About
Jillian Ossachuk, MSW, RSW, CT
Owner | Founder: Simply Connected Therapy in Ontario, Canada
Therapist: Specialization in Sports Therapy
My name is Jillian Ossachuk, and I’m a Registered Social Worker. I provide virtual therapy for teens and adults, supporting people through things like mental health in sports, trauma (past and present), anxiety, panic, relationship challenges, and grief. I bring a lot of passion, optimism, and empathy into my work, and I truly value building real, genuine connections with the people I support. My goal is to create a space where you can feel comfortable being yourself, talking things through, and maybe even finding a bit of lightness along the way, even when things feel heavy. *ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS CURRENTLY*
Welcome To
Over the past 10 years, my practice has grown and evolved alongside the incredible people I’ve had the privilege of working with, from youth and teens to adults, seniors, couples, and groups. Basically, if you’re human, I’ve probably supported someone in a similar stage of life. I truly believe in meeting you exactly where you’re at, with no pressure, no judgment, and definitely no expectation that you need to have everything figured out before you start. Together, we’ll tap into your strengths, even the ones that might feel a little hidden right now, and build from there. I aim to create a space that feels warm, supportive, and genuinely comfortable, where you can show up as you are, talk things through, and maybe even take a breath you didn’t realize you needed. Therapy doesn’t have to feel intimidating, it can feel like a real, human conversation with room for honesty, reflection, and even a little bit of laughter. My goal is to help you navigate challenges, move toward your goals, and create meaningful, lasting change, while also supporting you in reconnecting with your sense of self-worth and recognizing your value, not just for who you’re becoming, but for who you already are.
I completed my Master’s Degree in Social Work (Clinical Concentration) at the University of New England, and since then, I’ve had the opportunity to support clients across community settings, schools, and private practice. I genuinely love what I do, and I’m always looking for ways to keep learning because being a therapist means accepting that you’ll never actually be “done” learning (and I’m okay with that!).
I have a special interest in working with athletes who want to improve both their mental health and performance. As a former university athlete, I understand the pressure, expectations, and occasional chaos that come with competitive sports and team life. Whether it’s performance anxiety, burnout, or just trying to keep your head in the game, I get it!
I’m a Certified Clinical Traumatologist with advanced training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), and I draw from approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). In plain terms, I use a mix of tools to help people navigate things like anxiety, trauma, depression, relationship challenges, stress, and grief without making it feel like you’re sitting through a lecture (LOL!)
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My approach is collaborative, down-to-earth, and tailored to you. I believe in taking the time to really understand your story, while also helping you move toward meaningful, lasting change.
Book a FREE consultation with me today!
Jillian Ossachuk -
Learn more about my sport’s journey!
I have always enjoyed sports and athletics growing up and took a particular interest in ice hockey. I started playing hockey in my small town of Fort Frances, ON when I was 8 years old and immediately fell in love with the game. I tried to play as often as I could and would practice on my own for countless hours. I had always had a dream to play Division I hockey and was motivated to make it. I attende several showcases, Spring tournaments, Summer camps, along with my regular hockey season. I made the Fort Frances Highschool team and played there for 3 years. For my grade 12 year, I had decided to move away from home to Thunder Bay to play on the AA Queens.
This really started to take my game to the next level physically, but also mentally. I realized competition was getting more challenging and I had to continue to advance with the other players around me if I had wanted to stand out. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be “at my best” every game and practice. This was both helpful and difficult. I felt honoured to already be recruited by several Division I schools, as well as CIS and Division III schools, so I knew I had to stay on top of it! Unfortunately, I broke my ankle at the start of the season. This was very discouraging for me because I loved the game and couldn’t imagine stepping away from it. I lost contact with some of the schools I had wanted to attend and was told I had to show that my injury did not impact me in order to make it to the next level. I felt a lot of anxiety and sadness throughout this process. I did a lot of rehab and worked really hard to strengthen my leg and attending my games to help my mental strength. I ended up returning at the end of the year and was able to build my play again. I had to work my way up the line up again and had to push myself in practices and games to build my confidence again. At the end of my year, I had some offers on the table and I had to make a decision. I had attended some visits at schools, but the University of Maine stood out to me the most. I accepted a scholarship at UMaine. I was so excited and happy to have reached my dream!
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Attending the University of Maine was an eye-opening experience for me. Now, suddenly, I was a little fish in a big pond and I had a lot to prove. I struggled to find my place on the team and was in and out of the line up my first year. I had lost most of my confidence, as I feared making a mistake and going down in the lineup. I had many challenging interactions with my coach that left me feeling discouraged and undervalued. I had to navigate a lot of anxiety throughout my first year that created a lot of sleep issues, low self esteem, performance anxiety and low mood. I had changed the way I played to try to fit in and lost a sense of who I was as a player. My meetings with my coach in my first year really took a knock at my confidence and left me feeling unsettled about the experience. Fortunately, this was noted by the NCAA and they were let go. I took this opportunity to try to build my confidence and get back to my game—the one that got me there. I used a lot of positive self-talk, found a plan to re-set myself after a mistake, and found a mental health routine that worked for me. I prepared myself differently for practices and games and set achievable goals for myself. I used a lot of reflection and challenged a lot of my negative ways of thinking. I continued to strengthen my mind to think like a Division I athlete and remind myself that I was there for a reason. I received the Most Improved player my second year and continued to climb the lineup. I was getting points, staying consistent, using my talents/skills and I was feeling mentally strong as a student athlete. I had found my place on the team.
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I look forward to supporting you athlete to athlete! I am already so proud of you. - Jillian