Dr. Tara strives to address the unprecedented pressures faced by children, adolescents, and families, including academic stress and social challenges, which often manifest as symptoms of anxiety and depression. These pressures can lead to emotional and behavioral difficulties, hindering abilities to cope with daily stressors. This can result in challenges with self-acceptance, negative self-reflection and evaluation, isolation, helplessness, and impaired adjustment and adaptation.

Dr. Tara employs a holistic, individualized, and psycho-educational approach, integrating Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Family Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Therapy techniques. Her approach tailors interventions to meet each client’s unique needs, ensuring personalized and effective therapeutic support.

Through this approach, Dr. Tara empowers children, adolescents, and families to understand their unique challenges, build resilience, foster emotional well-being, and achieve meaningful behavioral change. By developing healthier coping skills, clients can significantly improve their overall quality of life.

Professional Experience

Dr. Tara is a dedicated Psychologist (Supervised Practice) at Toronto Beaches Psychology, where she conducts comprehensive assessments and provides evidence-based therapeutic services to children, adolescents, and families. Her approach is grounded in fostering emotional well-being and resilience through tailored interventions.

She previously contributed her expertise at Main Street Psychological Centre, delivering evidence-based therapy to children, adolescents, and families. Earlier in her career, as an Instructor Therapist at Shining Stars Support Services, Dr. Tara developed and implemented Behavioral Intervention Plans for children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), employing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques to promote skill development and behavioral improvement.

As a Counselling Psychologist at NRI Family Health, Dr. Tara offered compassionate counselling to address behavioral, emotional, and cognitive challenges, while also designing psycho-educational sessions to empower families with practical tools and strategies. Additionally, as a former Assistant Professor at Amity University (New Delhi, India), she supported adolescents navigating the complex transition from adolescence to adulthood, drawing on her deep understanding of developmental challenges.

Dr. Tara provides support for a range of issues, including:

Children (Ages 5-12) Anxiety disorders Behavioural issues ADHD OCD Autism spectrum disorder Depression Learning disabilities Sleep problems Encopresis Enuresis Bullying Social Skills Difficulty Stress Management Attachment issues

Adolescents (Ages 13-18) Depression/mood disorders Anxiety disorders Self-harm/suicidal ideation Substance use/addiction OCD Eating disorders Body image issues Identity/self-esteem issues Peer/social pressures Academic stress Stress management Technology addiction

Families Parenting challenges Family conflict Divorce/separation (co-parenting issues) Financial stress Substance abuse in family Caregiver burnout Blended family issues Grief/Loss/Major Transitions Cultural/intergenerational conflicts Stress Management Communication Challenges

Dr. Tara strives to address the unprecedented pressures faced by children, adolescents, and famil... Read More

Many adults and seniors struggle with mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, trauma, grief or the emotional toll of life transitions. Others face more complex difficulties stemming from neurological injury or illness—such as a concussion, stroke, or chronic or progressive conditions—that can affect cognition, emotions and behaviour. These challenges can interfere with daily functioning, relationships, and your sense of identity, often leaving you feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or disconnected from the life you once knew.

Dr. Ruttan takes a compassionate, active approach to both psychological and neuropsychological care. Her work is personalized and evidence-based, helping you clarify your goals, build self-awareness, and draw on inner strengths to navigate challenges. She supports people in making meaningful, lasting changes—whether they are adjusting to emotional difficulties, life transitions, or cognitive changes related to neurological conditions. Through therapy, you can deepen your understanding of how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours affect your daily life and relationships, fostering greater insight, resilience, and overall well-being.

