Jennifer is our Clinical Director, Jennifer brings a wide range of experience from both Christian and wider community settings.

She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in psychology and religious studies, and completed a Masters of Divinity in Marriage and Family Counselling at Tyndale Seminary. Jennifer is a registered marriage and family therapist, a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and is a supervisor candidate for AAMFT and is accepting supervision contracts with prospective clinical members.

Jennifer has had the privilege of working with a diverse population of individuals, couples and families of all ages. She has experience working with clients through many presenting concerns, including abuse, trauma, addictions, depression, grief and anxiety. Jennifer’s clinical approach focuses on supporting clients through their difficulties, and equipping clients to address their challenges. She does so by helping identify helpful and unhelpful thoughts, emotions and patterns, and celebrating successes and growth. She supports clients in building new stories of hope and health in their lives, and she loves her work.

Jennifer balances her days with family walks and camping trips, a healthy pile of novels waiting to be read, and time spent in her garden.

Betty is our Director of the Linking Lives/Building Attachment program and the Artistic Director of Shalem’s RE-create Outreach Art Studio.

Betty has worked with children and parents for over 15 years as a staff member of Shalem. She works with children, teens and their families. She finds it an honour and privilege to enter into people’s lives and help facilitate healing and change.

Betty is a registered art therapist with the Canadian Art Therapy Association and the Ontario Art Therapy Association, and she is a certified play therapist with Play Therapy International. Betty is a member of ATTACH (Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children), an international coalition of professionals and families dedicated to helping those with attachment difficulties by sharing their knowledge, talents and resources. Betty holds a Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Studies from the University of Guelph. She also completed the Masters-level program at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute. Betty has completed the advanced-level training with Dr. Daniel Hughes, the leading North American practitioner and trainer in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), and is certified as a practitioner by the the Dyadic Psychotherapy Institute. She meets regularly with CoPlace, a group of senior clinicians using DDP in Ontario.

As an Art Therapist, Michelle has worked with clients of all ages and needs. Her previous experience involved working with children with behavioural difficulties in the school setting, elderly persons in the end stages of dementia, and with adults recovering from brain injury and lengthy hospitalization.

Her work at Shalem has included counselling children and families with issues of addiction, divorce and separation, those experiencing grief, anger issues, and children with behavioural difficulties at home and school. Michelle enjoys working alongside parents and families of these children throughout the therapy process and includes them in the art-making experience. Michelle’s passion is facilitating a safe therapeutic environment where clients of all ages can experience creating art that aids in the discovery of self-awareness, personal growth and healing. Michelle spoke at Smithville District Christian High School and was featured in the West Niagara News.

Michelle completed her undergraduate studies at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. with a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in psychology and criminal justice. She completed her graduate studies at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute. Michelle’s graduate thesis was titled “The Application of Art Therapy in the Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Process.” She is a professional member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association.

Gord provides individual psychotherapy and couples counselling, also heads up Shalem’s entry into eCounselling.  Gord is currently on a medical leave.

Gord obtained his PhD in Social Psychology from Carleton University, and followed it up with Post-Doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa, specializing in Experiencial Psychotherapy. He ran a private psychology practice in Ottawa before taking on a management position with the CNIB. He has also worked in program development with the Canadian Council of the Blind, and is now overjoyed to be returning to a psychotherapy and counselling practice. He is a member of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychotherapists and Psychometricians, and of the Peer Resources Network – an international organization providing training and resources for Peer Mentors and Coaches. He has also been trained and certified by Human Synergistics Canada to provide a range of Organizational Development and Improvement services and activities.

Gord is the father of three remarkable daughters, whom he has coached through many years of playing Softball, and whom he has followed into amateur theatre. He is also an active member of his Church, and enjoys playing piano and tandem bicycling. He also continues to be active in the Ontario Softball community, and has been an active volunteer with national charitable organizations as well as with several which are centred in his community of Brantford.

June is a marriage and family therapist in our Durham office and our Director of Mental Health Resources. As a therapist, June provides counselling for individuals, couples and families. She uses her experience and education to provide a client-centred and holistic approach. Her training includes family systems, solution-focused, cognitive behavioural and narrative methods/tools which are used based on individual needs. June has a lot of experience with mental illnesses (including mood disorders, such as depression, bi-polar, anxiety and schizophrenia) and family/caregiver support needs. June offers Shalem’s Linking Lives/Building Attachment services in the Durham region, having completed the three levels of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy offered by Dr. Dan Hughes. She enjoys working with children and their families.

June has worked in the mental health and social services field in the Durham region for over 25 years. Previously she worked for the Canadian Mental Health Association in various roles, including developing a Clubhouse program – a supportive community environment for people with mental illness. June is our resource specialist on mental illness and the mental health field. June has a passion for helping churches become supportive communities around mental health needs.

In addition, June is the Director of our Sunshine from Darkness program, and she actively supports Faith and Hope Ministries – helping communities of faith serve those with mental illness.

June has a BA in psychology and a Masters of Divinity with a focus in counselling. She is a member of the Ontario Association for Marriage and Family Therapists.

Susan has more than 15 years of experience in the field of marriage and family therapy, and worked for 13 years as a family counsellor at Family Services Durham prior to joining Shalem in 2011. Susan has extensive experience in working with individuals, couples and families. She offers support to those who are dealing with a variety of presenting issues, including abuse, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, grief, family transitions and conflict, and trauma. 

She completed her undergraduate degree at Redeemer University College and a master’s degree in counselling psychology at McGill University. She has additional training in couple and family therapy, and is both a registered marriage and family therapist (RMFT) as well as an approved supervisor with the American and Ontario associations of marriage and family therapy (AAMFT and OAMFT). Susan is also a registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Worker and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).  She teaches occasional workshops in Solution-focused couple and family therapy through the University of Toronto Continuing Education program.

Susan also loves reading, photography, and playing games with her family.