Ethos

My name is Richard Sembera. I am a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO), a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCPA), and a Training Candidate of the Canadian Institute of Psychoanalysis.

The name of my practice—Light in Extension—evokes the light of the mind reaching into the shadowed places of the psyche, where meaning hides beneath symptom. Analysis begins not with advice, but with listening—quiet, exacting, and honest.

I offer insight-oriented psychotherapy and psychoanalysis for individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, creative crisis, self-sabotage, or long-standing emotional difficulty.

This isn't a coaching model or a set of techniques. It's a space for sustained reflection, symbolic exploration, and the kind of transformation that unfolds over time. If you're curious or feel drawn to the work, I invite you to reach out.

Portrait of Richard Sembera
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Services

Consultations

I offer complimentary virtual consultations (20 minutes) to help you decide if this approach resonates with your needs. Sessions are available virtually most weeknights, and in person on Friday evenings and Saturdays from my office in Ottawa (361 Waverley St).

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Conversation—in person or virtually—typically once or twice a week. We explore the patterns, conflicts, and meanings beneath the surface of everyday difficulties. This is the most common form of the work I offer, suitable for a wide range of concerns—anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, creative blocks, or simply the sense that something isn't right.

Trauma

I have extensive experience working with trauma—both single-incident and developmental. My approach is psychodynamic rather than protocol-driven: we work with what emerges in the room rather than following a predetermined sequence. This isn't for everyone, but for those who want to understand their experience rather than simply manage symptoms, it can be a better fit.

Psychoanalysis

A more intensive commitment: three or more sessions per week over an extended period. Some people find it easier to speak freely while using the couch; others prefer to work face-to-face. We determine the arrangement together based on what suits you. Reduced fees may be available for those undertaking intensive work.

Virtual Sessions

I offer virtual sessions to clients anywhere in Ontario. For some, this is a matter of convenience; for others, it's the only practical option. The work translates well to video—what matters is the conversation, not the room.

Flexible-Frequency Psychotherapy

Not everyone can commit to weekly sessions, and not everyone needs to. For some, meeting every two or three weeks provides enough continuity to do meaningful work. If your schedule, budget, or benefits only allow for occasional sessions, that doesn't have to be a barrier.

Fees

A limited sliding scale is available for clients with financial need. The best way to find out if this approach is right for you is to schedule a consultation.

Books

  • Book Cover: Metapsychology for Contemporary Psychoanalysis

    Metapsychology
    for Contemporary Psychoanalysis

    This book contains a major revision of psychoanalytic theory, replacing the outdated drive–defence model with an information processing model of mental functioning. The book argues that the most basic human need is the need for clear thinking, and that physical drives ultimately only have significance for the mind insofar as they tend towards the one central and fundamental aim of self-knowledge.

  • Book Cover: Meditation - A Self-Study Guide

    Meditation:
    A Self-Study Guide

    This book is a complete, hands-on, do-it-yourself guide to meditation in both practice and theory. Unlike other books on the subject, its approach is secular, rational, and pragmatic. It borrows concepts from psychoanalysis, philosophy, and computer science to explain what meditation is and why it works. It explains meditation in such a way that absolutely everyone can benefit from it.

Let's Connect

Richard Sembera, M.Ed. (Counselling), RP, CCC

Email:

I'll get back to you within one business day.

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