Melanie Herweyer​

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I am a newer resident of the Kemptville area and have loved the community and scenery from day one.  I am excited to be able to be a part of the mental health team offering services in this area.  I have a rich history of working with people, including in developmental services, community and youth services and private practice psychotherapy.  I feel honoured any time a client chooses to work with me and shares their journey and growth with me.

 

Being a psychotherapist to me means collaborating, being and walking with my clients.  I love the phrase from my training, “We [therapists] are experts in the process but the client is the expert in themselves”.  I take this to heart and practice from a wholistic, compassionate, strength-based, nonpathologizing and trauma-informed perspective.  I integrate a number of therapeutic approaches which I am passionate about, including primarily IFS-informed therapy, EMDR, polyvagal theory, and art therapy, as well as more behaviour and skills focused approaches such as motivational interviewing, CBT/DBT and others when appropriate.

 

I work with children (4+), teens and adults, and run time-limited groups for a number of presenting concerns and ages.  I have taken special interest in working with anxiety, histories of trauma, grief, women struggling with work/life balances and burnout, and utilizing art therapy for children and teens.  I also have experience working with depression, relationship struggles, eating disorders, self-esteem, and others.

 

I am a registered psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (reg. # 006026) and professional art therapist with the Canadian Art Therapy Association.  I completed a Master’s of Counselling: Art Therapy Specialization from Athabasca University.  I have completed a number of certificate trainings, most recently EMDRIA and IFS Institute approved trainings to become an approved basic training EMDR therapist and IFS-informed therapist.

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