Our Barrie Counselling Team
Pamela Giarrizzo, RP (Qualifying)
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Pamela supports couples using Gottman method therapy. She uses therapy techniques and interventions from many different psychotherapy theoretical orientations such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic principals for individuals experiencing problems with their mental health, want to tolerate emotions or improve their well-being. She continues to study the effects that crisis, trauma, anxiety, depression, loss, grief, and bereavement have on a person’s psychological, emotional, spiritual, and mental state through the utilization of a holistic approach to mental health.
Pamela is direct, honest, open, authentic, and sincere, while remaining non-judgemental, caring, and engaged. Her perceptiveness and ability to communicate using humour, metaphors or visualisations makes the therapy process insightful and self-reflective.
Tatyana Bashkatova, MPsy, RP (Qualifying)
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Tatyana believes that the process of psychotherapy is the creation of a confidential and supportive space, where clients feel safe to explore themselves and the underlying causes of their mental health and relationship issues. She walks her clients down this road and helps them find their way to perform crucial changes.
The main methods of therapy Tatyana uses in her work allow clients to project their inner reality or the dynamics of the relationships into visual presentations which can be transformed in a way that leads to consequent inner transformations.
Tatyana welcomes clients for individual, couples, and family therapy, including children and youth.
Shoshawnah Lautenschlager, BA, MA, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
By employing a trauma informed, non-judgemental, and strength-based practice, Shoshawnah is able to meet clients where they are at. She has experience working with a diverse clientele with a variety of concerns including; depression, anxiety, grief, emotional dysregulation, trauma, family separation, divorce, PTSD, substance use, and experience with the child welfare and criminal justice systems.
On a personal note, Shoshawnah is passionate about providing therapy from an anti-oppressive perspective and through a lens of diversity, equity and inclusivity. She works collaboratively with her clients to ensure their therapeutic goals are set and met. Shoshawnah encourages and validates clients in order to empower them to implement the change they want to see in their lives, family or relationships. She believes that each person’s journey is unique and therefore therapy must be specific to the client’s life and experiences
Na Kyung Park, MACP, RP (Qualifying)
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Through an atmosphere of compassion and acceptance, she is a focused and dedicated health practitioner who enjoys witnessing the change process within individuals. She strives to provide a collaborative and integrative approach in my clinical practice that uniquely fits each individual’s needs. She is trained and experienced in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Meditation, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Supportive Talk Therapy.
Angela Bishop, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Angela has a Master’s of Social Work degree from York University in addition to Bachelor’s degrees in both psychology and social work. She has completed continued education in the areas of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), emotionally-focused therapy (EFT), mindfulness, motivational interviewing, solution focused therapy, strength-based therapy and perinatal and postpartum mental health. She has experience with a variety of age groups and settings, some of which include: medicine, mental health, grief and loss, paediatrics, chronic disease, palliative/end of life care, maternal mental health and parenting.
Angela’s approach is empathetic, and uniquely tailored to the client’s individual needs and goals. Angela aims to assist clients to navigate through challenges on their journey to lasting fulfillment and change, where the client is free to discuss their specific goals and tell their story.
Clients who come to see her are often struggling with depression, anxiety, life transitions, low self-worth, relationship distress, separation/divorce, parenting, grief and loss and general feelings of discontentment or being “stuck”. Angela utilizes a variety of evidence-based therapeutic techniques to create a plan of care that is uniquely tailored to the clients’ needs. She is passionate about mental health and helping people of all ages and backgrounds lead more peaceful and happy lives. Angela can help you identify your goals, develop coping skills, and process past trauma in order to optimize your everyday well-being, assist with navigating through your struggle to understand and manage challenging emotions, all the while feeling supported and safe. Her goal is to walk with you through your journey to move towards a place of joy, peace, and resiliency.
Rucha Patel – Registered Psychotherapist
Rucha has over 10 years of experience working in the social service industry and over 5 years of experience providing individual, couples, and group psychotherapy. She specializes in depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and women’s issues. She is skilled in understanding her client’s needs and assisting them to reach their goals. Rucha has a warm, calm, compassionate, and welcoming demeanor.
