Bayridge Counselling Centre, Counselling Centre

View Specialties

Individual, Couples, and Family Counselling
327 Scott Street unit 2, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2N 1J7

Additional Locations:

See additional office location: Hamilton, L9C 7N4

  565 Sanatorium Rd., Suite #204A
  Hamilton, L9C 7N4
  905-297-5317

See additional office location: Mississauga, L4Z 1S

  4300 Village Centre Court,
  Mississauga, L4Z 1S

See additional office location: Kitchener, N2H 3Z2

  28 Weber Street, Unit 2
  Kitchener, N2H 3Z2

See additional office location: Oakville, L6J 1J4

  345 Lakeshore Rd. East, Unit 309
  Oakville, L6J 1J4
  905-319-1488

Phone: 9053191488
Send A Message To Bayridge Counselling Centre.
www.bayridgecounsellingcentres.ca

	Kim Christink Executive Director of the Bayridge Counselling Centres M. Div., D. Min Offices: Burlington/ Muskoka *Focus:* Couple Therapy Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, Corporate Coaching, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy You ask me why do I do, what I do? It is simple! I love it! Nothing brings me alive like helping someone see what they have never seen before!Nothing excites me more than witnessing the miracle of love restored Nothing empowers me more than finding a way when it seems there is no way! Nothing causes me to dance inside like when I have helped someone overcome their fear of driving again after the trauma of a motor vehicle accident! Nothing is more sacred to me than providing another person a listening and non-judgmental ear! Nothing touches my soul as when I see in the eyes of a person, that they too, now see the wonderful person I see! Nothing brightens my day like seeing the dark clouds of depression fade away! Nothing sends my emotions soaring as when I see someone emotionally grow in leaps and bounds! Nothing allows me to sleep at night like knowing that I have fulfilled my calling again today! That's why I do what I do. I just may have the greatest job in the world! It certainly is the greatest job in my world! My mission is to provide people just like you the safety and tools to overcome the challenges of life so that you may become more than you are and all that you can be!
	Mark Laing Registered Psychotherapist B.A. Honours Psychology, Psychotherapist Counsellor & Seminar Speaker Offices: Burlington/Hamilton *Focus* : Individual & Marital Counseling, Affairs, Pornography, Conflict, Communication, Anger, Self-Esteem I believe that therapy is not something you do to someone rather something you do with someone. Any one person will encounter times in their life when they feel stuck or trapped. Friends can offer some help but often the friendship itself disallows you from receiving the appropriate help, challenge and insight needed to make the appropriate changes or adjustments. My work centers on marriages in crisis, the effects of affairs, the damage of pornography addictions, the hopelessness of mood disorders (depression, anxiety etc,), the frustration of inappropriate anger and the paralysis caused by low self-acceptance. Equipped with an honors degree in clinical psychology and certified as a pastoral counselor, I am able to help my clients from not only a clinical perspective but also a spiritual one as well. Involvement with our Mood Disorder Program, author of a manual on marriage and currently writing a book on marriage are just some of the extracurricular activities I am involved with. Married with five children I also have the experiential understanding that furthers my ability to help you or your marriage get back on track.

