About Andrew

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Every morning we start a new day aiming to be safe, happy, and fulfilled, with a sense of belonging. Of course life plays by its own rules, so we do the best we can with the knowledge, skills, and resources at hand. Some days turn out better than others.

Because you are here, you may have decided it's time to cross that bridge, whatever that means in your life. Maybe you have reached a place with no bridge in sight. I'm here to help!

I am a Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist with over 23 years of clinical experience in community counselling agency, hospital and family health team mental health, and private practice settings. My background includes teaching and supervising more than 100 social service workers, social workers, and psychotherapists. I have a specialty in clinical hypnotherapy and my clinical areas of interest include anxiety, abusive relationships, self-esteem, grief and loss, and parenting.

My style is caring, non-judgemental, collaborative, flexible to your unique needs, and a bit playful, when it suits. It helps to laugh at life a bit as you add tools to your toolbox.

My therapeutic approach is eclectic, practical, and future oriented, while knowing that where you came from plays a part in choosing your next steps. I embrace any strategy that will help and I value your insights into what suits you. I often use cognitive-behavioural, narrative, existential, and systems-oriented approaches. And sometimes clinical hypnotherapy (see below) can be very useful.

Wilfrid Laurier University - MSW, Master of Social Work

University of Waterloo - BA (Hons), Joint Business Management & Philosophy, Psychology Minor

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)

Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)

Hypnosis is a useful tool with a long history of positive change. Unfortunately, it is often falsely depicted on TV, in movies, and at stage shows - leading to skepticism for some people.

Simply put, hypnosis is a focused state of awareness. When you focus well, you can accomplish amazing things. It relies on trust, collaboration, and creativity (on my part). My role, metaphorically speaking, is that of a tour bus guide. The therapy client is a tourist on that bus. When I present an engaging and informative tour that is of interest and value to the tourist, that's a good start. The tourist's role is to be a active participant, willing to ask questions, focus, and participate in the tour.

Skillful use of hypnotherapy can be helpful in many cases: pain, trauma, anxiety, phobias, changing habits, self-esteem, and of course relaxation, to name just a few. It is an optional strategy which I always discuss in more detail before agreeing with a client that it is an appropriate fit. It has been a tool in my toolbox since 2007. Questions? Please ask!

Since 2009, I have provided training and supervision to more than 100 Social Service Workers and Masters-level social work and psychotherapy interns from countries including Japan, Ecuador, Brazil, Australia, the United Kingdom, Sudan, Ghana, and coast-to-coast in Canada. They represent eight college and university programs in Canada and the US. My practice also has involved training primary care colleagues in the creation of student intern programs.

With this accumulated experience, I continue to offer clinical supervision and consultation services to interns and other mental health practitioners upon request. This service is collaboratively and uniquely shaped to each person's individual practice needs and timetable.