Rucha believes in living a balanced life. When she is not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, going out for meals with her friends, and engaging in outdoor activities such as camping. Rucha has gone through her own share of challenges in life. She gets her strength and resiliency from meditating, practicing positive affirmations, reading books, painting, and reaching out to her support system. Rucha hopes to help her clients identify their goals and strengths to live their authentic life and achieve their vision of life.
Maureen – Registered Social Worker
As both a provider and consumer of therapy services, Maureen appreciates the courage it takes to seek out support and the comfort offered in having someone journey with us as we navigate life’s inevitable challenges. She offers a compassionate, judgement-free environment in which clients can explore what is meaningful and rewarding for them and identify what is less fulfilling in their lives, at a comfortable pace.
Maureen’s approach to therapy is strengths-based and collaborative in nature. She believes that, given the right conditions, all people move toward healing, growth, and well-being. By joining her own clinical insights with a client’s unique strengths and resources, Maureen strives to assist clients in developing greater self-awareness and gaining insight into their interactions with the world. Through this process of exploration, clients will uncover pathways for resolving difficult emotions or experiences, feel able to face and overcome current obstacles; and, move naturally toward growth and well-being.
Maureen holds a master’s degree in counselling psychology; and, bachelor’s degrees in psychology and social work. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Social Workers; and, a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She has offered therapy services for over 13 years and has worked in various settings including crisis services, community practice, and family health. Maureen uses an integrative approach that draws on a range of evidence-based therapy techniques uniquely tailored to the client’s individual needs. These include: solution-focused, narrative, CBT, and EFT (emotion-focused), trauma informed, mindfulness, in addition to others. She is experienced in supportive individuals moving through a wide range of life experiences including: life transitions, grief and loss, gender identity, sexual identity, separation and divorce, retirement, change in health status, chronic pain, chronic health conditions, experiences of interpersonal violence, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, disordered eating, substance use disorders, sexuality, emotion regulation, anger management, relationship difficulties, and more.
Kathryn George, BA, MA, MDIV
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Kathryn is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) completing her Master’s education in Clinical Counselling at Tyndale University as well as a Masters in International Child Studies at King’s College London. Through Kathryn’s studies and work experiences, she has gained multi-cultural exposure in Malaysia, UK and various provinces in Canada.
Kathryn uses holistic integrated interventions drawing from a systemic background where friends, family, communities, and society at large shape who we are and how we think. She also uses evidence-based therapeutic interventions like Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Emotionally- Focused therapy, Narrative Therapy, trauma-informed therapy, and draws from Solution Focused therapy as well. She combines a variety of therapeutic interventions which are personalized to fit client’s individual goals, needs, and belief system.
Kathryn’s goal as a counsellor is to support individuals, couples, and families by providing a safe space to foster meaningful connections for those seeking reconciliation with themselves, others, and family. Kathryn works from a client-centered approach to draw out her client’s strengths, deal with past and present pain, and move toward a better future based on their value system.
Kathryn’s approach to therapy is rooted in the belief that the therapeutic relationship is essential for facilitating change, healing, and growth for successful treatment outcomes. She provides a safe and non-judgmental space for you to explore, process, and understand your present circumstances, and determine the barriers preventing you from reaching your potential. She focuses on cultivating your inner resources to empower you to move toward your purpose and looks forward to working with you.
Laura Pickering, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Laura is a Registered Social Worker with 17+ years counselling experience. She holds a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto, specializing in Mental Health and Health. She also holds a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree from Carleton University, Ottawa.
Laura is compassionate and empathetic as she works from a non judgemental, client centred perspective to create a safe space for individuals, couples and families to set and address their therapeutic goals. She draws on a variety of evidence based approaches, including CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy), Solution Focused, Strength based, Mindfulness, Trauma Informed, crisis intervention, bereavement, and Motivational Interviewing. She works holistically with clients as they navigate challenges, empowering them to build on strengths, and gain self awareness and coping skills to be able to address their concerns and improve their quality of life. She recognizes that each situation is unique as she tailors each approach.
Laura has worked with a diverse clientele dealing with a variety of concerns, including: life transitions/adjustments, depression, anxiety, psychiatric illnesses, trauma, grief and loss, addictions, relationship and communication issues, health issues, low self worth, and generally feeling stuck or stressed.
Laura believes positive change is possible as she works in a collaborative manner with her clients. She looks forward to connecting with you.
