Thurca Sivakumar
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.
Vidhi Goenka
Vidhi Goenka is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO). She earned her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Adler Graduate Professional School, Toronto, and Masters in Developmental Psychology from Sheffield Hallam University, UK. She works with adolescents and adults experiencing a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, life changes and transitions, trauma-related, pain management, immigration stress and academic/work related stress.
Her practice is rooted in trauma-informed and attachment-focused perspectives, and she draws from multiple approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) to best suit her client’s needs. Additionally, Vidhi incorporates mindfulness and somatic tools, recognizing the crucial mind-body connection and the role our bodies play in holding emotions.
Vidhi views the therapeutic relationship as integral to successful psychotherapy, adopting a genuine, empathetic, and non-judgmental style with her clients. She aims to create a space where clients can explore at their own pace, whether that’s working through emotions, navigating transitions, or understanding how past experiences might be showing up in present life. She strives to deeply attune to her clients’ experiences, providing a sense of safety that facilitates emotional exploration.
Maryam Javed
Maryam has supported children, adolescents, and adults in hospital-based community mental health settings as well as schools and private practice, helping clients navigate challenges including trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and difficulties with relationships and self-esteem. She brings a warm, compassionate, and playful style to therapy, creating a space where clients feel safe, supported, and understood. Her goal is to make therapy collaborative, approachable, and tailored to each person’s unique needs.
Jessica Shock
Jessica is a registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers (OCSWSSW). She works with youth, adolescents, and adults facing a range of difficulties, including mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, emotional dysregulation, relationship challenges, and life transitions. Jessica has worked with individuals and families in various school, inpatient and outpatient mental health settings.
Jessica obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of Windsor and her undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Care from Humber College. Prior to this, Jessica received her advanced diploma in Child and Youth Work from Humber College. While completing her undergraduate and master’s degree, Jessica worked in various inpatient and school-based children mental health settings. Jessica has training in various evidence-based treatments, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI), mindfulness and harm reduction.
Jessica truly focuses on building a therapeutic relationship that celebrates individual strengths and collaborates with clients to foster their mental well-being while working on the courage to face life’s difficulties. She works with individuals to build practical coping strategies while focusing on building inner clarity of your life experiences. Jessica understands that therapy is not a one size fits all approach, due to this she uses various modalities to help you reach your goals. She will support you in your personal journey by offering compassion, goal-oriented treatment that builds on your strengths to allow you to discover your best self.
Kristy Day-Robson
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, & TF-CBT), 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-judgmental, 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.
Natasha Gordon
Natasha is a compassionate and dedicated Social Worker and Psychotherapist with a focus on providing comprehensive mental health support to individuals. Natasha earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Windsor and Bachelor of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University. She is currently registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
Natasha specializes in working with children, youth and young adults facing a spectrum of challenges, including mood and anxiety disorders, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal relationship issues, and stress management. Natasha has experience in various settings, primarily in school based mental health settings including elementary, secondary and post-secondary. With a commitment to cultural competency, Natasha has experience working with multicultural and ethnic populations.
Drawing from a diverse range of therapeutic modalities, Natasha employs a person-centered approach complemented by training and experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills (DBT) and Exposure therapy.
Through individualized and collaborative treatment planning, Natasha aims to facilitate meaningful change and promote overall well-being for her clients. Natasha is passionate about empowering clients to navigate life’s challenges and achieve their therapeutic goals. She believes in utilizing the therapeutic relationship as a vehicle for growth and healing. As such, she aims to create a supportive and safe therapeutic environment characterized by genuineness, non-judgmentalism, compassion, and empathy.
Peggy Sam
Peggy Sam is registered with the CPBAO as a Psychological Associate (Supervised Practice) and is supervised by Dr. Carolyn James. Peggy has a Master’s degree in clinical psychology and 4+ years of formal clinical experience. She is completing the final stage of licensing to practice independently in Ontario. Her work is regularly reviewed and supported by Dr. James to ensure the highest standard of care.
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.
Dr. Kelty Berardi
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
Dr. Emily Simkins-Strong is a registered Clinical and Counselling Psychologist licensed to work with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Dr. Simkins-Strong provides assessment and treatment for individuals struggling with a range of difficulties, including depression, anxiety and OCD, emotion regulation struggles, learning difficulties, and family relational difficulties. Dr. Simkins-Strong has clinical expertise in the treatment of trauma-related struggles, including complex / developmental trauma, PTSD, and attachment disturbances. She has training in psychodynamic therapy, Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), family therapy, and various trauma- and attachment-focused interventions.
Dr. Simkins-Strong completed her Doctorate in Clinical-Developmental Psychology from York University in 2013. She 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 family members. She has also worked in children’s mental health centres, secure treatment / youth justice facilities, and private practice. Dr. Simkins-Strong also enjoys providing clinical supervision, consultation, and education to graduate students and other mental health professionals.
Dr. Simkins-Strong believes that it is important to begin treatment with a strong understanding of a person’s struggles, and how their difficulties interact with the environments in which they live, learn, work, 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 for treatment with children to be successful, either 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 clients learn more about themselves, and then use this understanding to create meaningful change.
Dr. Carolyn James
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 also focuses on supporting women through fertility, pregnancy loss, and postpartum adjustment. She has training in various evidence-based treatments including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and trauma-focused approaches. In recent years, Dr. James has completed advanced training in the treatment of trauma and has a particular interest in supporting clients with complex trauma and attachment disruptions.
Dr. James completed her Master’s and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at York University. She has extensive experience working with adults in outpatient hospital programs and private clinics. She also provides superivsion, consultation and training to students. She has been the co-director of Durham Psychology Wellness Centre since its inception in 2021.
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.
