Meet Our Team
Dr. Carolyn James Ph.D., C. Psych
Co-Director
Dr. Carolyn James is a registered psychologist who works with adult clients (18+ years) facing a wide range of difficulties including anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional dysregulation, self-harm behaviour, relationship challenges, adjustment difficulties, and eating disorders. She has training in various evidence-based treatments including Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and trauma-focused approaches.
She continues to focus on professional development by participating in training geared toward understanding and supporting diverse clients using a number of different therapeutic modalities. In recent years, Dr. James has focused her development on advanced training in the treatment of trauma and has a particular interest in supporting clients with complex trauma and attachment disruptions.
Dr. James strives to provide a warm, supportive and non-judgmental environment. She will work collaboratively with you to understand your concerns and work toward your treatment goals. Her aims are to be approachable and authentic and give you a space to explore and work through your concerns.
Dr. Kelty Berardi, Ph.D., C. Psych
Co-Director
Dr. Kelty Berardi is a registered Clinical Psychologist licensed to work with children, adolescents, adults, and families. She has clinical expertise in a variety of areas including Child and Adolescent development, Eating Disorders and Body Image, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, OCD, PTSD and trauma-related disorders and diagnostic and personality assessment. She has training in a variety of therapeutic modalities including, but not limited to, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Family Based Treatment for Eating Disorders and various trauma focused interventions.
Dr. Kelty Berardi completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Windsor in 2008. Dr. Berardi has several years experience working in hospital-based eating disorders programs providing assessment and treatment to clients presenting with Eating Disorders across the lifespan. Dr. Berardi has provided consultation and in-service presentations to other treatment providers and helped develop and implement treatment programming for Eating Disorders. Additionally, Dr. Berardi has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including general and child hospitals, community centres, and mental health facilities. She has experience treating and assessing children, adolescents and adults presenting with a range of psychological difficulties and disorders.
Dr. Berardi aims to provide clients with evidence-based treatment that is tailored to meet their unique needs, and as such, focuses initially on developing a comprehensive conceptualization of her client’s presenting difficulties. She endeavours to create a safe collaborative and empathic therapeutic environment focused on building resiliency and fostering meaningful change.
Dr. Emily Simkins-Strong Ph.D., C. Psych
Associate
Dr. Emily Simkins-Strong is a registered Clinical and Counselling Psychologist licensed to work with children, adolescents, and families. She has clinical expertise providing assessment and treatment for children and youth struggling with a range of difficulties, including depression and Mood Disorders, anxiety and OCD, emotion regulation struggles, learning difficulties, and parent-child or family relational difficulties. Dr. Simkins-Strong has specialized experience in the treatment of trauma-related struggles, including complex / developmental trauma, PTSD, and attachment disturbances. Dr. Simkins-Strong has training in a variety of treatment modalities, including psychodynamic therapy, Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), family therapy, and various trauma- and attachment-focused interventions.
Dr. Emily Simkins-Strong completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from York University in 2013. Dr. Simkins-Strong has over 10 years experience working in a hospital-based children’s mental health program, providing assessment and treatment to children and youth struggling with a wide range of mental health concerns, as well as their parents, caregivers, and families. Dr. Simkins-Strong enjoys providing clinical supervision, consultation, and education to graduate students and other mental health professionals. She has been involved in leadership roles to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based treatment programming. In addition to her work in hospital settings, Dr. Simkins-Strong has previously provided services in children’s mental health centres, secure treatment / youth justice facilities, and private practice.
In treatment, Dr. Simkins-Strong believes that it is important to begin with a thorough assessment to develop a strong understanding of the layers of a child’s or youth’s struggles, and how their difficulties fit within the environments in which they live, learn, and play. Dr. Simkins-Strong aims to create a safe, warm, playful, and accepting space in the therapy room. She believes that family and caregiver involvement is crucial in some form for treatment to be successful, whether that is through caregivers’ involvement as supports to their child’s individual therapy, or through their direct participation in parent coaching and / or family therapy sessions. Overall, Dr. Simkins-Strong strives for therapy to be a space to foster curiosity and empathy, to help young clients and their family members learn more about themselves, their relationships, their challenges, and their strengths, and then use this understanding to try out new ways of acting to create meaningful change.