Professional Experience:

Dr. Ruttan is a psychologist practicing in Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology and is registered with the College of Psychologists and Behavioural Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO). She completed her Master’s degree at Western University in London and her Doctoral degree at York University in Toronto. With over 20 years of experience as a Staff Clinical Neuropsychologist at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute/University Health Network (UHN), she has worked with inpatients and outpatients navigating a wide range of acquired brain injuries and their associated sequelae. She has also worked with the Canadian Concussion Centre (Krembil Brain Institute, UHN; https://www.uhn.ca/Krembil/Canadian-Concussion-Centre/Education#about) for over a decade assisting in the development and ongoing moderation of their webinar series, consults with the Hull Ellis Concussion Clinic (https://www.uhn.ca/TorontoRehab/Clinics/Hull-Ellis_Concussion_Research) at Toronto Rehab and serves as a HUB member for UHN’s ECHO Concussion (https://uhn.echoontario.ca/Our-Programs/Concussion), providing education to health care providers on concussion. She also works with Toronto Rehab’s TeleNeuroRehab Centre (https://kiteteleneurorehab.ca/), a clinical and research initiative providing evidenced-based treatments to individuals across Ontario in the chronic stages of acquired brain injury. During the COVID pandemic and a redeployment at UHN, Dr. Ruttan provided psychological support to staff from across UHN and was involved in research and clinical care for individuals with Long COVID. In her work at Toronto Rehab, she also spent many years as Practice Leader for Psychology and supervising clinical psychology residents and practicum students as well as supervising individuals for the College of Psychologists and Behavioural Analysts of Ontario. Prior to co-founding Toronto Beaches Psychology, Dr. Ruttan has also worked in private practice for over two decades providing psychological and neuropsychological assessment and treatment for both adults and seniors. Most recently, Dr. Ruttan had the pleasure of working for Main St. Psychological Centre, founded by the late Dr. John VanDeursen. The clinic has recently closed with the retirement of the owner. Dr. Ruttan draws on a range of evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based approaches. She tailors each treatment to the unique needs of the client, offering a flexible and personalized approach that supports meaningful, lasting change.

Common issues include mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, grief, social isolation, family conflict and adjustment challenges. Cognitive concerns are frequent, including memory decline, executive dysfunction, and neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s, and the effects of stroke or other acquired brain injuries. Clients may also present with post-COVID cognitive issues and challenges related to chronic illness, pain, and disability. Many seek support during major life transitions—retirement, loss of independence, caregiving roles, or health changes.

Many adults and seniors struggle with mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, trauma, ... Read More

Dr. Bains understands these struggles deeply, drawing not only from over 10 years of clinical experience but also from her journey navigating mental health systems across different countries and cultures. She offers a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and collaborative approach that honours each client’s unique story and worldview. Dr. Bains guides clients through emotional challenges and life transitions with clarity and resilience, empowering them to develop greater self-awareness and enhanced well-being.

Dr. Bains has supported adolescents and adults through life’s most emotionally demanding moments—navigating chronic stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. She also works closely with individuals facing infertility, as well as those adjusting to pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood. These experiences enable her to walk alongside clients with compassion and steadiness, fostering resilience and lasting change.

Work with Athletes and High Performers: Dr. Bains brings specialized experience in performance psychology through collaborations with the Weightlifting Federation of India and the Indian Sports Federation of Cerebral Palsy. Her work with athletes has gained media attention, including an interview with SheThePeople.TV and coverage in The Times of India for a nationwide mental health initiative with the Weightlifting Federation of India.

Personal Insight and Cultural Sensitivity: Having personally navigated the complexities of relocating across countries, Dr. Bains has a deep understanding of the emotional and cultural challenges involved in major life transitions. This lived experience strengthens her ability to support clients dealing with identity shifts, immigration stress, and cultural adjustment, ensuring that every client’s values and story are honoured with sensitivity and care.

Global Mental Health Contributions: Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Bains has made impactful contributions to mental health awareness on the global stage. Her dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic has been featured on BBC World News, on TEDx, and she was invited as a speaker at the 2021 WFMH Youth Mental Health Conclave, an initiative supported by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

Dr. Bains understands these struggles deeply, drawing not only from over 10 years of clinical exp... Read More