Meet the people behind Caritas Counselling
Jennifer
My name is Jennifer and I am a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
My personal background includes a Master's degree in Theology and a Master's degree in Clinical Counselling. Professionally I have worked in pastoral ministry, as a teacher, in Psychological Services within an Ontario school board, in private practice settings, and as a Clinical Supervisor of Master's-level practicum students.
My goal is to bring my education, professional, and life experience to our work together, in order to help you identify and overcome the barriers that keep you from moving forward toward greater freedom, hope, and authentic joyfulness in life.
At Caritas Counselling, our focus is to use therapeutic approaches that have a strong basis in research and evidence for effectiveness. We take an integrative approach to counselling and psychotherapy, always keeping your unique and individual needs as a client at the forefront, even as we integrate a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Attachment-based work, and EMDR, to name a few.
I specialize in working with developmental trauma — helping people understand the deeper attachment wounds that underlie the ways we think about ourselves. Using EMDR, "Parts Work," and an attachment lens, we begin to identify the deeper wounds that lie beneath the surface. Sometimes those wounds show up as a part of ourselves that got very comfortable caring for the needs of others but never learned it was okay to take care of ourselves too. Hope comes when we bring all of this into the light, and begin to learn — or relearn — how to care for ourselves.
Let's journey together to discover the you that got lost somewhere, and find a new way to move into the future with freedom, hope, energy, and well-being.
“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”— Martin Luther King Jr.
I believe that counselling is a journey that the client and therapist embark on together. My role is to meet you where you are at in the midst of your journey. Together we can explore the issues and situations that are standing in your path, work to explore your strengths, and find ways to chart a course that will help you begin moving forward.
A key focus for me is always seeking to find the traces of goodness and joy in the moment. When we remind ourselves to be aware of and even embrace the gifts of the moment, we can allow hope to slowly grow within us. Hope helps us find the strength to move forward, even in the most difficult situations.
Penny & Michelle
For a lower cost counselling option, consider working with one of our fully supervised, Master's level Intern Therapists. Our Intern Therapists are students who are completing a Practicum for their Master's degrees in order to be eligible for Registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. They are fully supervised and supported in their work as they move through this process.
Penny
At times, life can leave us feeling weary, wounded, or uncertain of the path ahead. Experiences of loss, change, relationship difficulties, or spiritual struggle can affect our sense of peace and make it difficult to recognize hope. Yet even in painful and uncertain seasons, healing and new life remain possible.
As an Intern Therapist here at Caritas Counselling, I believe that every person possesses inherent dignity and is worthy of being received with compassion, reverence, and without judgment. My desire is to offer a safe and peaceful space where you can share your story, attend to what is happening within you, and explore the places where you may be seeking healing, meaning, or a renewed sense of God's presence.
My approach is integrative and attentive to the whole person—mind, body, relationships, and spirit. I recognize that faith can be a source of strength and comfort, while also sometimes becoming a place of questioning, struggle, or longing. When desired, I welcome the opportunity to incorporate Christian faith, prayerful reflection, and spirituality into the counselling process, always respecting your individual beliefs and needs.
I am currently completing a Master of Divinity in Counselling (Clinical Track) at Tyndale University. Additionally I am a Certified Spiritual Director. My formation in counselling and spiritual direction has deepened my belief in the sacredness of each person's story and the importance of being faithfully accompanied through life's difficult seasons.
It would be a privilege to walk alongside you as you seek greater understanding, healing, inner freedom, and hope.
Michelle
Bio coming soon.