Qualifications

Training

I am a Registered Psychotherapist practicing under the Ontario College of Psychotherapists.

I hold a Master’s Degree in Adult Education and Counselling from the University of Toronto, (OISE).

In addition to my degrees, I completed three years training in Gestalt Therapy.

I am an Advanced level practitioner of Emotion-Focused Couple’s Thrapy (EFT), having completed training programs at York University and the Ottawa Couples and Family Institute with Sue Johnson and Gail Palmer.

In have also completed basic training in TIR (Traumatic Incident Reduction) under the instruction and supervision of Margaret Nelson.

I am a full, Clinical Member of the Ontario Society of Psychotherapists.

Experience

I started out, more than thirty years ago, working in a community-based employment program helping ex-psychiatric patients return to the workforce after a hospitalization. It was my job to assess, prepare, place them into competitive jobs.

After about four years of this, I took time out to pursue the dream of becoming a professional cook. For the next five years, I worked as a chef in several small restaurants, eventually ending up, once again, working with ex-psychiatric patients in a small restaurant which doubled as a rehabilitation facility.

I returned to community-base employment counselling, working as a senior counsellor, and eventually, as the Executive Director of Parachute Community Employment Centre. Later, under the auspices of the University of Waterloo, and the Counselling Foundation of Canada, I researched and wrote two books on the practice of Community-Based Employment Counselling, which at the time became the textbooks used by all Youth Employment Programs in Ontario.

While writing my books, I made ends meet by working as an associate of Archer/Henderson Human Resource Consultants. It was my task to design and facilitate innovative workshops on a wide variety of issues related to human resource management and development.

Practice

Good mental health is dependent upon a healthy body and spirit. I participate in a number of activities which help alleviate stress and promote physical fitness and confidence.

I practice Yoga/ Meditation on a daily basis and was the founder and facilitator of Rainbow T’ai Chi for ten years. I dance Argentine Tango and Salsa at the advanced level and was the founder of a community-based Ballroom Dance Group called Rainbow Ballroom. I am currently studying the various forms of Tango Therapy practiced around the world. Out of my researches, I have produced two short films about the beneficial effects of Tango. The first, called “Por Amor De Tango” screened at the New York Independent Film Festival and the New York and Toronto Tango Festivals. The other, “T’ai Chi Tango” discusses how the principles underlying T’ai Chi can be applied to the practice of Argentine Tango.