Samira Tabrizi MA., RP
Registered Psychotherapist
Samira is a Registered Psychotherapist with more than 15 years of experience working with adults and families. She holds a Masters In Clinical Psychology and is certified in Janina Fisher’s Clinical Trauma Professional Training Level 1 & 2 which gives Samira a particular appreciation of complex trauma.
Samira brings compassion, openness and patience to create a safe and non-judgement space for you to explore, heal and grow. You will work together to have a better understanding of your challenges. It is Samira’s opinion that the relationship between client and therapist is the most important component of the therapy.
Samira offers a collaborative and personalized approach, integrating evidence-based psychotherapy perspectives, like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and psychodynamic principals specializing in Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Trauma, Shame , PTSD and childhood experiences.
Samira is here to support you in cultivating a healthy, authentic, intimate, loving and embodied sense of self.
Amy May, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Amy (she/her) has been a resident of Barrie, on Treaty Lands 16 & 18, for the last 25 years. She is raising two young adults alongside her husband and is endlessly entertained by their rambunctious chocolate lab Mocha!
Amy is a Registered Social Worker and obtained her Master’s degree from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). Amy uses various tools in working alongside individuals (CBT, REBT for addictions); however, her primary modality is Narrative Therapy. This framework seeks to meet people where they are, with the idea that you are the expert on your experience. Together, you will work with Amy to discover what feels problematic and strengthen those crucial and always present personal resistances to the problem. Amy has witnessed the alleviation of distress partnering in this way and enjoys helping folx find preferred ways to move forward. Amy’s work is suitable for anyone experiencing: anxiety, depression, grief and loss, feelings of poor self-worth or shame, life changes, addiction, relationship challenges, working within the landscape of neuro-diversity, changes in health status and more.
In working alongside couples, Amy uses the Gottman Therapy method. Her work seeks to look at the space between the couple and build on foundational pieces to bring more joy and harmony back to the relationship. She honours both folks in the relationship and her role, as she sees it, is to coach her way out of a job as you both master the tools and techniques available in this format. Travelling through life with a partner requires intentional practice and planning, and all this work with Amy will promote that!
Amy strives to keep her practice anti-racist and 2SLGBTQ2AI+ friendly. As a white social worker, she strives to hold herself accountable for her social position and is committed to ongoing work to better her practice.
Neethu Joseph, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Neethu is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She has 14 years of experience in working with a variety of clients and issues. Neethu believes it’s most important to provide a safe space in which clients can feel safe and able to reflect upon and evaluate their circumstances. Neethu’s calm, compassionate and non-judgmental approach will help clients to feel heard, validated and supported them back on track to living a meaningful and fulfilled life. Neethu has found deep joy in working with children and their families.
Neethu has experience in working with trauma, parenting, anxiety, depression, in addition to general problems in living. Neethu uses a variety of evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Trauma Focused Therapy. Together we can find ways to better understand what you need to best support yourself and find the tools to free yourself from those difficulties.
Jessy Danyluk, RP (Qualifying)
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Jessy holds a degree of Masters of Divinity in Clinical Counselling from Tyndale Seminary. She is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Her years of experience at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre has been invaluable. While working in the health care setting, Jessy worked with a variety of clients displaying issues with addictions, end of life, grief and loss, trauma, depression and anxiety. She uses a multi-dimensional approach with all of her clients and employs evidence-based therapies such as Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy & Solution Focused Therapy..
Jessy also enjoys working with couples. She supports couples using Gottman Method Therapy and is experienced in both pre-marital and couples counselling. Jessy aims to help her clients navigate their relationship goals by means of therapy techniques and interventions.
In addition to working with adult individuals and couples, Jessy enjoys coming together with children, teenagers and young adults. Her experience is extensive and she continues to be passionate in this area. Jessy is active in her desire to learn and is dedicated to her clients. She has recently taken courses with a focus on Play Therapy as well as Art Therapy.
When she is not in the office, Jessy enjoys going out for sushi with her husband Taylor or hanging out with her cat, Spencer! She is also a huge Disney fan and had the opportunity to a cast member.
Jessy is passionate about equipping clients with the skills they need to navigate their mental health journey and find healing through safe and open communication.
