About us

Dorraine is a passionate therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from York University. Dorraine consistently works from a client-centred and anti-oppressive perspective. She has spent much of her career working with children, youth, couples and families who have experienced various forms of trauma, and as such, approaches her practice with a trauma-informed lens.

Dorraine works eclectically, drawing from several therapy modalities –including EMDR, DBT, CBT, SFT, EFT, and MI – in order to meet her clients’ unique needs. Her areas of expertise include working with individuals, couples, and families who have experienced mental health concerns (i.e. anxiety, depression, bi-polar disorder), family conflict, trauma, and substance misuse. In addition, Dorraine supports her clients in improving their self-esteem, general lifestyle and wellbeing, and relationships by supporting her clients in building healthy boundaries.

Dorraine is passionate about helping people and assisting them in achieving their goals. She is a strong advocate, and enjoys case management, which means she is knowledgeable about community resources (particularly within the GTA) and can help connect you to other community organizations to assist in addressing your concerns.

As a first-generation Black Woman, Dorraine is aware of various forms of systemic oppression that people from different social locations face and as such, feels that dismantling these forms of injustices through her work is crucial. In addition, Dorraine has a thorough working knowledge of oppression faced by peoples interacting with the child welfare system.

Dorraine has experience running substance misuse group therapy sessions and has found that great healing occurs within a supportive peer environment alongside others who have shared similar life experiences. It is our hope at Willow Grove Counselling Centre for Transformation to begin a substance misuse group in the near future so please contact myself or Miranda if this is of interest to you.

Dorraine is a registered social worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and holds membership with the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).

Compassionate by nature, Anastasia is committed to providing a safe, supportive, non-judgemental and strengths-based therapeutic environment. She encourages self-acceptance, setting positive goals, and accessing and
using inner resources and strengths through focused inquiry. Her work as a therapist entails a combination of delivering
support and insight, providing perspective, teaching coping skills, and asking thought-provoking questions to help her
clients live more meaningful lives. Anastasia offers a collaborative, client-centred, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed approach to counselling. She is grounded in deep love and respect for all humanity and an understanding of the healing power of nurturing relationships where people feel fully seen and accepted for who they are. To best meet her clients unique needs, she employs an eclectic, down-to-earth approach and integrates various therapy techniques.

Anastasia identifies as a white, cis-gender female of East-European descent. She immigrated to Canada over 20
years ago and can relate to the often uncertain and overwhelming process of settling into a new country and finding her place within a new context. During this immigration process, she learned the importance of having support to navigate overwhelming and new systems.

Clinical Background and Interests

Registered Social Worker, member in good standing with the College of Social Workers and Social Services
Workers (OCSWSSW), and an active member of the OASW.

Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University (2022).

Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from York University (2006).

Over 14 years of experience working in the helping profession in various capacities, supporting individuals
working through difficult situations. Past experience includes actively supporting individuals to achieve their
employment and career goals, vocational rehabilitation, case management, individual counselling and coaching.

Current experience includes Children and Youth Mental Health, Family Support.

Experience working with both adult and adolescent populations, supporting clients in working through trauma,
life transitions, family conflict and relational issues.

Experience working with children and families around emotional dysregulation (adult and child), school-based
difficulties, parenting, and family life.

Therapeutic modalities offered include:

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Solution-Focused Therapy

Mindfulness

Trauma-Informed Approaches

Motivational Interviewing

Narrative Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)

Anastasia’s areas of practice include:

Anxiety

Depression

Suicidal Ideation/ Self-Harm

Anger Management

Stress Management

Emotional Dysregulation

Relationship issues

Family Conflict

Life Transitions

Parenting

PTSD/Trauma/Abuse

Sleep Difficulties/Insomnia

Michelle is committed to the well-being of her clients and works from a non-judgmental, client-centred, trauma-informed perspective.  She helps empower individuals to overcome personal obstacles in a calm and safe space.  Michelle incorporates a blend of various therapeutic approaches in her practice tailored to the unique needs of her clients such as EMDR, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), solution-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing.  

Michelle has experience collaborating with individuals, couples and families struggling with mental health concerns, trauma, stress management, conflict resolution, and addictions.  She has supported individuals experiencing interpersonal violence in their relationships as well has provided crisis intervention and safety planning.  She has offered support in a variety of settings including schools, youth treatment centres, as well as hospitals.

Michelle is a registered clinical social worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).  She is also a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).  Michelle obtained an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts – Honors Specialization in Psychology degree at the University of Western Ontario and then completed her Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.

In her free time, you can find Michelle either spending time with her family or exploring different places with her camera photographing wildlife and nature.

Welcome, Leigh (Kanikasistha) Hill!

Leigh will be your first point of contact when booking or changing appointments at with one of our team members at Willow Grove.

Kanikasistha’s (Leigh’s) name translates to Little Spirit Fire. She is a member of the Turtle clan, Mohawk Nation. Leigh has worked within the social work field for over 15 years. She is a 3rd year student of Indigenous Social Work which focuses on Indigenous culture as well as the issues and barriers that Indigenous families and communities are facing today and historically.  

Leigh has extensive knowledge and experience working in various capacities with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities within Ontario.  She is a strong community advocate who lives in a way which embodies her core values of Kanikonriio (The Good Mind), Kahsatstenshera (Power), and Skennen (Peace) with Kenoronhkwatshera (Love), and she carries these values forward with her in her professional work.  She is particularly passionate about Trauma informed awareness and encouraging the processes of healthy relations within oneself; between people, within families, and across nations so that all people can equitably experience a quality of life that aligns with their inner truth and being. She has dedicated a commitment to contribute her skills and abilities to enhance community outcomes and provides supportive assistance through demonstration of leadership in everyday tasks while empowering others to fulfill their potential.  

Wa’tkwanonwerahton (Intentional Respect, Appreciation and Greetings) Kanikasistha niyonkyats, anowara niwaki’taro’ten, Kanyenkehaka niwakonwenhtsyoten.

Ashley is a Master of Social Work student at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is of mixed ancestry, Haudenosaunee from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory on her mother’s side and Hungarian on her father’s side. Ashley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Laurentian University in 2021 and a Social Service Worker diploma from Georgian College in 2010.

Over the past 14 years, she has actively engaged in the field of social services holding both frontline and leadership roles. Her primary focus has been working alongside urban Indigenous peoples and communities. Ashley strives to create meaningful connections and believes in using a trauma-informed and wholistic approach, emphasizing individual strengths and gifts.

Ashley will commence working at Willow Grove in May of 2024, will offer low cost and sliding scale sessions to clients under the supervision of her field supervisor and owner of Willow Grove, Miranda Rylance.