Erika Davies is a registered clinical social worker with a Master of Social Work from Carleton University, the foundational school for structural social work. At Carleton University, Erika learned about structural social work, which looks at how society impacts individuals and their mental health. This theory has felt especially important to Erika given her own experiences with the medical system as a child with severe chronic illness and spending a lot of time in hospitals. Through this, Erika learned what it meant to have a body that didn’t wasn’t always feel like it was her own, and how chronic pain and illness impacted her ability to engage with daily life. Erika tried coping through this experience with the use of substances and learned that this was not sustainable long-term. It made her passionate about working with folks dealing with chronic illness or chronic pain, and those potentially using unsustainable coping strategies that might not be sustainable long-term.

A meaningful conversation that continues to have an impact on Erika is one with a wise young person about how we describe unsustainable coping mechanisms like eating disorders, drug use, and self-harm. They made a metaphor based on a talk around Brené Brown’s idea of compassion and empathy: “Imagine you’re at the bottom of a hole with a big pit of water, and you’re drowning. You grab whatever you can find to make a rickety raft to stay afloat. That’s what these coping mechanisms are—they’re impressive efforts to survive with the tools you have.”

In Erika’s practice, she aims to acknowledge the strength it takes to cope in any way you can and help find sustainable methods to stay “afloat” and cope through a combination of harm reduction with motivational interviewing and dialectical behavior therapy works really well together. Harm reduction is about acknowledging where you are at in your own coping journey without judgment and helping you make safer choices, motivational interviewing uses open-ended, strength-based questions to help you find the answers within yourself, and harm reduction acknowledges where you are without judgment, helping you make safer choices. Dialectical behavior therapy supports you in changing behaviors to improve cognitive wellness.

Another part of what Erika brings to her practice is other aspects of her own experiences as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and through her extensive work with neurodivergent youth and adults.

If you’re looking for someone who can help you find joy and acceptance in your identity, no matter how you identify, Erika is here to support you on your journey.

Erika Davies is a registered clinical social worker with a Master of Social Work from Carleton Un... Read More

Mo is a social worker with a therapy approach centered on collaboration. He believes that what matters most is how a client and therapist work together. He believes that a strong, trusting relationship is at the core of meaningful therapy. His role is to understand what you want from therapy and how to best support you.

As someone who grew up in different countries, he brings a broad perspective to understanding what impacts you. Rather than viewing individuals in a vacuum, he uses an approach that considers all the relationships in your life as well as the influence of systemic issues.

In his previous work as a lawyer, his clients often suffered the effects of structural inequalities that legal solutions alone couldn’t address. This led him to pursue social work, where he could focus on offering deeper support to individuals facing these challenges.

Mo draws from a variety of therapeutic approaches, including Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT). But ultimately, it’s not about the modality—it’s about what works best for you, the client.

Mo is a social worker with a therapy approach centered on collaboration. He believes that what ma... Read More

Shawna is a Social Worker (MSW, RSW) registered with The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She graduated from Trent University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and continued her studies at York University where she obtained both a Bachelor and a Masters in Social Work. Since then, she has been practicing social work for the past 30+ years. Her experiences include working in clinical practice, case management, advocacy, and training/facilitation. She is trained and practices in evidence-based approaches including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Crises Intervention, and Narrative Therapy. She provides a safe and inclusive space as she works from an anti-oppressive people-centered approach, including trauma-informed approaches.

Shawna is a Social Worker (MSW, RSW) registered with The Ontario College of Social Workers and So... Read More

Vivian is a social worker and clinical therapist who focuses on supporting clients through the changes and challenges of life. She aims to provide the right practical and applicable tools as well as a solid support system for clients who are struggling, experiencing a difficult time, or undergoing a challenging transition (like the aftermath of a relationship).

Her work experiences have included Women’s College Hospital, Hincks-Dellcrest (now known as the SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health), St Michael’s Hospital, North York General Hospital, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

Vivian provides a safe, comfortable, and non-judgmental space to share your stories and explore patterns that may be holding you back in life. She assists clients in finding clarity in the challenges they are facing and in learning the skills needed to cope, grow, and thrive going forward. She uses an integrated approach that combines attachment-based, trauma-focused, strength-based, and mindfulness-based therapies.

Vivian is a social worker and clinical therapist who focuses on supporting clients through the ch... Read More