Meet the Therapy Team

Alanna is a Registered Psychotherapist, Qualifying. She is compassionate and trauma-informed, exercising competency in Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, CBT, and Mindfulness. Alanna approaches the work through a strength-based lens and understanding of domestic violence and trauma. Alanna also has experience developing and facilitating psychotherapeutic groups and enjoys providing insight coaching into personal leadership and communication styles.

Casey McKay is a Registered Social Worker with over 3 years of experience in the field. She has a experience with a broad range of client presenting issues, and is passionate about working with those involved in the criminal justice system.  Casey facilitates the Partner Assault Response program at Compass, and supports mandated clients to attend group or individual sessions to learn about intimate partner violence and healthy relationships.

Elle parle Français.

Cat is a Travailleuse Social Inscrite (Registered Social Worker); she will complete a Master of Social Work degree in June 2023 and she completed a Bachelor of Social Work degree at the University of Waterloo. Cat enjoys supporting clients through an eclectic approach that best matches the clients goals in therapy and can incorporate CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  Cat also holds a Master of Science degree in Sociology. Cat has 20 years of experience in social policy and research, working in various provincial and federal policy analyst roles over her career (including Health Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Labour). Cat has also spent time in her career as an employment counsellor. Cat is fully bilingual in French and English and is excited to help support our Francophone clients.

Heidi has worked in the pastoral counselling field for many years, and recently returned to pursue her second masters degree. Heidi began with Compass as an intern and recently transitioned to a staff role. Heidi integrates a number of psychotherapeutic approaches as she works with her clients including Cognitive Behavioural, Narrative, Mindfulness, Family Systems and Solution-Focused.  She is excited about collaboratively building strength and resilience in those who have a desire for personal change and growth.  She is passionate about working with couples.

Hossein is a Registered Psychotherapist, Qualifying. He has over 3 years of experience providing mental health counselling and working with clients from diverse backgrounds. He has specialized experience in CBT, DBT, MBCT, Narrative Therapy, and Marriage and Family Systems Therapy. Hossein has experience working with clients who present with PTSD. Prior to completing his M.A. in Counselling Psychology, Hossein completed a Masters Degree in Philosophy at University of Windsor. He also completed a Ph.D. in Philosophy at IRIP in Iran. Hossein is excited to support our diverse community; he is able to provide counselling in English as well as Persian!

Kevin is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). After completing his internship at Compass, Kevin is pleased to join the staff team. Kevin is passionate about supporting individuals through collaborative counselling. He completed his Masters degree in Divinity at Tyndale University and has lived and worked in the Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph areas for his career. Kevin uses a strengths-based approach to psychotherapy, meeting the clients where they are at. He is trained in Narrative Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy and utilizes elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy too.

Rashida is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying); She is passionate about working with children, adolescents, and adults. Rashida recently completed her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and has served the Guelph community in various settings, including our telephone support line. Rashida strongly believes that clients are their own experts. She works collaboratively with clients from a trauma-informed lens to reinforce their strengths and positive feelings, emotions, and behaviours to reach their goals. Rashida is trained in solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and narrative therapy and is excited to expand as she continues to grow.

Sarah Sytsma is a Registered Social Worker and has worked with children, adolescents and adults in a range of settings in the Guelph- Wellington area for over 15 years. Sarah deeply values the connections formed with clients in therapy, and enjoys working with adults, adolescents, older children and couples. Sarah works predominantly using attachment-based interventions, mindfulness- based interventions, systemic and narrative therapy interventions. Sarah is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Sarah has a particular interest in complex trauma, anxiety, couples and grief work as well as providing clinical supervision for Social Workers.

Sheri Wyndham is a Registered Social Worker and has worked with children, adolescents and adults in a range of settings in the Wellington and Waterloo areas for over 22 years. Sheri has a passion for working with children, adolescents, and adults; she uses Narrative, Strength-based, and Solution-Focused approaches. Sheri is very holistic in her approach, taking into consideration the mind-body connection.  She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindful Self-Compassion Coaching, Neurofeedback, Classical and Advanced Hypnosis . Sheri also enjoys providing clinical supervision for Interns and Social Workers.

Shirley Kell is a Registered Social Worker; she has over 15 years of experience working with children and families in a variety of settings including child welfare, children’s mental health, addictions and schools. She has been specifically focused on children and trauma over the past 8 years. She practices from a trauma and attachment lens and comes with both Circle of Security and Connect training. Her passion is working with children and families to build resilience. She is also very excited to be returning to work at Shelldale!

Veronica has over 20 years of experience as a social worker. Most recently, Veronica has specialized in trauma and crisis work. Prior to that, Veronica worked for almost 10 years as a Clinical Investigator for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (Ontario), supporting families through separation, divorce, and high conflict and domestic violence issues. Veronica has special raining in Trauma, CBT, Brief Therapy, Family Therapy, and Diversity Training. Veronica is also an author, with the following published works: Understand Grief Coping with Loss, How to Stop the Bully in Your Head, Find a Coach Find a Counsellor, A State of P.L.A.Y.S. How to have Difficult Conversations Without Losing Your Mind.

Victoria is a Registered Social Worker. She enjoys supporting clients through emotional needs related to loneliness, loss, motivation, anxiety, depression, and others. Victoria is skilled in supporting individuals and families through life transitions, end of life planning, and loss. She enjoys facilitating groups with clients of all ages. Victoria has training in CBT, DBT, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Narrative Therapy and is excited to bring her skills to help clients achieve their goals.