	Barb Kirkham Registered Psychotherapist BA, MA Therapist, Psychotherapist Offices: Burlington/ Hamilton *Focus: Individual, Couple Counseling, Anxiety/Depression, Anger Management, Pre Marital, Communication, Sexual Issues, Trauma* I am a person that brings to the counseling process years of life experience as well as academic understanding. I am a wife, mother, sister, friend, and professional. It is the interconnection of these many roles that provides the life experience that I feel is necessary to come alongside clients as they navigate the often bumpy road that we call life. My goal as counselor is to provide a safe non-judgmental place for clients to be heard and understood. My practice focuses on providing clients with the tools and knowledge to overcome relationship issues in marriage and within families; reclaim their life from anxiety and depression; find their way back from grief and discover the strength within to overcome life’s challenges. Education: I have completed my honours undergraduate degree in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour at McMaster University and my Masters of Education Counseling Psychology at the University of Toronto.
	Nancy Wall Registered Psychotherapist M.A. Counselling Psychology Offices: Burlington/ Grimsby *Focus:* Individuals (adults and teens), Relationships, Communication, Premarital, Affair recovery, Anxiety, Depression, OCD, Self-esteem, Abuse recovery, Eating disorders, Spiritual issues. Nancy loves people and considers it a privilege to walk along side them through their struggles and empower them to become all that God created them to be. Her goal is to help you overcome issues and develop strategies to reach your maximum potential through Spirit-led counseling. Nancy provides a caring, accepting and nurturing environment in which she helps you develop tools to overcome the situations you are facing now, and give you the ability to apply these tools to other situations that arise in the future. Nancy brings with her a broad range of experience and expertise from 12 years of counseling families, couples and individuals. She believes that looking at a person as a whole is the most powerful way to understand them, given that body, mind and spirit are interrelated. Nancy believes that counseling is her true calling in life; she has a deep abiding passion for it. Nancy considers it an honour and privilege to partner with you. You do not have to go through this alone.
	*Sanjay (Jay) Rao* BSc (Kinesiology and Health Sciences)MS Psy Therapist Office: Burlington/ Hamilton Focus: Teens, Adults, Couples, Depression, Anxiety, stress, pain, weight management, addictions, life transitions, sport performance, and wellness development If life can be envisioned as a story, yours most certainly is a precious one. Looking back on each chapter of it, no matter what plot you have been central to, you endured, you accomplished, you overcame.As a counsellor and healthcare professional driven by compassion and a commitment to others, I believe that humans have the capacity to solve even the most complex of problems through utilizing themselves as their own resource. My education allows me the ability to help guide you through the most challenging issues in your life, but ultimately the greatest joy I receive is witnessing a sense of value, self-identity, and self- worth return as a result of reconnecting with the one person that matters the very most: you.In treatment I rely on Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Solutions-Based Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. Additionally, I draw from medical models of health in the facilitation of rehabilitation, dietary, and wellness goals for individuals. I am passionate about educating and motivating others to achieve the quality of life they deserve.Together we will discover what allowed you to achieve the goals in your life that you found most significant and unlock the strengths and values that temporarily fell below the surface. Because difficult journeys lead to beautiful destinations, it would be my honour to walk alongside you on route to yours.
	Rebecca Billings (Rosenblat) Therapist/Counsellor B.Sc. Hons (Psych), RP, CSAT, Cert LC Registered Psychotherapist, Relationship & Sexuality Therapist, Certified Trauma & Sex Addiction Therapist, Life Coach, TV Host, Author,Professional Member of CRPO, AASECT, AAMFT, OAMFT, IITAP & FRSH Offices: Burlington/ Mississauga *Focus:* Infidelity, Sexual abuse & trauma, Sex & porn addiction, Various sexual dysfunctions,Sexual education & communication, Age-related sexual concerns, Self-esteem, body-image issues, Sexual perversions, Sexual and non-sexual couple work, Communication skills, Parental communication skills After working in mental health at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry for six years, I switched my focus to couple’s counseling and obtained various specialized therapy certifications. Soon, I realized that couples work was incomplete without knowing the nuances of the dance of intimacy, where a lot of dynamics play out. As such, I became proficient in sex therapy to compliment my couples’ work, and learned that it was the ultimate body language. So I delved deeper into sexual issues such as safety, comfort, mutual understanding, meaningful connection, trauma, abuse, miscommunication, and how we define ourselves via our intimate relationships and become defined by our sexuality – e.g. while we say we have a cardiac condition or were diagnosed with diabetes or cancer, when it comes to sex we are impotent, inorgasmic, infertile, unfulfilled, and so on. Since sex is such a crucial part of our being – which can bring us the greatest joy or pain, depending upon the context – I made it my mission to provide a safe and non-judgmental place for individuals to open up and share their deepest fears, debilitating perversions, traumatic wounds, and addictions that ruin God’s plan for our bodies. While I’ve done a lot of individual psychotherapy and couples work around various issues for over seven years, what has given me the greatest joy is helping people get back on the right track, after infidelity, sexual trauma, sex or porn addiction, body image issues, child abuse, and sexual dysfunction and/or misconduct have ruined their lives. Beyond my private practice, I’ve been a media personality for ten years, as a host of various radio and TV shows, workshop leader, public speaker, advice columnist, and media expert on critical issues. Due to my strong voice, I was asked to host a call-in show after Sue Johanson’s retirement nearly four years ago. As such, I’m currently hosting Sex @ 11 with Rebecca – a twice-weekly, live, call-in TV show, with over 500 hundred hours of TV and another 500 hours of radio experience. The questions I get indicate a great need, since there are many who remain trapped in dark places for their entire lives, not knowing that help is at hand.
