Work Experience:
Melissa is a practicing Social Worker/Psychotherapist with 20 years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples, groups, and families. She has worked in multiple sectors including primary care, community agencies and in private practice. A wide range of sub-fields including children’s mental health, trauma, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and adjustment after a traumatic motor vehicle accident. Currently working as a clinical social worker for teenagers and adults in a Family Health Team setting and is a clinical consultant for the Niagara region. Areas of specialty include anxiety, depression, stress reduction, mood disorders, couple conflict, adjustment disorders, and grief and loss. Her experience as an individual and group therapist brings a competence and ease with facilitating a safe, inclusive and grounded experience for a wide diversity of people.
Education:
Background/Interests:
Values: inclusion, kindness, egalitarianism, less-is-more (minimalism)
Leadership Style:
Melissa is a practicing Social Worker/Psychotherapist with 20 years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples, groups, and families. She has worked in multiple sectors including primary care, community agencies and in private practice. A wide range of sub-fields including children’s mental health, trauma, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and adjustment after a traumatic motor vehicle accident. Currently working as a clinical social worker for teenagers and adults in a Family Health Team setting and is a clinical consultant for the Niagara region. Areas of specialty include anxiety, depression, stress reduction, mood disorders, couple conflict, adjustment disorders, and grief and loss. Her experience as an individual and group therapist brings a competence and ease with facilitating a safe, inclusive and grounded experience for a wide diversity of people.
Education:
- B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy (1998) Bethel University, MN
- Master of Social Work (2005) University of Toronto
- Brief and Narrative Therapies for Families, Couples and Individuals, a year-long post-graduate clinical extern training program - Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, Gail Appel Institute in Toronto
- Forest Therapy Guide Training (2016) Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT)
- Wilderness & Remote First Aid (2017)Canadian Red Cross
Background/Interests:
- grew up on a farm, spent most of her childhood outdoors and has rediscovered her own need for nature connection through Forest Therapy practices
- passionate about being in nature year-round
- backcountry canoeing and backpacking, hiking, reading, skiing (alpine and nordic), savouring the simple things slowly, getting a laugh, photographing nature
Values: inclusion, kindness, egalitarianism, less-is-more (minimalism)
Leadership Style:
- emphasizes equality, anti-hierarchy, gentle guidance, non-judgemental
- non-dogmatic, supportive, validating, equanimity, calm, non-prescriptive
- skilled at putting others at ease, and aims to support people's direct encounter with nature, encouraging an attitude of curiosity and discovery
- 50+ guided walks (2016-2022), including corporate wellness sessions, private walks and walks offered through the Family Health Team
- Nominee for the Bright Lights award for innovative practice (Forest Therapy) through the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (2017)
- Melissa is the first certified Forest Therapy Guide in Niagara