Erin Clarke, MSW, RSW
Associate
Erin is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). She specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, body image issues, trauma, anxiety related disorders and mood disorders. She has experience providing therapeutic care in both outpatient and inpatient mental health facilities working with individuals and their families.
Erin obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Victoria, and possesses an undergraduate Social Work degree from Laurentian University. Both degrees were completed with an Indigenous specialization. This specialization supports her culturally safe practice that is rooted in non-judgmental holistic care. She has experience working with First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples as clients and within the community as a mental health practitioner.
Erin works with her clients using blended modalities in her approach to determine the best strategies for you to improve and sustain your wellbeing. She provides holistic and client-centered support, incorporating concepts from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT & CBT-E), Emotion Focussed Family Therapy (EFFT), Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT), exposure therapy, mindfulness and harm reduction.
As an eating disorder therapist, Erin will work alongside you, in a therapeutic alliance, as you discover how to create effective and lasting change in your life. She will help increase your self-awareness, improve your relationship with food and reconnect you to your whole self; mind, body and spirit. She will support you in your personal journey of healing with compassion and curiosity; gently challenging you when appropriate.
Deanna Fetter, MSW, RSW
Associate
Deanna is a registered social worker and psychotherapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers (OCSWSSW). She has experience working with adolescents with eating disorders, as well as individual of all ages experiencing anxiety and mood related disorders, stress, and addictions. Deanna has experience supporting parents and family members to become their loved ones’ emotion coach and behaviour coach. Deanna works with families and parents looking to improve communication and connection with their loved ones. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in psychology, Deanna completed a post-graduate certificate in addictions and mental health. She then earned her Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Windsor while working
full-time in adolescent mental health in both inpatient and
outpatient settings.
Deanna uses an integrative therapeutic approach and has training in a variety of modalities, including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CBT & CBT-E), Dialectical Behavioural Therapies (DBT & RO-DBT), Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Family based treatment for Eating Disorders (FBT), and exposure therapy.
Deanna places a strong emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and endeavours to be welcoming, empathetic, and creative in her approach. Deanna strives to create a safe space for children, adolescents and families to work towards their individual treatment goals and to create meaningful and lasting change in their lives.
Andria Wilkins, MSW, RSW
Associate
Andria is a registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers (OCSWSSW). She works with youth, adolescents, and families facing a range of difficulties, including mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, emotional dysregulation, relationship challenges, with a special interest in treating eating disorders. Andria has worked with individuals and families in a variety of inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities and programs.
Andria obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of Windsor and her undergraduate degree in Social Work with a minor in Psychology at Ryerson University. She began her passion with youth as a Child and Youth Worker. Andria has training in various evidence-based treatments, including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT and RO-DBT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT and CBT-E), Family Based Treatment for eating disorders (FBT), and Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT).
As human beings, it is inevitable that we encounter trauma, suffering, or life stressors. Andria’s greatest passion is supporting people in their recovery that will bring healing and growth from these experiences. She helps individuals and families develop and strengthen healthy perceptions of themselves and their relationships. Because there is no single approach that is right for every person, Andria uses a variety of modalities to support your journey. Andria’s goal is to provide holistic and compassionate treatment that is unique to you. With authenticity, she provides a nonjudgmental space to work collaboratively while fostering meaningful personal growth and change. She will help determine a goal-oriented treatment that is individualized, builds on your strengths, and increases self-awareness to allow connection to your whole self.
Susan Russell, MSW, RSW, CPT
Associate
Susan is a registered clinical Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, a Certified Play Therapist with the Canadian Association for Play Therapy and a foundational Level I Theraplay Practitioner. After completing an undergraduate degree in Social Development Studies at the University of Waterloo, she completed her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto and a Post-Graduate Fellowship Certificate in Family Systems at C.M. Hincks Institute, currently known as SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health. She is also co-developer of a children’s anxiety program (2005) which incorporates components of yoga, CBT and expressive arts.
Susan has over 25 years’ experience in a hospital outpatient clinic assessing and treating children and adolescents struggling with symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, suicide ideation, self-harm, trauma, grief and loss, separation and divorce, selective mutism, OCD, ADHD and ODD. She uses an eclectic evidence-based approach to therapy blending CBT, DBT, family, play, sand and attachment-based therapies, expressive arts and mindfulness techniques to help clients achieve their goals.