	William Stokeld Psychotherapist Offices: Burlington/ Hamilton *Focus:* Addictions, Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, Concurrent Disorders (Addictions with Mental Health issues), Family-of-Origin Issues (Unhelpful beliefs and behaviours developed while growing up), Abuse, Anger/Stress Management. “You can't always get what you want but if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need” (Jagger/Richards) It’s the legs which make a chair solid and stable. When one or more of the legs become loose the chair becomes wobbly. In much the same way, I believe a person’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness are the “legs” which make up our lives and sense of identity. When one or more of these “legs” becomes loose or damaged, our lives, like the chair, begin to wobble. I believe we are all unique, and not one specific skill set or therapy will restore a healthy state of being to everyone. Therefore, my style and approach to counselling is an eclectic one, taking into consideration, and honouring, the uniqueness and capabilities of each client. I am now offering individual counselling for adults and adolescents for such issues as addictions, addictions and mental health issues present together (concurrent disorders), anxiety, depression, self-esteem, unhelpful beliefs and behaviours developed while growing up (family-of-origin issues), abuse, and anger/stress management. I, too, developed a wobbly leg when I was downsized after 25 years in the financial industry. With time, I saw this as an opportunity to go back to school and start a new career, in mid-life, as a counsellor. I first completed an Addiction Worker program and then went on to achieve a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. My background enables me to bring a broad collection of life experiences and “tools” into my work, and demonstrates that change, while not always easy and sometimes even harsh, is possible at any stage in life. Male and female adults and adolescents (16 and older).
	Anita McCann *Counsellor/Life Coach/Therapist* CSW, CCP, CPC, GPP, BCC Offices: Burlington/St. Catharines *Focus:* Individuals, Couples, Family, Relationships, Marriage, Separation, Divorce Recovery, Parenting, Conflict Resolution, Self-Esteem, Communication Skills, Spiritual Issues, Stress & Anxiety, Social Skills, Life Transition, Life Skills Anita is an avid believer that where you are, is not where you will always be! Whether your struggle is with difficult relationships, pain from past hurts or finding your true worth and purpose, she firmly believes you can break free from destructive patterns, from insecurity and self-doubt, and create a better future for yourself. Using spirit led counselling and coaching, as well as solution-focused and strength-based strategies, Anita works with you to uncover root issues, discard negative patterns, and replace the mindsets and methods that are working against you. Anita has over 12 years of extensive experience empowering individuals, equipping couples and families to restore relationships, learn effective communication, attain emotional and spiritual well-being and find self-worth and confidence. Providing a compassionate, caring and encouraging environment, she partners with clients with an unwavering commitment to help them restore joy and peace in relationships, achieve their goals and reach their God given potential.
	Dr. Cathryn Harris Therapist / Psychologist Ph.D. Offices: Burlington/ Kitchener *Focus*: Individual, Couples and Family Therapy, and EMDR Therapy for Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, and Relationship Conflicts, with adults, children and adolescents; Corporate and Professional Consultation; Critical Incident Stress Management For more than 30 years these have been my goals in helping people through the pain, trauma, and challenges that life inevitably brings. I believe it is how we respond to these universal experiences that shapes who we are and the direction of our lives. Trauma – no matter how it comes – keeps our brain stuck on repetitive responses and unhealthy choices. Change the response, and we change our lives! Because of the way my brain works, I can’t help but integrate the principles of faith, human behavior, brain functioning, health and biology, and family and organizational systems that I have studied. Using these principles, and helping you understand how your brain works, we can discern the patterns and responses in your life and develop better emotional coping skills so that together we can bring about new choices and power to you. One unique treatment approach available to you, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy, can also help your brain get unstuck from the automatic emotional responses that keep us repeating the same behaviors and block us from using new information when we have experienced trauma. This is a simple but powerful psychological exercise we do in the office together to turn on the healing processes that your brain already knows. RELATIONSHIPS, INTEGRATION, WHOLENESS, JOY These goals are possible, and my delight is helping people find the hope and courage to pursue them while providing a safe place to confront and overcome the damaging experiences