About US
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Our Mission
Calming Tree Counselling is an experienced counselling practice where everyone; regardless of race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or age will be met with warmth, empathy and confidentiality. Counsellors employ a personalized, holistic and client-centred approach that ensures clients feel safe, respected and understood.
Our Counsellors
Counsellors at Calming Tree are Registered Social Workers, Registered Psychotherapists or Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying) who are members in good standing with their Ontario governing body and who have a Master’s level of education.
Melissa Reid, MSW, RSW
Currently not taking new patients
Melissa Reid is a counsellor and Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Melissa received her undergraduate degree in Social Development Studies at the University of Waterloo. She continued her education with a Master’s in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University. In addition to her formal education, Melissa has tailored her continued learning in the areas of trauma-informed practice, adult attachment, grief, and bereavement.
Read more about Melissa HERE!
Jeff Barber, MSW, RSW
Jeff has over 17 years’ experience working with children, individuals, couples and families in areas including: receiving a new health diagnosis, ongoing medical concerns, marriage or family conflict, grief and loss and a variety of other life transitional issues. Jeff strives to collaboratively engage with individuals and families to strengthen their ability to gain new skills and improve their mental health outcomes. As a counsellor, Jeff works from a strength-based perspective whereby he believes in working in collaboration with his client to develop their own intrinsic potential. Clients can expect Jeff to listen intently while co-creating a plan of support and actioning change.
Read more about Jeff HERE!
Lirondel Hazineh MSW, RSW PhD(c)
Lirondel offers a safe, compassionate and confidential place to talk through the problems and challenges that life brings. She works with couples and individuals through a strength and resilience based approach, to ultimately help clients discover more satisfying ways of being and relating. Lirondel takes a number of approaches to counselling, depending on the needs of the client, including narrative, solution-focused, cognitive behavioural and emotionally focused therapies. Lirondel invites you to share your stories with her, and looks forward to working with you to explore new possibilities and preferred futures.
Read more about Lirondel HERE!
Kaitlyn Power, MSW, RSW
Kaitlyn’s primary experience has been working with adults and couples, who are navigating varying challenges related to mental health and wellness. Her work has included supporting individuals/couples who have experiences of childhood and adult trauma, and support for those experiencing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders and eating disorders. Kaitlyn has experience in supporting clients from the following informed therapies including; DBT (Dialectial Behaviour Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) and the practice of SRT (Self-Regulation Therapy).
Read more about Kaitlyn HERE!
Nadine Rubie, MSW, RSW
On Maternity Leave
Nadine Rubie is a counsellor and a registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work degree. Nadine received her Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Western Ontario and then her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. For over 15 years Nadine has worked in various clinical and community settings. Her dynamic career has included front line roles in community health as well as mental health, in addition to administrative roles in clinical supervision and leadership.
Read more about Nadine HERE!
Casandra Di Benedetto, MSW, RSW
On Maternity Leave
Casandra is a Registered Social Worker with her Master of Social Work degree from Dalhousie University. She received a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Waterloo and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University. Casandra will mainly be working with youth and children at Calming Tree and she is passionate about providing a warm, empathic, and safe space for her clients to explore their challenges and share their concerns.
Read more about Casandra HERE!
Hilary McCulloch MACP, RP (Qualifying)
Hilary McCulloch is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) in good standing with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Hilary obtained her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and attended Queen’s University where she earned her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biopsychology. As part of her Master’s degree, Hilary completed an educational practicum at Cambridge Memorial Hospital where she provided individual therapy to adult clients in the outpatient mental health clinic.
Read more about Hilary HERE!
Rose Singh, MSW, RSW
Rose strives to create helpful and supportive therapeutic conversations with the people she works with. She collaborates with clients to co-construct goals in counselling, while facilitating their discovery of insights, capacities, and resources to address the challenges they are experiencing, and finding practical strategies to improve aspects of their lives. Rose utilizes a person-centred approach, drawing on and integrating anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, 2SLGBTQ+-inclusive, strengths-based, task-centred, solution-focused, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, narrative, critical disability and critical social work practice.
Read more about Rose HERE!
Stacey Wadden, MSW, RSW
Stacey is a counsellor and a registered social and received her undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Studies and went on to complete her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Waterloo. In her love for continuing education, Stacey received an Addiction Certification from Wilfred Laurier while also completing her Master of Social Work from Dalhousie University. Stacey enjoys working with individuals navigating complex mental health or addictions in addition to those who are looking to strengthen their overall mindset and mental health.
Read more about Stacey HERE!
Tara Harvie, MSW, RSW
Tara is a Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University. She has worked with adults of all ages, families and couples in a variety of roles within community and hospital settings. Tara is passionate about walking alongside those she works with and is honoured to support their mental health, relationships and quality of life. Tara’s focus in her practice is to ensure clients feel safe, heard and is a proud ally of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Read more about Tara HERE!
Joseph Thomas, MAAP and RP
Joseph is a Registered Psychotherapist, and has a Master's degree in Applied Psychology. Joseph has years of experience providing mental health support to students, adults, and families. Joseph is dedicated to assisting others in living a life that includes joy and fulfillment, while also providing counselling support and strategies for mental health issues. Joseph is comfortable working with clients who are experiencing: anxiety, depression, mood disorders, life transitions, immigration challenges, and relationship/family stressors.
Read more about Joseph HERE!
Rana Shami, MSW, RSW
Rana Shami is a counsellor and Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and has a Master’s degree in Social Work. Rana received her Bachelor and Master degrees in Social Work from the University of Waterloo. Rana is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) and the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT) and is a registered Circle of Security parenting coach (COSP). Rana has extensive experience in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and has CBT certification from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Read more about Rana HERE!
Sarah Tremblett, MSW, RSW
Sarah Tremblett is a Registered Social Worker and is in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW). She holds a Master of Social Work degree from McGill University in addition to a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Sarah is also completing her PhD in Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. Sarah has experience working with children, adolescents, individuals, and families facing mental health challenges, transitions, and relational challenges.
Read more about Sarah HERE!
Emina Hodzic MSW, RSW
Emina works collaboratively with clients on their self-identified goals using a trauma-informed lens and a client-centred framework while employing therapeutic models suited to the client’s needs. Emina has worked with people experiencing a wide range of mental health conditions, substance use disorders, trauma, grief, and chronic illness. She is versed in various therapeutic modalities including cognitive behavioural therapy, narrative therapy, and dialectical behavioural therapy.
Read more about Emina HERE!
Dana Cressman, MA, RP
Dana Cressman is a Registered Psychotherapist and a graduate of Martin Luther University College (affiliated with Wilfrid Laurier University) with a Master of Theology in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy. She has completed her first Basic Unit as a Psychospiritual Therapist from the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care/Association canadienne de soins spirituels (CASC/ACSS). Conversations around faith and spirituality are welcome, should they be important aspects of a client’s journey.
Read more about Dana HERE
Amy Meyer BSW, RSW
Amy is a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). She has experience supporting children, youth, adults and families experiencing mental health challenges, facing life transitions, experiencing family conflict, and childhood trauma.
Read more about Amy HERE!
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