About US
Regarding: Covid-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
Due to COVID-19 video or phone sessions will also be offered through Calming Tree Counselling.
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Our Mission
Calming Tree Counselling is an experienced social work 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 Story
Our Story began in 2004 with a dedicated friendship that evolved over time to include a collegial relationship and has now culminated into a business partnership at Calming Tree. Our shared interests include a commitment to social work, continued education, parenting and a love for travel. Supporting one another through Masters of Social Work programs resulted in a shared employment opportunity as counsellors at a private practice in Waterloo.
Calming Tree Counselling has emerged from our passion to provide professional, accessible counselling services. We believe that our practice will be a space where people will feel connected and nurtured to navigate life’s challenges and heal. Having supported individuals and couples for over a decade, we are dedicated in addressing the need for an accessible counselling service in the South Kitchener area. Calming Tree Counselling has emerged as a professionally credentialed social work counselling centre located in the Doon South area.
Our Counsellors
A Counsellor at Calming tree is a member in good standing with the Ontario Social Work and Social Service Workers College and who has their Masters of Social Work degree.

Tonya Beattie, MSW, RSW
Tonya’s goal is to meet clients with a warm, empathetic approach while creating a safe space that is both relaxing and comfortable to clients. Her therapeutic style includes meeting clients where they are at and working at a pace that is comfortable to them while appropriately challenging to provide an environment that fosters growth and insight. Some of the approaches that Tonya uses in sessions include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Narrative Therapy.
Read more about Tonya HERE!

Melissa Reid, MSW, RSW
Melissa employs an empathetic, integrative approach to creating a confidential, safe and caring environment for her client’s to explore, reflect and grow. Therapeutically, Melissa works from a client-centred perspective while providing supportive guidance as clients examine patterns in relationships, unhelpful thinking styles and determine their future goals. Melissa encourages strength-based reflection and fosters resilience and reflection. Some of the approaches that Melissa uses in sessions include Narrative Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy, Grief Therapy, Attachment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Read more about Melissa 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!

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!

Kaitlyn Power, MSW, RSW *On Maternity Leave
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!

Dannika Mete, MSW, RSW
Dannika is passionate about working with children, youth, families and individuals/couples. With over 8 years of experience working both clinically and from a community perspective, Dannika brings her knowledge, compassion and child-centred focus to her practice. At the core of her clinical work is the belief that everyone can be their best selves with the right support, tools and strategies.
Dannika enjoys working with clients to address social and emotional challenges, behaviour, anxiety, aggression, depression, relationship issues, attachment concerns, life transitions, and family conflict. Read more about Dannika HERE!

Joscelyn Guindon, MSW, RSW
Joscelyn earned her undergraduate honour’s degree at the University of Waterloo in Social Development Studies and Sexuality, Marriage and Families. She has focused her ongoing learning around supporting members of the LGBTQ2+ and polyamory/non-monogamy community, with their struggles with mental health, trauma, depression, anxiety, relationships, coming out, gender expression and gender identity.
She has also had training from Rainbow Health Ontario regarding transition support and documentation, as well as, experience in providing public education around LGBTQ2+ inclusivity and affirmation counselling.
Read more about Joscelyn HERE!

Craig Cunningham, MSW, RSW
Craig Cunningham is a Registered Social Worker and has a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, focusing on supporting individuals, families, and groups. He has over 10 years of clinical counselling experience working with adults facing multiple life challenges including serious illness, trauma, grief and bereavement, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, relationship and intimacy challenges, and issues of self-worth.
Taking a person-centred approach to providing support, Craig utilizes his calm demeanour, genuine and caring spirit, strong relationship-building skills, and clinical expertise to help his clients make change in their lives.
Read more about Craig HERE!

Nadine Rubie, MSW, RSW
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. In addition to her education, Nadine is also a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and the Ontario Association of Social Workers.
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. Nadine has a passion for working with members of diverse and marginalized communities.
Read more about Nadine HERE!

Kafui Mensah, MSW, RSW
Kafui is a Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work degree obtained from the University of Windsor. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Gender Studies from the University of Windsor. Kafui is passionate about helping individuals work through every-day challenges, as they strive to make meaningful lifestyle changes.
Using an eclectic approach to therapeutic practice, Kafui draws on tenets of cognitive behavioural therapy, narrative therapy, motivational interviewing, and strengths-based therapy. Kafui is dedicated to providing clients with a supportive space where their lived experiences are valued and understood.
Read more about Kafui HERE!
Our Junior Counsellors
A Junior Counsellor is a member in good standing with the Ontario Social Work and Social Service Workers College and who has their Bachelor of Social Work degree while completing their Master of Social Work degree. This means they are able to provide support as a Registered Social Worker as they complete their MSW. Junior Counsellors receive regular supervision, continued professional development and the ability to offer services at a reduced rate.

Ivanna Van Holst BSW, RSW
Ivanna is a Registered Social Worker with a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. She is in the process of completing her Master of Social Work degree, also through Wilfrid Laurier University (completion July 2021). As part of her Master’s degree, Ivanna completed her practicum at Calming Tree from September 2020 to February 2021. During that time she was able to support a caseload of individual clients from diverse backgrounds. This placement allowed her an opportunity to gain experience in the field of mental health counselling and further equip her with the skills to support future clients.
Read more about Ivanna HERE!
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