Susan strongly believes that early intervention in a child’s life is essential to their growth and development. Through the therapeutic relationship, and with parents’ support and involvement, children and adolescents can learn to regulate their emotions, increase their self-esteem and confidence and develop a sense of mastery to navigate life’s many challenges. Susan strives to create a safe and nurturing environment for all her clients by meeting them at their level to understand, validate and support them in an empathetic, non-judgmental and playful way.
Kristy Day, MSW, RSW
Associate
Kristy is a social worker and psychotherapist who is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). After completing undergraduate degrees in psychology/criminology and social work, Kristy earned her Master of Social Work degree from the clinical program at
Wilfred Laurier University.
Kristy’s practice focuses on providing individual therapy and support to women aged 16 and up. She has training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT & CBT-I), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT & RO-DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), mindfulness, and other modalities. She uses an integrative approach and has a special interest in feminist-informed trauma work, mood disorders, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, grief, and maladaptive perfectionism.
Kristy’s approach is best described as non-judgemental, authentic, and empathic. Her sessions sometimes feel less formal, yet they are knowledge-driven and often involve “homework”. She builds a sense of safety and uses humour, energy, curiosity, and warmth to support clients in meeting their goals.
Bhavna Verma, Msc, CCC, RP
Associate
Bhavna Verma is a Registered Psychotherapist who works with adult clients (18+) struggling with various concerns including trauma, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, mood related disorders, addictions, life transitions and relationship challenges. She utilizes an integrative therapeutic approach encompassing therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Mindful Self-Compassion
and Gestalt Therapy.
She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Counselling and Psychotherapy and completed her Master of Science in Community Mental Health Counselling at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY.
Bhavna believes in a collaborative approach to create a treatment plan that is goal oriented by providing a safe space to navigate
the counselling journey.
Thurca Sivakumar, M.Ed., RP
Associate
Thurca is Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO). She works with adults (18+) struggling with a range of difficulties including mood and anxiety disorders, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal relationship issues, trauma from work or motor vehicle accidents/injures, pain management, stress management, and school/employment difficulties. She has experience working with multi-cultural and ethnic populations as well as some experience providing therapy in Tamil.
Thurca obtained her Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology at the University of Toronto - Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and her Undergraduate Degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour at McMaster University.
Thurca uses a predominantly person-centered approach combined with her training and experience in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness therapy, and Exposure therapy. She strives to create a supportive and safe environment for her clients by being genuine, non-judgmental, compassionate, and empathic. Thurca believes in using the therapeutic relationship to support the client through their challenges and individualizing therapy for the client’s specific needs.
Peggy Sam, M. Psy
Associate
Peggy Sam is a Clinical Associate at Durham Psychology Wellness Centre. She completed her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology and a certificate in Trauma Psychotherapy. She is in the process of registering with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Her clinical work with adolescents and adults is supervised by Dr. Carolyn James and
Dr. Kelty Berardi.
She has experience working with a variety of concerns such as ADHD, ASD, stress, anxiety, depression, emotional issues, self-criticism, negative communication patterns, and life transitions. In addition, she has training in a variety of modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), and trauma-informed approaches.
Peggy employs an integrative, reflective and client-centered approach that best fits the clients’ needs, values and strengths. She strives to facilitate self-awareness and change with individuals through empathy, trust, respect and compassion. Peggy believes that a non-judgmental, genuine and compassionate therapeutic relationship is the foundation of therapy and works to provide a safe and empathic space.
Koren Hobbs, RD
Associate
Koren Hobbs is a Registered Dietitian with the College of Dietitians of Ontario. Koren graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science from Queens University followed by her Bachelor of Applied Science in Nutrition from Ryerson University. She completed her Graduate Dietetic Internship Program from The Moncton Hospital in New Brunswick.
Since 2014, Koren has been working in Ontario as a dietitian providing Outpatient Eating Disorder treatment for Adults and Paediatric clients and their families. Koren is experienced working with eating disorders, disordered eating and general healthy eating. She has received ongoing training in Cognitive Based Therapy (CBT), Family Based Therapy (FBT), and Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT).
Koren is passionate about helping individuals develop a healthy relationship with food, through a weight neutral, anti-diet approach.
Kristy Lynch
Office Administrator
Kristy will likely be your first point of contact. She has several years of office administrative experience in a healthcare setting. Kristy will work with you in regards to connecting you with a member of our team who is suited to meet your treatment needs. She will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have in relation to initiating services.