Our Practitioners

Areas of Specialization:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Adolescent Therapy
• Self-Esteem
• Stress Reduction
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Blair Abbass is an award-winning educator and therapist with the NEW Provincial Mood and Anxiety Program, spending 35 years working in the public school system as both a teacher and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to supporting the emotional well-being of teens, parents and professionals.

More than 25 years ago—when mindfulness was still unfamiliar in many educational settings—Blair designed Nova Scotia’s first mindfulness program for teachers. He went on to teach mindfulness practices to educators across Canada, helping them manage stress, establish healthy boundaries, and bring greater presence and enjoyment to their lives.

In the final years of his teaching career, Blair helped to design the PSP Grade 11 Yoga course for the Halifax Regional School Board. His work has been shaped by the guidance of influential teachers, including Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Stephen Levine, Gabor Mate and William Glasser.

Blair is known for sharing meaningful life lessons in a playful, light-hearted way—something he credits to his Cape Breton sense of humor. Drawing on decades of experience in education, counseling, and mindfulness practice, he recently compiled his insights into his new program A NEW PATH FORWARD, which includes mindfulness, cognitive therapy and stress reduction techniques. Clients receive this program as part of their therapeutic experience. 

Blair’s hope is that all people can learn to face challenges with the power of awareness, self-compassion and healthy choices.