Gulin Aydin
Hello, my name is Gulin Aydin. I am a Clinical Social Worker and Therapist, who specializes in EMDR trauma and PTSD therapy. In fact, I am not just a practitioner of this technique but also a teacher of it; I serve as an EMDR consultant to fellow therapists. Based in Waterloo, I have used EMDR in my work as a Success Coach to improve the performance of professionals in various fields. I hold a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfred Laurier University that is complemented with advanced EMDR Training, Part I, received at Holyoke Medical Center in Boston, MA and EMDR Training, Part II, received at EMDAR HAP, Chicago, IL.
As a holistic Trauma and EMDR Therapist and Success Coach, my goal is to help you uncover true potential by improving your confidence and instilling a higher level of self-awareness. By applying complementary therapeutic approaches and techniques, we will unearth the long-standing behavioural patterns and negative perceptions that may be preventing you from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life. I want to provide you with the tools to find success and happiness, on your terms.
If you’re looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you are just ready to move in a new direction in your life, I’m here.
Experience
My background includes more than a decade of experience in various clinical and counselling settings as a Psychotherapist. I will bring the experience I have accumulated from psychotherapy sessions and workshops with hundreds of diverse clients and patients from over 40 countries. My primary areas of expertise are as follows: childhood trauma, sexual abuse, war trauma, psychosomatic diseases, chronic pain, depression and anxiety treatment
I worked in the Waterloo Region Nurse Practitioner Clinic and Woodstock Area Community Health Centre and Individual, family and couples counsellor at Carizon Family and Community Services and Lutherwood Family Counselling. I also have experience as an Addiction Counselor, working with the Addiction Services Program of Thames Valley (ADSTV).
Education
-
Master of Social Work, Wilfred Laurier Univeristy
-
EMDR Training, Part I, Holyoke Medical Centre, Boston, MA
-
EMDR Training, Part II, EMDR HAP, Chicago, IL
Orientation and Modalities
-
EMDR
-
Brain Wise
-
Eclectic
-
Humanistic
-
Wholistic
-
Energy Psychology
-
Positive Psychology
-
Existential
Professional Associations
-
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
-
EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program, HAP
-
Alumni Association: Wilfrid Laurier University
-
Alumni Association: Conestoga College
-
Alumni Association: METU
-
International Society for Mental Health Online
Education
-
EMDR Part I, Holyoke Medical Center, Boston, MA
-
EMDR Part II, EMDR HAP, Chicago, IL
-
Advanced Individual, Family and Group Therapies, Wilfrid Laurier University
-
Marriage and Couple Therapy, Wilfrid Laurier University
-
Play Therapy and Art Therapy, Wilfrid Laurier University
-
Trauma Training, Waterloo Region Social Services
-
Suicide Intervention and Prevention, Lutherwood Family Counselling Services
-
CAFAS Training, Lutherwood Family Counselling Services
-
Trauma and Attachment, Lutherwood Family Counselling Services
-
Sir Richard Bowlby, Attachment, Wilfrid Laurier University
-
Single Session Therapy Training, Lutherwood Family Counselling Services
-
Depression as a Chronic Disease, Science of Medicine, McMaster University
-
Bipolar Disorder, Science of Medicine, McMaster University
Frank Kakarelis
EMDR Trained Psychotherapist
Frank Kakarelis is a Registered Kinesiologist and Counsellor, who completed an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and Health Science from York University, in 2015. He also completed the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) degree from Yorkville University and is an EMDR trained clinician. He has specialized his kinesiology and psychotherapy practice to focus on traumatic occurrences, PTSD, and other sequalae that arise from the event or events. With his diverse experience as a registered kinesiologist and experience identifying and treating traumatic injuries relates to motor vehicle accidents, he brings this knowledge of the brain/and nervous system into his work as a psychotherapist. This allows him to specialize in trauma and traumatic injuries along with anxiety, depression and a range of other mental health issues. He has experience working with both the adult and children/youth demographics, who have suffered traumatic experiences. He is a member in good standing with the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario. He is also a certified Metriks Functional Ability/Capacity Evaluator and Physical/Job Demands Assessor.
Mahnaz Aminzadeh
EMDR Trained Psychotherapist
My name is Mahnaz, and I have over 20 years of extended experience in providing therapy, training and consults in the area of mental health. I am passionate about counselling and healing because I believe that there are solutions to life's challenges and that healing is possible.
I approach therapy with a deep respect for each individual's strengths and struggles, employing a trauma-informed lens to facilitate healing from painful life experiences. My vision is to help individuals develop a "new normal" that fosters greater clarity, strength, purpose, and peace. I view psychotherapy as a transformative process that offers individuals an opportunity to delve into the stories of their lives and engage in the hard work of healing in a safe, non-judgmental environment. I believe through this process, individuals can gain a better understanding of themselves, heal from past wounds, develop positive coping strategies, improve relationships, clarify values and goals, and experience post-traumatic growth.
Specializing in trauma, grief and loss, my therapeutic approach encompasses a diverse range of issues, including relationship challenges, parenting issues at all stages of life, anxiety, panic, depression, living with mental illness, codependency, maladaptive relationship patterns, separation and divorce, stress, work/life balance, workplace challenges, spiritual exploration, change, parenting issues, and life-stage challenges. I integrate various evidence-based modalities such as EMDR, EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), Trauma-focused CBT, DBT, Attachment based therapy, Vicarious Trauma Response, and Mindfulness approaches to empower clients with improved coping and life skills. I believe in a caring and non-judgmental environment, integrating elements of mindfulness, self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-development into my practice.
With a deep commitment to cultural diversity and inclusivity, I possess multilingual proficiencies in English and Farsi. I have gained extensive experience in working with ethnically diverse groups and newcomers, recognizing and addressing the unique challenges related to dysfunctional relationships, gender, culture, sexual orientation, and race.
I hold a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario. I am a proud member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and actively engages in ongoing professional development to enhance my knowledge and skills in the field. My 200 plus professional development certificates and trainings include, but are not limited to: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Trauma Informed Approach at the organizational level; De-Escalating potentially violent Situations; Therapy in treatment of PTSD; Motivational Interviewing; Couple Therapy, Group Therapy, Clinical Supervision ; Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder &Developmental Trauma; Impact of Trauma on Children; Maternal Mental Health; Infant and Child Mental Health ; Conflict Resolution and Mediation techniques; Addictions and Mental illness: Working with Co-Occurring Disorders; The Hungry Ghost: A biopsychosocial Perspective on Addiction from Heroin to Workaholism; Cultural interpretation to work; Mental Health & Refugees; Adult Attachment Interview approach, Play therapy; CBT; RUCS; Parents in Parenting Education (PIPE), Effective and powerful communication skills: Effective goal settings; Collaborating services; Community interventions; Violence prevention strategies; Counselling and the law; Attachment theory; Ault education and learning skills, Engaging Traumatized clients who avoid attachment, closeness, and painful feelings; Finding a fit: Family Realities and service Responses; CAFAS, Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale; Giving and Receiving Feedback; The bridges out of Poverty; Workplace Harassment Policies and Procedures, Workplace Violence Policies and Procedures, Disaster Preparedness Plan; Children who witnessed domestic violence workshop; Understanding Domestic Violence within Diverse Populations; Human Trafficking; Right from the Start; Caring for Pregnant Refugees and Immigrants; …