Ellice Strikwerda MSW, RSW (she/her) is a registered social worker with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. She also holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of the Fraser Valley (4th Year Dean’s List). Ellice has worked in the social work field since 2013, providing services to individuals and families, primarily in the mental health sector. She also has several years’ experience supporting individuals with various disabilities. Ellice has completed comprehensive training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and has experience providing DBT programming, in both public and private clinic settings.

She has also completed training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Emotionally Focused Family Therapy and Emotion Focused Family Therapy (both known as EFFT), Family Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Interventions such as DBT for Complex PTSD, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Advanced Clinical Training: Working with Children/Youth Who Have Experienced Trauma. Ellice has experience providing counselling to diverse client groups, in areas such as relationship difficulties, various disabilities, adjustment to stressful events, trauma responses, and challenges in academic settings. Ellice cares deeply for her clients and is committed to continuous learning and supporting her clients in ways that work for them.

Jesse Schulman MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from Yeshiva University. She also holds Bachelor of Social work Degree from Ryerson University. Jesse completed a post-graduate certificate in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy & Cognitive-Behavioural, Trauma-Informed Therapy through the Association of Psychological Therapies. Jesse has worked in a variety of settings including the Emergency Department at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, community social services, and private practice. She has relevant experience working with clients in crisis and people impacted by trauma and injury.

Jesse draws from a variety of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive- Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical-Behavioural Therapy and Strengths-Based Narratives to inform her practice.

Jessica Collins, BSW, MSW, RSW is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She holds a Masters of Social Work degree from University of Waterloo, a Bachelors of Social Work degree from Western University, and a Mental Health and Addictions Worker diploma from Canadore College. She is a registered member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).

Jessica has extensive experience working with clients experiencing mental health, brain injury, and substance use related concerns. She has worked in hospital, inpatient rehabilitation, and community settings, providing support to clients in crisis and those impacted by trauma and adversity. She has background in numerous evidence-based therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). She is passionate about how the brain, body, and environment all intersect to form our individual experiences and strongly believes knowledge helps lead to empowerment and recovery.

Kara Carder MSW, RSW is a Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. She also received a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Sociology and Child and Family Studies from the University of Guelph.

Kara has extensive clinical experience working with children, teens, young adults, and families impacted by mental health challenges, crisis situations, and traumatic life experiences, both in hospital settings and in the community. Kara works from a client-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach, and is experienced in the assessment and treatment of CPTSD/PTSD; ADHD; suicidality and self-harm; depression, anxiety/OCD/GAD; BPD; 2SLGBTQ+ issues, grief and family conflict. Kara utilizes an eclectic approach in her treatment and draws upon a variety of therapeutic modalities in which she has been clinically trained (e.g. Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Advanced Clinical Complex Trauma; Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT); Narrative Therapy; Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Her area of expertise is the assessment and treatment of psychosocial and emotional sequelae for individuals and their families coping with immediate and complex trauma.

“Therapy is about being heard, being seen, and learning how to make new choices – and knowing that you don’t have to do this on your own. I believe that everyone is the expert of their own experience and that through supportive relationships, we foster growth and understanding about ourselves that allows us the insight and ability to change. Together we’ll identify and tackle the obstacles keeping you from enjoying the life you envision for yourself and work towards building a life worth living.”

Kevin completed a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in Psychology from the University of Toronto and a Master of Social Work Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2004. Prior to joining The Social Work Consulting Group early in 2021, Kevin worked in the Mental Health and Addictions program at the Humber River Hospital in Toronto for many years and later at CAMH in the new, publicly funded: Ontario Psychotherapy program.

Kevin has been passionate about the provision psychotherapy for almost his whole career providing this important intervention, mainly in a mental health context. He has trained extensively in the Cognitive Behavioural approach, along with being well versed and trained in the work of Dr. Barry L. Duncan; understanding the importance of drawing out client strengths, resources and resiliencies and other “client factors,” in addition to critical importance of the therapeutic alliance, that contribute to positive outcomes for clients through psychotherapy.

