Eldar Eftekhari
Eldar Eftekhari is a Clinical Psychology Resident providing virtual therapy services at the OICBT. He is completing his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa, where his training and research have focused on how people adapt to and grow from adversity. In therapy, Eldar strives to create a compassionate, collaborative space where clients feel understood and supported. His approach is integrative and evidence-based, drawing on CBT, DBT, CPT for trauma, as well as humanistic/existential and psychodynamic perspectives, allowing him to tailor treatment to each person’s needs. Eldar has experience working with individuals facing various problems, including (but not limited to) depression, anxiety, trauma, OCD, ADHD, difficulties with emotion regulation, etc. He is passionate about helping clients navigate challenges, build resilience, and move toward lives that feel meaningful and fulfilling.
About Eldar
- PhD Student (Clinical Psychology), University of Ottawa (in progress)
https://www.uottawa.ca/ - MA, Psychology and Neuroscience Graduate Diploma, York University (2015)
https://www.yorku.ca/ - B.Sc. (Honours) Psychology, York University (2012)
https://www.yorku.ca/ - Current Status: Clinical Psychology Resident
Eldar’s practice (assessment and treatment) is in the service of adults (18-60). Some of his areas of focus include (but are not limited to):
- Depression and mood disorders
- Anxiety and panic disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Emotion regulation difficulties
- Grief/Loss
- Stress management and adjustment to life changes
- Emotion regulation concerns, including Anger Management
- CBT
- Humanistic/Existential
- EFT
- Psychodynamic
Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral (SSHRC), 2020–2023
https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/
Excellence Scholarship, University of Ottawa, 2019–2024
https://www.uottawa.ca/
Joseph-Armand Bombardier Graduate Scholarship (SSHRC), 2013–2014
https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/
York Graduate Scholarship, York University, 2012–2013
https://www.yorku.ca/
- uOttawa Student Health and Wellness Centre (2025)
- Centre for Change (2024–2025)
- The Royal (2023)
- Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2021-2022; 2023-2024)
- Child and Family Centre of Ottawa (2022)
- Centre for Psychological Services & Research (CPSR), University of Ottawa (2021–2023)
- The Ottawa Hospital – Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit (2021)
ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE
Ouimet, A. J., MacLean, J., Bahl, N., Ferguson, R. J., & Eftekhari, E. (Accepted in principle: Stage 1 registered report). What matters more—beliefs or actions? An experimental investigation of the effects of emotion regulation self-efficacy on strategy effectiveness in a social context. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Craik, F.I.M., Eftekhari, E., Bialystok, E., & Anderson, N.D. (2018). Individual Differences in Executive Functions and Retrieval Efficacy in Older Adults. Psychology and Aging. doi: 10.1037/pag0000315
Craik, F.I.M., Eftekhari, E., & Binns, M. (2018). Effects of Divided Attention at Encoding and Retrieval: Further Data. Memory & Cognition, 46(8), 1263-1277. doi:10.3758/s13421-018-0835-3
Eftekhari, E., Tran, A., & Mcgregor, I. (2017). Decentering increases approach motivation among distressed individuals. Personality and Individual Differences, 119, 236-241. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2017.07.035
Eftekhari, E., Hojjat, S., Vitorino, R., Carroll, T. J., Cantrell, C. G., Lee, L., . . . Kassner, A. (2017). Normal appearing white matter permeability: a marker of inflammation and information processing speed deficit among relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Neuroradiology, 59(8), 771-780. doi:10.1007/s00234-017-1862-7