Durand Health offers counselling for individuals, couples, groups, and specific groups including children, pre-teens and adolescents. We offer both in-person & virtual appointments.
Also known as talk therapy, counseling involves helping people with a broad variety of emotional and mental difficulties. By listening to what a client is struggling with, the therapist acts as a facilitator to assist clients to help find answers within themselves. This can help eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a person can increase well-being. To book with a registered psychotherapist, click here.
What types of techniques are used?
Our therapists, Sophia Sammy, Cristina Palermo, and Joy Friesen have the ability to use their different training techniques to provide you with care that is best-suited to your needs. The following are some of the techniques they use:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IP)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Mindfulness-Based Approaches
- Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy
- Emotion-Focused Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Skill-Building Approaches
Offered both virtually and in-person
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or mental health crisis please call 911.
Durand Health offers counselling for individuals, couples, groups, and specific groups including children, pre-teens and adolescents. We offer both in-person & virtual appointments.
Counselling Can Help With:
Anger
Depression
Anxiety
Grief
Loss
Burnout
Abuse
Trauma
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Phobias
Transitions
Substance Abuse
Collaborative Care
When needed, our psychotherapists and social workers work collaboratively with the other healthcare practitioners in the clinic including physicians naturopaths, and other specialists in order to best manage your mental health needs. Please inquire for more information.
Practitioners Offering Counselling
Sophia Sammy
Registered Psychotherapist, CYC, R.P.Sophia Sammy
“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come.” – Unknown
Cristina Palermo
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) R.P. and Art TherapistCristina Palermo is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and Art Therapist. She completed her training in Art Therapy and Psychotherapy at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute and is currently finishing her thesis project on the benefits of art therapy in breast cancer patients and survivors. Cristina has always been passionate about the arts and her own journey as an artist helped her recognize the therapeutic value it holds.
In counselling sessions, Cristina offers both traditional talk therapy and art therapy as options. Cristina takes a very person-centred, humanistic and organic approach with each of her clients, letting the client guide the direction of each session. Sessions are rooted in mindfulness, meditation, grounding, and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Cristina can help clients suffering with anxiety, eating disorders, depression, grief and loss, behavioural and neurobehavioral disorders, brain injuries and mood challenges. She regularly works with adults and also specializes in working with children and adolescents. She has learned that using art and even play in sessions helps facilitate a conversation to talk about difficult experiences, especially in youth.
Don’t think you’re an artist? That’s ok, prior skills are not necessary to participate in art therapy it is inclusive to all ages and genders.
“Art can permeate the very deepest parts of us, where no words exist.” – Eileen Miller
Joy Friesen
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSWJoy Friesen
Joy Friesen is a Registered Social Worker who holds degrees in Master of Education and Master of Social Work. She offers over 10 years of experience in working with children, adolescents, adults, and families and approaches therapy as a supportive journey with clients, working towards their therapy goals. Joy provides a sincere and compassionate space for clients to feel known, heard, and validated so they can start taking control of their lives again.
“The most powerful words are “me too” because these words make you feel that you are not alone in your journey.” -Unknown
