About Bita
A life shaped by curiosity, teaching and care
Bita Bardi, MSc.Ed., MA (CP), is a Registered Psychotherapist, executive coach, certified teacher and former journalist who has travelled to more than 45 countries. Her work is about helping people heal, find meaning and enjoy life more fully.
Education & registration
20 years in the field of human development
Bita's education spans business, teaching and counselling, followed by specialised training in therapy and well-being. Details of her training are available on request.
- Bachelor's degree
- Bachelor of Human Resources Management, York University (2005)
- Master's degree
- Master of Science in Education (MSc.Ed.), Medaille College, New York (2008)
- Master's degree
- Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MA (CP)), Yorkville University (2022)
- Registration
- Registered Psychotherapist, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, no. 11206 (since 2022)
- Teaching
- Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT), since 2008
- EMDR therapy
- Trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma, anxiety and panic
- Specialised training
- Trauma; anxiety and panic attacks; performance anxiety and performance improvement; burnout
- Emotion-focused
- Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Levels 1 and 2
- Meaning-centred
- Integrative Meaning Therapy certificate program with Dr. Paul T. P. Wong, Module 1: logotherapy (International Network on Personal Meaning, 2024)
- Self-compassion
- Mindful Self-Compassion teacher training, the program developed by Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Christopher Germer (Center for Mindful Self-Compassion)
Bita's story
Bita came to Canada from Iran with her family at the age of six, during a turbulent time in the country's history, and grew up in Toronto. From a young age she felt drawn to a life of service in psychology, education and personal growth.
As a journalist, her curiosity led her to learn from leading voices in the field. She worked with Dr. Paul T. P. Wong, a pioneer of existential positive psychology, and trained in his meaning-centred therapy program. Dr. Wong invited her to interview Dr. Jordan Peterson at his Toronto home for the Meaning Conference. Bita also trained in Mindful Self-Compassion, the program of Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Christopher Germer, and has interviewed Dr. Neff about self-compassion and well-being.
Her passion for education was shaped by her university mentor and friend, Dr. Claudio Duran. As a middle-school teacher with the Toronto District School Board, Bita focused on her students' emotional well-being and critical thinking. She created school-wide mentorship programs for girls, intergenerational programs with local seniors and refugee awareness fundraisers, and served on Herbert H. Carnegie committee boards promoting student excellence in mind, heart and spirit.
Bita was accepted into two doctoral programs: Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Toronto (OISE), and Psychotherapy and Counselling at Tyndale University, with a focus on consultation that helps make clients' healing more effective.
Bita has travelled to more than 45 countries. Living among so many cultures has given her a deep awareness of how background, values and customs shape the way people think, feel and behave. Clients of every culture and walk of life can expect to be understood on their own terms.
Outside her practice, Bita loves being a mom and spending time with her family, ideally out in the sunshine.