EMDR Therapy now available with Shelley Reiser-Brown. Call to book an appointment at (519) 633-4423.

About Us

Elgin Counselling provides a warm and friendly environment for you and your therapist to engage in a collaborative healing process. We provide a safe and supportive environment for sharing concerns without judgement.
Our therapists are highly qualified Registered Social Workers, Social Service Workers, and Mediators with many years of practical experience in their respective fields. Elgin Counselling & Mediation Centre has been serving the community since August 1996.

Young male adult in individual counselling talking with counsellorPsychologist working with a single mom and children seeking family counselling
Young female adult in individual counselling talking with counsellorYoung female adult in individual counselling talking with counsellor
our mission
Elgin Counselling & Mediation Centre was established in 1996 by the late Daphne Spence. Daphne was a valued social worker offering affordable and accessible therapy and mediation services to St. Thomas and surrounding communities. Today, the centre continues to maintain similar values through our mission, vision and goals.
our vision
To offer accessible and affordable counselling that is trauma informed and delivered through a warm and collaborative relationship that influence ongoing individual change and wellness.
our values
To be a pillar in the community that improves mental wellness and improves community functioning through continual engagement.

Our team

The team of counsellors and therapists at Elgin County Counselling & Mediation Centre in St. Thomas Ontario.
Hollie Lauzon BSW, MSW, RSW Registered Social Worker working at Elgin County Counselling & Mediation Centre
Hollie Lauzon BSW, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Clients: Children (age 5+), teens, young adults, families
Areas of Experience: Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Low self-esteem, Relationships, Life transitions, Grief/loss.
Approaches/Interventions: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
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Donna Souza, BSW, MSW, RSW Registered Social Worker working at Elgin County Counselling & Mediation Centre
Donna Sousa, BSW, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Clients: Individuals (age 5+), couples and families
Areas of Experience: Trauma, Anxiety, depression, substance use, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, life transitions and general stressors
Approaches/Interventions: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Attachment Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Jennifer Perras, BSW, MSW, RSW Registered Social Worker and owner of Elgin County Counselling & Mediation Centre
Jennifer Perras, BSW, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Clients: Individuals (age 5+), Couples and Families
Areas of Experience: Trauma, Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, life transitions and general stressors
Approaches/Interventions: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Brief therapy (SFBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative and Play Therapy
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Kathleen Lowe BA, BSW, MSW, RSW Registered Social Worker working at Elgin County Counselling & Mediation Centre
Kathleen Lowe BA, BSW, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Clients: Individuals (youth 16+), Couples
Areas of Experience: Anxiety, depression anger, relationships, grief, substance use, family dynamics, life transitions.
Approaches/Interventions: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Relational
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Sarah Emptage, BSW, MSW, RSW Registered Social Worker working at Elgin County Counselling & Mediation Centre
Sara Emptage, BSW, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Clients: Individuals (ages 5+), Couples and Families
Areas of Experience: Anxiety, depression, anger, PTSD, family conflict, developmental trauma, life transitions
Approaches/Interventions: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Strength Based Therapy, Brief Solution-Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness.
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Shelley Reiser-Brown MSW, RSW working at Elgin County Counselling & Mediation Centre
Shelley Reiser-Brown MSW, RSW, EMDR Therapist
Registered Social Worker
Clients: Children, Teens, Adults, Seniors (65+), Couples
Areas of Experience: Anger Management, Anxiety, Grief/Loss, Life Transitions, Mood Disorders, Relationship Issues, Self-Esteem, Stress, Substance Use
Approaches/Interventions: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy.
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Jessica Uitvlugt BA, BSW, MSW
Registered Social Worker
Clients: Children, Youth, Individuals, and Couples
Areas of Experience: Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Self-Esteem, Body Image, Neurodivergence, Life Transitions, Parenting, Relationships, Abuse
Approaches/Interventions: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Attachment-based therapy, Mindfulness, Relational, Strengths-based, Solutions-Focused Brief Therapy
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Emilia Metchev CYW, BSW, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Clients: Individuals (age 5+), Couples, and Families
Areas of Experience: Life transitions and adjustment, Stress and burnout, Relationship and interpersonal issues, Grief and loss, Chronic & life-limiting illness, Anxiety, Depression.
Approaches/Interventions: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Narrative Therapy, Strength Based, Family Systems Therapy, Gottman Method for Couples.
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Cassidy Mayers BA, MCC, CRPO
Christian Counsellor, Psychotherapist
Clients: Individuals (15+), and Couples
Areas of Experience: Anxiety, Life Transitions, Depression, Self-Esteem, Stress Management, Conflict and Relationship Challenges
Approaches/Interventions: Person-Centered Therapy, Christian Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (CREBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy
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Julie Christensen, BA, BEd, Med, CBT Certificate, CRPO
Psychotherapist
Clients: Children, Teen, Adults, Groups, and Families
Areas of Experience: Anxiety, Grief/Loss, Life Transitions, Self-Esteem, Stress Management, Conflict and Relationship Challenges
Approaches/Interventions: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Strength-Based Therapy
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Hailey Carlson, SSW/BSW
Counsellor
Clients: Children, Teens, and Adults
Areas of Experience: Mental Health, Substance Abuse Issues, Anxiety & Depression, Stress, Self-Esteem, Life Transitions, Self-Harm, and Trauma.
Approaches/Interventions: Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Strengths-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Trauma-Informed Practice.
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Dyan Kidd, BA, MACP-Qualifying, CRPO-RP
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Clients: Teens and Adults
Areas of Experience: Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Life-Transitions, Mental Health
Approaches/Interventions: Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Life Transitions, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Strength-Based Therapy, Trauma-Informed Practice
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Emma Fraser BA in Developmental Psychology, MACP-Qualifying, CRPO-RP
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Clients: Teens and Adults
Areas of Experience: Anxiety, Stress, Self-Esteem, Depression, Relationship challenges
Approaches/Interventions: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT)
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Cacee Counter, BA (Hons), AccFM, CPMed, Q.Med Mediator working at Elgin County Counselling & Mediation Centre
Cacee Counter, BA (Hons), AccFM, CPMed, Q.Med
Mediator
Clients: Couples and Families
Areas of Experience: Divorce, Separation Agreements, Parenting Plans, Support, Division of Property, Decision Making, Marriage and Common Law
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Jack Farr, RESA (Available by request only as a complimentary augment with Counselling)
Registered Emotional Support Animal
Clients: Children, Teens, and Adults
Areas of Experience: Easing Anxiety, Uplifting Depression Episodes, Supporting through Grief/Loss, Empathy through Trauma, Calming Stress, Play Therapy with Children (and Adults)
Approaches/Interventions: CBT - Catnap Bliss Therapy: napping while being pet. EFT - Empathetic Feline Therapy: being by one's side offering comfort. ACTT - Augmented Cat Treat Therapy: Feeding treats to Jack to reward him for being cute. SFT - Soft Feline Therapy: Petting and cuddling Jack to feel supported. Also a form of meditation. DBT - Diversion Brief Therapy: Brief moments of play time with cat toys
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Nancy Farr, BA & CIDESCO Certified Office Administrator working at Elgin County Counselling & Mediation Centre
Nancy Farr, BA & CIDESCO Certified
Office Administrator
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