Our Counsellors

Jennifer Myrie is a Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Marriage and Family Therapist. Jennifer is the Clinical Director at Shalem. She is a Supervisor with the Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT) and Approved Supervisor with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Jennifer’s experience includes over 15 years in a multi-site Family Service Agency, managing clinical services, and providing clinical supervision to clinicians and supervisors from diverse backgrounds and at various stages of professional development. Jennifer has taught in the University of Guelph’s Couple and Family Therapy Program and currently is a sessional instructor with University of Guelph OpenEd Advanced Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy Studies program and Tyndale University Counselling program.

Jennifer is passionate about clinical practice, teaching and clinical supervision, and is committed to practices that embody equity, excellence and collaboration.

She enjoys being engaged at various levels of her church community, relaxing with a good biography, and gardening.

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 adults, children and parents for over 15 years as a staff member of Shalem. She works with adults, 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 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 supervisor and trainer by the Dyadic Psychotherapy Institute. She meets regularly with CoPlace, a group of senior clinicians using DDP in Ontario.

Betty is a registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).

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 completed her undergraduate studies at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 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. Michelle is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).

Susan seeks to create a warm, accepting and safe environment for each person she sees in therapy. She approaches whatever topics or situations people raise with curiosity, compassion and a desire to explore them together in ways that open up space to move forward.

She works with people to develop a personalized plan to meet their needs, which often looks like collaboratively developing strategies and solutions to make changes. It might also include making space to process past experiences, including traumas and relationships, in ways that helps make sense of them, reduces their negative impact and promotes resilience, growth and healing. She seeks to integrate events and change on various levels, including the emotional, cognitive, behavioural, spiritual and relational aspects of people’s experiences.

In individual, couple or family sessions, Susan helps people envision and develop the futures and the relationships they are longing for. She collaborates with couples and families to identify interaction patterns that are causing problems and replace them with patterns of healthy interactions that address the longings, fears and needs of each person.

Susan brings a lens of sociocultural awareness, attending to diversity and social justice issues and to the complexity of our identities and intersections in our lived experiences. She works from an affirming, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed lens to address experiences of marginalization and imbalances of power and to advocate for change. Susan works with folks from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and sexual and gender identities. In her own personal work, she seeks to expand her awareness of her own social locations, blind spots and internalized biases.

Susan works with and learns from clients bringing a wide range of topics, including abuse, anger, anxiety, conflict, depression, identity issues, living well with a mental health diagnosis, relationship issues, stress and trauma. Her work draws from several models of therapy, and she tailors her approach to build on the strengths and resources of each client. Her favourite models include Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Attachment Therapies such as Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Susan completed her undergraduate degree at Redeemer University and a Master’s Degree in counselling psychology at McGill University. She is a registered marriage and family therapist and approved supervisor with the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT). Susan is also a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Worker and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). She is a certified Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) couple therapist.

Susan offers clinical supervision for therapists working toward their CRPO or CAMFT certifications or other professional designations, as well as supervision mentoring for new supervisors.

When not working, Susan loves reading, photography, and playing games with her family.

As a counselor and social worker, Bernadine has enjoyed working with individuals, couples and families in a variety of settings. She provides a supportive and safe space for people to work through the hurts and difficulties they are experiencing and move towards healing.

Bernadine has completed her undergraduate degree in Social Development Studies and Social Work and Master’s Degree in Social Work through the University of Waterloo. Bernadine is a Family Group Decision Making Coordinator and is registered with the George Hull Centre for Families in Toronto. Bernadine is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Bernadine has recently completed an externship in EFT (Emotion Focused Therapy) and has joined the ICEEFT (International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy) network. She is continually engaging in opportunities for growth.

Bernadine enjoys spending time with her family, disappearing into a great book or walking a golf course with a good friend. Bernadine is also an active member of her church community.

Stephen completed his undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Providence Theological Seminary. He is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).

Stephen has worked with youth, individuals and families in a wide variety of settings, including child welfare, schools, hospitals, community health centres and outpatient treatment programs for addiction and mental health. His areas of practice include anxiety, depression, addiction, anger, grief, emotional dysregulation, mindfulness, couples therapy, and parenting. Stephen works from the philosophy that counselling often results in growth by seeking a fine balance between change and acceptance. Healing and increased awareness can be achieved out of a collaborative relationship of trust between a counsellor and their clients.

Beyond the office Stephen explores the outdoors with his young family by bicycle, canoe and on foot.