that have kept us stuck.” Dr. Cathryn Harris received her B.A. in Applied Social Science and Psychology from Concordia University, Montreal, and received her M.A. in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Biola University, California. She is certified in EMDR therapy, Critical Incident Stress Management, and the Amen Method for improving brain functioning. In addition to providing outpatient psychotherapy for over 30 years in private practice, she has experience as Clinical Director for a day treatment center for the chronically mentally ill and their families, and for a faith-based outpatient counseling centre. Cathryn has supervised MFT interns for over 25 years, and will soon complete her certification as an AAMFT approved Clinical Supervisor. She loves training, teaching, and consulting, and has provided countless educational workshops and coaching to teachers, religious leaders, employers, managers and their organizations.
	Marie Maurisha Dolson RSSW/Certified Life Coach Office: Burlington *Focus:* Individual, Relationship, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Woman Empowerment, Anger, Mood Disorders: depression, bi-polar, Anxiety, PTS, OCD, ADD/ADHD, Eating Disorders, Divorce Recovery, Affair Recovery, Life Issues/Transitions, Woman Empowerment, Abuse, Addiction, Self-Esteem, Education Marie’s passion is to help people to be able to regain their inner peace and happiness to live a pleasurable fulfilled life. Life is full of ups, downs and challenges that we are often not prepared for. I believe it’s not how many times you get knocked down, but the greatest accomplishment is how many times you get up and get going and who you become while picking yourself back up. What happened yesterday no longer matters each new day gives you a fresh start to get back on track and to have the courage to rebuild yourself the way you desire. Marie’s goals are to be able to understand and to work with techniques that will help people heal their mind body and soul that will contribute to change their circumstances. Studies have shown that it’s not just the technique that helps people heal and change, but it’s the relationship created between the therapist and their clients. I believe this is the most important aspect in therapy. It is to build a nurturing, secure, non-judgmental healthy relationship and environment. Overall, I strive to pair specific techniques from a variety of therapeutic approaches with a specific client’s needs, empowering them to find hope, meaning, and purpose in life. I use a variety of techniques, which focus on a strong therapeutic alliance with empathy, genuineness and respect. “Gratitude is a form of wisdom. It is patient, loving, hopeful, and rigorously honest. It denies nothing, and it overlooks nothing. It looks reality full in the face and says: This is true, this is me, this is my situation, and I have the opportunity to build from here. This is my starting point, and I will succeed!” – Phil Humbert I hold an honours BA degree specializing in Health Studies from McMaster University, I am also a Registered Social Service Worker and am registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). In addition, I am a Certified Life Coach and registered with The Certified Coaches Federation. The main focus of Life Coaching is to focus on supporting clients with the structure to integrate changes, learn new skills and motivate you to define and achieve your goals (career, personal or professional)
	Nathan Pillai MA and BA Double Hons Therapist Office: Burlington Focus: Families, Children, and Adolescents I take a “whole”istic approach to helping children, adolescents, and families; where understanding the problem and developing treatment protocols look beyond what is seen in a presentation of a client, but rather to the environment around them and their unique understanding of it.I have worked in the healthcare and mental health fields for the last 10 years including addictions therapy, adult, youth, and family counselling, trauma surgery, transfusion medicine, medical research, and healthcare manufacturing. These diverse but targeted realms of experience have produced my holistic approach to helping children and families.Ultimately, I look beyond the usual checklist of problematic behaviours focusing on the whole story and what exactly is happening in an individual’s life and how they are integrated into their personal environments. Whether a paradigm shift in parenting or a program to improve behavioural problems is needed, I find great satisfaction in making the goals of a family or child a reality
	Steve Wilding B.A., M.A. Therapist Office: Burlington/Grimsby/St. Catharines Focus: Individuals, Children, Adolescents, Adults, Anxiety/Depression, Behavioral Issues, ADHD From the moment we’re born, we start writing the story of our lives. As we grow, we encounter situations and changes that shape our lives into our own individual journey. Everyone’s story is unique and not one life is the same as another. This personal experience is full of suspenseful moments, unexpected plot twists, and challenging obstacles. I strive to offer a safe place where individuals can be heard, understood, and supported through these chapters of life. I am committed to working with you as you reflect on your story to help you identify the accomplishments, strengths and skills it already tells to assist in the obstacles of the journey ahead. Reading back through our story, it can be easy to focus on the difficult chapters, but I also know that these challenges do not define the blank pages ahead. I believe that every individual has the strength and skills to persevere through their circumstances and make their story one of endurance and accomplishment. Your story is far from over and the journey has just begun. With over 5 years working with children and teens, my therapy primarily centers around individuals who may be struggling with parts of their story including feelings of anxiety or depression, behavioral issues, ADHD, divorce and family issues, and other struggles that may arise.

