Hello and Welcome.
I work with adults and couples who want to better understand what they are experiencing, navigate a difficult period, or develop new ways of responding to thoughts, emotions and situations that keep them feeling stuck.
My approach to therapy is integrative and active, collaborative and deeply human, bringing together understanding, emotional and embodied experience, and practical ways to create change in everyday life.
Take some time to explore my approach and the different ways I can support you. If you'd like to talk about what you’re looking for, I offer a free 15-minute introductory consultation.
International Clinical Background
Emma J.M. Ates is a bilingual Integrative Therapist and Art Therapist trained in Canada, an Accredited Professional Member of the FF2P (French Federation for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis), and a Member of SFAT (PRO251079) – French Union of Art Therapists. Initially trained in France, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from Aix-Marseille University. For almost ten years, she was a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO) and a Registered Canadian Art Therapist (RCAT, CATA). She has practiced for over ten years across diverse clinical settings, in English and French, in person or online, with young adults (+18).
For in-person services: Emma ATES - Clinique du Bien-Être à Nice.
She supports individuals experiencing anxiety, trauma, emotional regulation difficulties, and relationship challenges within a structured and integrative therapeutic framework. Her approach bridges Western psychology and Buddhist-based contemplative psychotherapy, integrating evidence-based modalities such as Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
She is also specialized in supporting the emotional challenges associated with expatriation, repatriation, and reverse culture shock. Whether you are preparing for a move, adapting to life in a new country, navigating an intercultural relationship, or returning home after living abroad, you do not have to go through this transition alone. Emma Ates : Psychopraticien à Nice. Prendre RDV | Liberlo
At the heart of her practice is the eight-level framework of Contemplative Creative Therapy (CCT), a developmental model that supports gradual, embodied, and empowering transformation.
Teaching and Facilitation
Emma has taught in professional and academic contexts, including the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (Applied Mindfulness Meditation Certificate Program), the Toronto Art Therapy Institute. She has taught at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies in the Applied Mindfulness Meditation Certificate Program (Mindfulness & Art Therapy course), and at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute (TATI). She has also led workshops and trainings with Glendon York University, the Mindful Society Global Institute, and SickKids Hospital in Toronto.
Originally trained and registered in Canada, she now offers bilingual therapeutic services internationally while maintaining active professional affiliations in both Canada and France.
Meditation & Contemplative Creative Training
Emma’s clinical work is deeply informed by over two decades of meditation and contemplative practice. She took refuge in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition in France in 1999 and continues her Buddhist study and practice in Canada with Gaden Choling for the West and the Paramita Center in Toronto.
Since 2022, I have deepened my engagement with Dharma Art and Zen-based creative practices through ongoing study and practice with Jody Hojin Kimmel Sensei of Zen Mountain Monastery.
My background also includes extensive training in contemplative arts. I am a Level 1 Instructor in Nalanda Miksang Contemplative Photography, trained with John McQuade. My practice has also been enriched by Shambhala Art, Zen brushwork, sumi-e, ikebana, and other embodied creative disciplines. These practices continue to inform my clinical presence, teaching, writing, and personal creative practice.
My exploration of embodied and movement-based practices began with Qigong and Tai Chi in China, and later continued in Canada through the study of Medical Qigong. I subsequently trained in the Sivananda Yoga tradition of Swami Vishnudevananda, exploring its traditional and holistic approach through asana, pranayama, meditation, and bhakti practices. In Toronto, I later encountered Kundalini Yoga at the Lotus Yoga Centre, and I continue to deepen this exploration through the teachings of Jai Dev Singh and the Life-Force Academy, particularly in Kundalini Yoga and tantric philosophy and practice.
I am the founder and instructor of the Lojong Center for Contemplative Creative Science, a platform dedicated to professional training, knowledge sharing, and research in Contemplative Creative Therapy (CCT). Through the Center, I develop and facilitate advanced training programs, experiential workshops, and educational resources for mental health and helping professionals, as well as practitioners engaged in contemplative practice. This work supports the integration of Western and Buddhist psychology, mindfulness, meditation, and creative practices within therapeutic care.
To learn more: www.contemplativecreativescience.com
Publications in English and French
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