Our warm and caring team of counsellors are here to support you through all kinds of mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, grief, loss, trauma, stress, setting boundaries, relationship struggles, and more. They work with individuals, couples, families, teens, and children. Our goal is to empower you, help you to work through any type of challenge you may be facing, and thrive! Our counsellors are all certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and they can help with Perinatal mood disorders such as postpartum depression and anxiety.
Fertility Services
Trying to build a family can bring with it high levels of social, emotional, physical and relationship stress. Fertility counselling can help you manage these stressors as well as help you to sort through the choices and decisions you face on your journey to being parents. We can also help you navigate through the disappointment and all of the feelings that can go hand in hand with this process.
Pregnancy Care
For many women, pregnancy can be challenging. During the months leading up to delivery, a woman may experience mood swings, depression, anxiety, body image issues, fear about the delivery, or stress about the baby’s health. Our team is here for you, every step of the way to help navigate your thoughts and feel prepared for what you are about to experience!
Postpartum Care
Becoming a parent comes with unexpected feelings, emotions, and frustrations, that at times, may feel overwhelming and confusing. Experiencing baby blues is a very common postpartum symptom which you do not have to manage alone! If your feelings intensify or do not improve over time, asking for the support you need earlier on can help you to feel better. Whatever type of support you need, we are here to listen, guide, and help you manage.
Pediatric Services
Children grow up so quickly and especially in today’s fast-paced world, they can experience some big emotions or stressors that they may not know how to process. Our team can help your child work through their feelings for anything related to grief, loss, trauma, bereavement, divorce, moving, behavioural problems, bullying, or emotional regulation.
Family Services
Our incredible counselling team is fully equipped to nurture and support any member of your family who needs it. Life is not easy, especially these days in a fast-paced, technology filled, social media world. Not to mention the additional challenges and stress we are all facing due to Covid 19. We can work with adults and children of all ages to help with the following:
• Anxiety and depression
• Stress and overwhelm
• Panic attacks
• Relationship challenges
• Improving communication in the home
• Grief
• Loss
• Trauma
• Life changes
• And much more!
Our Psychotherapy & Counselling Practitioners
Shawna Akerman
Psychotherapist
Shawna Akerman balances her career as a special education teacher with YRDSB and psychotherapist...
Jackie Coletti
Social Worker
Jackie Coletti has an honours undergraduate degree in Political Science from York University and a Masters in Social Work from Carleton....
Massina Micoli
Social Worker
Massina has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto, and is a registered Social Worker...
Niki Prespakis- Arfo
Psychotherapist
Niki worked in the corporate world for over twenty years when she decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a Psychotherapist. With...
Leanne Shapiro
Social Worker
Leanne Shapiro has a Masters Degree in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University, and is a registered Social Worker...
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychotherapy & Counselling
We truly believe that counselling is for everyone! We know it can be very hard to ask for help. It becomes especially important to seek out help if you are having feelings of anxiety or depression, high levels of stress, relationship issues, panic attacks, or trouble with day to day functioning. If you constantly have negative thoughts, it’s definitely time to reach out.
Therapy is a very individualized journey and there is really no timeline for it. We employ a variety of therapeutic methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is designed to get people to take control of their actions and feelings so they can move forward. The important thing is to find a therapist that you feel comfortable with, and with whom you feel heard.
You are not alone and things will get easier. The enormity of the life changes that come with being a parent can be overwhelming, and distort a mother’s perception of herself, her baby, and her future. It’s important to allow yourself the time to heal, both physically and emotionally, seek out help from your support system or therapist, and try to prioritize sleep as much as possible.
Definitely not. If you can line up some help before baby comes, you will thank yourself later. Ask family or friends to help stock your freezer with some meals, consider hiring a postpartum doula, and definitely book in with a therapist to help prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the new baby and for your new role as a parent. We want you to go into that delivery room feeling happy, healthy, prepared and confident.
Yes we do! In general, for couples counselling to be most effective, both parties should be willing participants. If this is not possible, we are also able to work with you individually, where each person may feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts.
Our first appointment or few appointments will be a chance for your therapist to get to know you and understand what is going on and what type of support you are looking for. From there, we move forward with strategies, positive reinforcement techniques and good old fashioned listening skills. We offer both 60 and 90 minute sessions.
Find out the availability, pricing and booking options for this service.
Complementary Services
At The WOMB Vaughan, we have an entire integrative health team that can work collaboratively to provide the best possible combination of care to you and your family. Here are a few services that work well in conjunction with Counselling. Please contact us anytime to help you put together the best team for your needs!
Naturopathy
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
Registered Massage Therapy
Massina Micoli
Social Worker
Massina has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto, and is a registered Social Worker...
