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Welcome, Leigh (Kanikasistha) Hill!

Leigh will be a part of the Willow Grove team providing support in various areas including admin.

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.

Welcome, Leigh (Kanikasistha) Hill! Leigh will be a part of the Willow Grove team providing supp... Read More

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, 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 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, and substance misuse. In addition, Dorraine is competent in working with individuals to help regulate complex emotions and develop their self-esteem.

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.

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 Center 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).

Dorraine is a passionate therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier Unive... Read More

Sarah Pedersen (she/her) BA, BSW, MSW, RSW Sarah prioritizes relationship-building within her practice and believes that holding space for people to feel seen and heard without judgement is essential in creating safety and supporting transformative change. Through a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive lens, she works to support individuals to be empowered within their own lives while also advocating to mitigate and dismantle systemic barriers. With twenty-five years of experience in social services, Sarah has supported people from diverse backgrounds and of all ages through system navigation, behavioural therapy, counselling, education, case management, and vocational supports. Within her social work practice, Sarah’s areas of expertise include counselling in relation to addiction, trauma, grief, life transitions, parenting, and relationships, as well as mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. She has significant experience in working with neurodiverse individuals (autism, ADHD), Indigenous people, and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Sarah is a registered social worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW). She obtained a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Windsor, a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Waterloo, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus on psychology and sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University. An eclectic practitioner, she draws from a variety of modalities while supporting individuals in reaching their personal counselling goals. Sarah has training and expertise in using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing (MI), solution focused brief therapy (SFT), internal family systems (IFS), and narrative therapy. Within her work, Sarah takes a strengths-based and wholistic approach that values balance, connection, and collaboration. As a settler on traditional First Nations lands, she is engaged in the ongoing work of reconciliation and is committed to the process of decolonizing her own practice while learning and unlearning. Sarah prioritizes her own mental health and wellness by spending time in nature, listening to music, being active, and connecting with family and friends.

Sarah Pedersen (she/her) BA, BSW, MSW, RSW Sarah prioritizes relationship-building within her pra... Read More

Approach

Miranda approaches her work from an anti-oppressive practice, attachment based, and trauma-informed stance. She is a strong advocate and takes a holistic, collaborative approach to the health and well-being of her clients. Miranda believes strongly in person-centring her work and employs an eclectic approach to best meet the needs of her clients.

Qualifications

Miranda completed her honours undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Waterloo and her Clinical Master of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. She received her group facilitation certification from Community Justice Initiatives in Kitchener and her trauma certification from Wilfrid Laurier University. She has training in multiple trauma therapy approaches, mindfulness-based therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy, several somatic-based approaches, the gentle persuasive approach to working with dementia, and narrative therapy, amongst others.

Experience

15 years experience working in mental health with individuals, couples, families, and groups.

Proficient in working with a range of concerns including but not limited to depression, anxiety, trauma, traumatic birth, pregnancy/prenatal/postpartum issues, sexual assault, interpersonal violence, the effects of oppression based on race/gender/sexuality/religion, grief and loss, and caregiver stress.

Pioneered the rollout of the Ontario Common Assessment of Needs in her role as mental health educator for the Canadian Mental Health Association – Grand River Branch (CMHA-GRB)— and taught CMHA clinicians and staff about the recovery approach to mental health support.

Pioneered the rollout of a rural Outreach program with the Rural Wellington Community Team and worked as sole Outreach Worker for the Upper Grand Family Health Team (Centre Wellington).

Several years of experience working as a psychometrist for 2 clinical psychology practices.

Several years of experience working as an Associate Psychotherapist for two Clinical Psychology practices.

Head-hunted by University of Waterloo’s Counselling Services to provide long-term complex trauma therapy to students.

Approach Miranda approaches her work from an anti-oppressive practice, attachment based, and tra... Read More

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 is a Master of Social Work student at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is of mixed ancestry... Read More