	Zafire Fierro PhD. CCP, CYD, FMC Office(s): Burlington, Hamilton and St. Catharines Langue: English, Spanish *Focus:* Couples, Adults, High Risk Youth, Trauma, Life Transitions I am the bridge between you and your ideal life, the one you can’t find the way to reach. Are you feeling tired or frustrated or that you have lost the passion for your dreams and that ideal life? Is there a trauma holding back your power and happiness? How can you step out of old patterns and create new, empowering habits? Think of having a life legacy architect with the most up-dated tools and innate skills to co-create beside you. Whether your story comes from trauma or discontent; today is the day to start understanding why you are where you are and how to build the bridge between today and a *life of passion, joy, inner peace and freedom*, which you so much desire and deserve. Together we will rise above your story, so you may stand upon it to be empowered, rather than crushed by it. My approach is eclectic and tangible. I have been where you are today throughout my life and have come from victim to warrior myself. I have the tools, knowledge and skills to help you attain that ideal life. My life’s purpose to be that aiding bridge between your past and your amazing, joyful and radiant future. Reach out and take back your power today! Our co-creation will be profound and worth it. With a PhD in Clinical Psychology and more than 15 years of experience, I have been humbled to have helped thousands of people both young and old, couples and teens. I have had the pleasure of helping others find inner peace and empowerment by their own stories. I have worked in the private sector, government sector and educational setting. It is my belief that everyone can use a little push now and again. I also believe that absolutely no one need suffer in pain alone. The power behind the domino effect is tremendous, when you choose to heal. It starts with you and escalades into all of those that surround you; your family, loved ones, friends, co-workers and even people you had no idea where watching can and will be beautifully moved by your choice to heal. When you heal, those around you heal. Although trauma, high-risk youth and couples are my primary focus, my 15+ years of experience has allowed me to delve into many areas, with my sole purpose to help others co-create a life of expansion, inner peace and abundant joy from a manageable and easily accessible state of beauty of contentment. When you heal the child inside, the empowered/healthy/strong/victorious adult emerges.