James completed a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Trent University and a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. James is a registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

James brings a warm and engaging demeanour to his conversations with clients. A big believer in the power of narrative, he strives to create a safe and welcoming place for the sharing and unpacking of each individual’s story. James strives to pursue collaborative and strengths-based explorations of client concerns.

James has worked with youth, individuals and families in a variety of settings, including mental health clinics, childhood trauma treatment programs, schools, residential treatment facilities and transitional housing centres. James is a generalist who uses integrative approaches rooted in evidence-based, trauma-informed practice.

Away from work, James enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, camping, and experimenting with his backyard smoker barbeque. He is intermittently committed to learning Spanish and has a weakness for truffles, peach pie and British detective dramas… at the same time if possible.

Aimee (MACP, MMT, BMus) is a music psychotherapist who is trained in both music therapy and psychotherapeutic practice. For clients who prefer traditional talk therapy, Aimee works primarily from a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model, and borrows from Solutions-Focused, Narrative and Systems approaches. For clients who want to engage in the arts to deepen their therapeutic work, Aimee uses musical experiences. This might include singing together, playing instruments, improvising, songwriting, or intentional music listening. No previous musical experience required!

With every person, Aimee works to meet them at their distinct stage of readiness. She considers every encounter a cultural exchange, and seeks to understand each person’s framework of meaning from a biopsychosocial perspective. When not in the therapy room, Aimee is in nature, cooking, playing music or exploring a new place.

It is important to Lesley to provide a safe, compassionate and non-judgemental space for her clients as she seeks to honour and value the uniqueness of each individual and their journey. With Lesley’s previous experience in the healthcare field and personal experiences, she is passionate about supporting individual’s strengths by providing clients with effective strategies and tools to support their personal growth and well-being.

In addition to studies in conflict management through the University of Waterloo-Conrad Grebel, Lesley has completed a Bachelor of Religious Education at Tyndale and is currently finishing her masters in counselling and psychotherapy from Yorkville University.

Outside of school and her internship, Lesley enjoys playing tennis, kayaking, playing the piano, and watching a Blue Jays game. 

Samantha is a clinical counselling student who understands the importance of meeting people where they are, and walking alongside on their journey. There is no one-size fits all solution, and Samantha likes to work with each client to locate unique strengths, supports, and strategies. You can expect a compassionate and open space to share your stories at your own pace. She uses this space to facilitate healing in various areas related to grief, loss, trauma, depression, anxiety, spirituality, aging, and life transitions. Samantha honours and values each person’s distinctive goals for therapy, and for themselves. 

Samantha has experience in Health Sciences, and a Master’s degree in Theological Studies with a focus on Spiritual Care and Counselling. She is coming to the end of her Master’s degree in Pastoral Studies with a focus on Psychotherapy. Samantha merges these all together into a passion for engaging with the community’s health in a holistic understanding of body, mind, and soul. She is trained and comfortable in various therapeutic models such as Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Emotion Focused Therapy. 

In her down time, Samantha enjoys cooking (and never repeating a recipe), playing Animal Crossing, portage trips, and watching the Montreal Canadiens continue to rebuild year after year.

Ruth believes that a safe space is where your whole self is warmly embraced, and you can unpack your life experiences and current situation without fear of judgment or shame. Ruth approaches people through a lens of curiosity and encourages her clients to explore their own stories and emotions with curiosity and gentleness. As a co-journeyer with her clients, Ruth views collaboration as vital in the healing journey.

Ruth is committed to being culturally responsive and culturally competent, seeking to inform herself of systemic marginalization experiences and to be an ally for those facing oppression and marginalization. Ruth practices from an affirming, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, anti-marginalization social justice lens, where she seeks to advocate for social change and equalize power imbalances in the therapy room and beyond. Ruth believes that, as humans, we are inherently relational and all experience emotions.

Ruth practices Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Narrative Therapy informed by the Attachment and Emotionally focused perspective. Ruth seeks to assist individuals, couples, and families to determine their ideal future and develop the connections they yearn for.

Ruth has lived cross-culturally and speaks a second language. This experience taught her the importance of humility and curiosity. Ruth completed her BA in History and BScN at the University of Calgary. Ruth practiced as a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Ruth worked on an anti-human trafficking project in SE Asia. Ruth is completing her Master of Counselling at the University of Athabasca and is passionate about helping individuals, couples, and families thrive through psychotherapy.