“Growing up with parents who worked in the healthcare sector, helping other human beings has always been a priority and personal goal for me, which has led me naturally into the field of social work. My religious beliefs also contribute strongly to this mandate and provide me with the passion and impetus to do the work that I do as a social worker. I have also long been interested in mental health and the treatment of mental illness via psychotherapy. I am grateful to be with The Social Work Consulting Group and the opportunity to work with people who have experienced the trauma of a motor vehicle collision, to help them find their will and inner strength to deal with their difficult experiences and attempt to move towards recovery.”

Liz Waisberg MSW, RSW, AccFM is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. She also holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Ryerson University. Liz has achieved certification in Solution Focused Counseling and uses an eclectic client centered approach when working with clients. Liz is also an accredited family mediator with the Ontario Association for Family Mediation. As a family mediator she provides compassionate, helpful counselling, and effective conflict resolution to individuals, couples and/or families who are looking to improve their ability to address issues such as challenging life transitions, life stressors, and grief.

Liz has extensive clinical experience working in hospital-based settings since 2001. She has worked as a registered social worker in the Emergency Department and in Mental Health settings working with children, adults and families. Liz has also worked in the mental health field providing support and crisis intervention to individuals and families struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain and grief. Liz has worked with individuals and families to develop internal coping skills and achieve a better quality of life. She is committed to assisting and guiding individuals through the complex health care system to achieve outcomes that benefit them and their families.

Luca Ballarini, BA, MA, MSW, RSW is a Registered Social Worker with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master of Arts Degree in Psycholinguistics and a Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining the Social Work Consulting Group in 2023, his professional experience included working as a Psychotherapist and as Crisis and Trauma Intervention Clinician with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Toronto Children’s Aid Society, Griffin Adolescent Centre, University Health Network and Mackenzie Health Hospital. He was also Manager of Operations at Ceridian LifeWorks Employee Assistance Program. In the late ‘90s, Luca pioneered the Mental Health Court Diversion Program, aimed at diverting clients diagnosed with a mental illness from the Criminal Justice System to the Mental Health System, with the goal of Rehabilitation and Treatment, rather than Criminalization and Incarceration. This program now exists at almost every courthouse in Ontario and across Canada.

He has attended extensive trainings and workshops in the areas of Crisis Intervention, Trauma, Emergency Psychiatry, Psychopharmacology, Addictions, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Meditation, and Clinical Hypnotherapy.

He is also the father of a young man who has been diagnosed with a major mental illness and hospitalized several times. In an unexpected turn of events, he found himself on the other side of the Social Work profession, becoming the one in need of reassurance and hope. He experienced firsthand what it is like to be in the middle of several ongoing mental health crises, and to be the one in need of help. This has made him a much more understanding, compassionate and empathic clinician. He has made it his mission to advocate for his clients, and to work towards destigmatizing mental illness, reducing shame, and educating people about the reality that no one is immune from illness, whether it is physical or mental. “The brain is an organ, just like the lungs, the heart or the liver, and it can just as likely get diseased.”

In his spare time, Luca enjoys spending time with friends, family and dogs, travelling, studying new languages, hiking, playing tennis and pickle ball, watching foreign movies, reading, playing cards and chess, riding motorcycles, and engaging in ongoing personal and spiritual development.

“Social Work, like no other profession, motivates me and affords me the opportunity and privilege to serve my fellow human beings and to make a difference in their lives, to teach and learn from each other, and to feel integral part of the human family, with all its greatness and all its challenges.

Lynne Harford MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Glendon College-York University. Prior to her university studies, Lynne pursued a career in business and received a Marketing Administration Diploma from Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology. In 2013, Lynne achieved her designation of Art Therapist graduating with an advanced diploma in Art Therapy from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute.

Lynne has had an extensive work history in both the private and public sectors. Prior to joining The Social Work Consulting Group in 2008, she was employed at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) where she spent five years providing clinical social work services to children and their families in the Trauma Program. Throughout her career, Lynne has been an active member in the larger community participating in various committees as well as presenting at a number of community based, insurance and legal conferences. Other areas of specialization in which Lynne has focused and devoted her practice to include, acquired brain injury in children and youth, acute and chronic illness, domestic violence, separation/divorce and issues related to grief and loss. Lynne is both a therapist and advocate who is committed to enriching the lives of children and adults in the aftermath of physical and emotional trauma.