetes care—like hypoglycemia anxiety, insulin mistrust, and burnout—using evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy. We help you build sustainable coping strategies and self-compassion.
Do I need a diabetes-specialized therapist?
While any good therapist can help with general anxiety or depression, a diabetes-focused psychologist understands the unique challenges—from the fear of lows to the grief of diagnosis to the specific stressors that affect blood sugar control.
