Gustavo Ruthes is currently completing a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and has joined the True North team as an intern. He will be offering sessions at a reduced fee while completing the hours needed while working towards his registration. He holds a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology (specialization in Coaching – Sport Psychology and Physiology) and brings extensive work experiences as an international guest-speaker and consultant, an educator, and a multi-sports coach.
Gustavo works with adults and adolescents and has clinical interests in stress management, anxiety, performance-related challenges, confidence issues, motivation, and decision-making under pressure. His therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing from cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based interventions, solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), and person-centered care within a biopsychosocial framework. He is committed to creating a culturally sensitive, collaborative, and inclusive environment for all clients.
Gustavo brings a multicultural lens to his work as he has supported a wide range of high performers from different sectors and diverse backgrounds. He currently supports Air Force fighter-pilots from four different NATO and allied nations as well as first-responders, executives, professional and student-athletes. Born and raised in Brazil, Gustavo speaks five languages and can offer counselling in English and Portuguese. Prior to his psychotherapy work, he held roles for nearly 15 years in the education sector, formerly teaching full-time at the secondary and post-secondary levels as well as 13 years of experience coaching and consulting in the well-being and high-performance space as an MPC, part of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association.
Outside of his clinical practice, Gustavo is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt with international competitive experience (former Ontario provincial and Canadian national champion), an avid surfer, and a sailing enthusiast. For years in Canada, he coached soccer at the varsity university level, BJJ at the club level, and high-school wrestling. He lives in Dartmouth (NS) with his wife and two young children.
