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Family Service Thames Valley

Meet Our Staff

Meet Our Staff


Deisy

Director, Counselling Services

Deisy has over 20 years’ experience working with vulnerable populations in areas including women abuse, trauma, anxiety, addictions, and youth impacted by war or legal problems. She provides services in both English and Spanish.

  • Registered Psychotherapist with a Masters in Counselling Psychology
  • Fundamentals of Addiction

“Anything that is human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” Fred Rogers

Deborah

Clinical Supervisor, Counsellor

With 25 years of experience, Deborah focuses on trauma, family violence, and suicide intervention and prevention. Deborah works closely with frontline staff in complex roles to improve mental wellness at work.

  • Masters in Social Work (MSW)
  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Certified
  • Indigenous Cultural Safety Training
  • Narrative Therapy Training
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Safety Trainer

“Healing doesn't mean the pain never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.” Akshay Dubey

Jessica

Program Coordinator, Counsellor

With 6 years of experience, Jessica works with teens facing anxiety, relationship and identity issues. Jessica coordinates program operations including managing our waitlist for counselling services.

  • Registered Psychotherapist
  • Masters in Counselling Psychology
  • Critical Incident Response Training
  • Danger Assessment Certification
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Safety Training

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.” Bernard M. Baruch

Kathy

Counsellor

With almost 15 years of experience, Kathy provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples and families from all diversities and age groups. She uses an integrative approach that is customized to each participant in therapy. Kathy works collaboratively with clients to improve relational, emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical challenges related to the past, present or future.

  • Registered Psychotherapist with a Masters in Counselling Psychology
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Safety Training
  • Critical Incident Response Training

 


“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Arthur Ashe

Laura

Counsellor

With 5 years of experience, Laura focuses on trauma, anxiety and depression for individuals, couples and families across the lifespan. Laura enjoys working with the LGBT2QAI+ community and facilitates group therapy.

  • Registered Psychotherapist
  • Masters in Counselling Psychology
  • Indigenous Cultural Safety Training

“If I am worth anything later, I am worth something now. For wheat is wheat, even if people think it is grass in the beginning.” Vincent Van Gogh

Lina

Counsellor

With 4 years of experience in social work, Lina has worked extensively with individuals and families to address challenges they face in their journey of life. She uses an integrative eclectic approach that best suits each individual. Lina provides therapeutic interventions such as Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

  • Masters in Social Work (MSW)
  • Circle of Security Facilitator
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Safety

“Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.” Rumi

Lincy

Counsellor

With 3 years of experience, Lincy works with individuals who has mental health issues from all ethnicities and lifespan. She enjoys working with children and youth adults. Lincy provides therapeutic interventions focused on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT), Client focused and Solution focused approach.

  • Registered Social Worker
  • Masters in Social Work (MSW)

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” Gautama Buddha

Maria A.

Intake Worker

With 16 years of experience, Maria has worked with diverse populations facing violence against women, addictions, learning disabilities and more. Maria provides a compassionate and supportive approach during the intake process.

  • BA (Hons) Criminology
  • NVQ Custodial Care
  • Diploma in Substance & Alcohol abuse counselling

“We need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” Desmond Tutu

Maria G.

Counsellor

With over 10 years of experience, Maria focuses on trauma informed CBT, mindfulness, and clinical hypnosis. She works with clients of all ages, and provides services in English and Spanish.

  • Masters in Counselling Psychology
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
  • Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist
  • Indigenous Cultural Safety Training

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that people can alter their lives simply by altering their attitude of mind.” William James

Peter

Clinical Supervisor, Counsellor

With 25 years experience, Peter provides services to older children, youth and adults and is passionate about helping individuals, couples and families to thrive. Peter uses elements of various theoretical approaches including, Cognitive-behavioural, dialectical-behavioural, emotion focused and short term therapy to name a few. Peter provides supervision as well.

  • Registered Psychotherapist with a Masters in Education
  • AMFT Supervisor

“Take good counsel and accept correction – that’s the way to live wisely and well.” Proverbs 19:20 (MSG)

Shamar

Counsellor

Shamar has a passion for working with individuals from underserved populations who may face systemic and socioeconomic barriers that often increase mental health challenges. She uses a variety of methods to fit each unique individual. The modalities she draws from the most are cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy.

  • B.A., M.A., R.P. Qualifying

“Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.” Shannon L. Alder

Simone

Counsellor

With close to 5 years experience, Simone provides individual counselling focused on grief, anxiety, depression, and sexuality.

  • Masters in Social Work (MSW)

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” Brené Brown