Our Team

 

Meredith Armstrong

Social Worker, Psychotherapist | MSW, RSW

(She/Her)

 Meredith is a Registered Social Worker and the Owner of St. Lawrence Psychotherapy and Wellness. She began studying Social Work in 2001 and she has been extremely passionate about it ever since. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work and has trained diligently throughout her career.

Meredith has significant training in therapeutic modalities and believes strongly in continued education, improvement, and competence. She is nonjudgmental and truly believes in her clients. She strives to deeply understand her clients and their view of the world. She is relaxed and experienced. She is culturally humble and has a very open mind.

Meredith shares that she has sought both individual and group therapy for her own mental health. She has experienced the benefit of having good relationships with her therapists and working hard to move through difficult things.

She believes that good care is based on authenticity, connection, and evidence-based practice.

When she is not practicing Social Work, Meredith loves to enjoy the river on a paddle-board or kayak! Whatever gets her there! She likes to be active alongside family and friends, but equally loves a good day at home with her partner Tony and their puppies watching Netflix and eating good food!

Meredith is Trained In:

  • Interpersonal Therapy

  • Psychodynamic Approach

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

  • Mentalization Based Therapy

  • Emotion Focused Therapy

  • Trauma Informed Approaches

  • Trauma Incident Reduction

  • Strengths Based Social Work

  • Harm Reduction Psychotherapy

Syttana Barbara

El Mubarak

Psychotherapist | MEd, CCC, RP

Syttana Barbara is delighted to partner with the St. Lawrence Psychotherapy and Wellness Team.

A Graduate of McGill University in Montreal, and UBC in Vancouver, she joins the team with many years of experience working in various hospital settings in Canada.

She is fluent in English, Arabic, Polish and conversational in French. She carries a deep respect for each person’s experience, values and beliefs with sensitivity for cultural awareness. She strives to empower her clients in finding their strengths and working together to define their goals and direction for therapy.

Syttana Barbara has extensive training in various evidence-based modalities and actively participates in continued education and training. She is grounded in an existential-humanistic framework working collaboratively with clients to fully access and integrate their emotions and experiences into meaningful life decisions.

In her free time, she cherishes connection with family and friends. She enjoys time in nature, especially coastal and waterfront areas! She loves reading thought provoking books, watching movies and travelling.

Syttana Barbara is Trained In:

  • Existential Analysis

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Behavioral Activation for Depression

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Trauma Informed Approaches

  • Strength Based Approaches

Jim Page

Social Worker, Psychotherapist| MS, RSW

Jim is a Registered Social Worker with a Master of Science in Human Services from Capella University, MN. He has more than 20 years of experience providing individual, couple and family therapy in private practice as well as community agency and hospital outpatient settings.

Following his retirement from Brockville General Hospital, Jim is happy to be working with Meredith and Sytana Barbara at St. Lawrence Psychotherapy and Wellness.

Jim is offering individual online and in-person counselling sessions with a focus on treating specific traumatic incidents. Typical examples are major losses, accidents, injuries, operations, onset of health issues, or other painful life experiences. Trauma is defined by the individual.

Jim’s approach is person-centered using traumatic incident reduction and related techniques to address distressing experiences or upsets. Traumatic incident reduction involves re-experiencing past traumas in a completely safe environment, free of distractions, judgments, or interpretations. His therapeutic approach is based on his belief that individuals are the experts on their own lives and that people seek therapy when their distress interferes with daily life. Jim views his role as assisting individuals in examining and exploring their experiences of trauma, helping them to access and integrate insight, knowledge and abilities that will bring them relief and a renewed sense of wellness.

Jim is trained in:

  • Traumatic Incident Reduction

  • Mentalization-Based Treatment

  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Genevieve Fincher

Social Worker| MSW, RSW

Genevieve Fincher is a classically trained clinical social worker who graduated from the University of South Carolina and has over 20 years of experience working in adult and children’s mental health.

Genevieve is dedicated to helping individuals navigate their personal challenges with a compassionate and inclusive approach. With a systemic perspective, she strives to understand the complexities of your concerns and collaborates with you to move towards effective solutions and deeper self-understanding.

Genevieve utilizes a variety of therapeutic modalities tailored to meet your unique needs. Her inclusive, nonjudgmental stance ensures that you feel supported and respected throughout your therapeutic journey. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or other life stressors, Genevieve is committed to working with you in a collaborative and empathetic manner to foster personal growth and well-being.

As a mom of two beautiful, unique and neurodivergent children Genevieve has experienced first hand the juggling act of fulfilling various roles while trying to balance the care of her high needs children. She recognizes that many women and caregivers are raising children while also being full time employees, spouses, daughters, friends and community members. The challenge then becomes: how do you make space for yourself and your personal wellness? Genevieve understands this and honoured to support you through your individual life situation.

Genevieve is trained in:

  • . Strengths Based Approach

  • Family Systems Approach

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Social Determinants of Health

  • Attachment Theory

  • Narrative Therapy

Charlotte MacDonald

Psychotherapist,| RP, Qualifying

Charlotte, also known as Charlie, is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who recently graduated from Yorkville University and has joined the St. Lawrence Psychotherapy and Wellness Team.

With a distinguished background in healthcare, Charlotte served as a nurse for 30 years in Ottawa before transitioning to psychotherapy. In 2020, Charlotte began studying addiction counseling, a field that ignited her passion and inspired her to pursue a Master’s Degree in Psychotherapy. She is now a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) trained in several therapeutic approaches that support recovery from mental health challenges including anxiety and depression as well as difficulties with substance use. Creating a safe and respectful space, she works with each client to inspire hope and build on their individual strengths and resilience.

Charlotte’s approach is rooted in non-judgment and compassion, empowering clients to take their pathway to recovery and healing one day at a time. She is committed to lifelong learning and actively participates in continuing education to enhance her knowledge and skills across various therapeutic modalities.

Charlotte has personally experienced the transformative power of therapy, having sought individual and group therapy for her own past mental health challenges. This personal journey motivated her to become a therapist, where she worked diligently to address her difficulties with the support of a compassionate and empathetic therapist. Charlotte believes in the inherent goodness and potential for growth and healing in every individual. Her strength lies in providing a supportive environment where clients can reconnect with their inner resources.

Outside of her professional life, Charlotte enjoys exploring the beautiful attractions of Brockville, including swimming, visits to Blockhouse Island and taking long walks with her Golden Retrievers along the St. Lawrence River. She cherishes spending time with family and friends and equally values quiet moments at home, where she engages in activities such as working out in her home gym, reading and gardening.

Charlotte is Trained In:

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

  • Trauma Informed Approaches

  • Harm Reduction Approaches

  • Abstinence-Based Approaches

  • Strengths-Based Psychotherapy

Lisa Lunn

Social Worker| MSW, RSW

Lisa is a Registered Master of Social Work who is currently working with us as a client care coordinator. She receives all of our inquires and referrals and ensures that each person has the information they need to proceed with making a decision for services. Lisa has over 20 years experience in the field and within our community. She is an invaluable resource for our clients and our team. She helps with community resources and information for clients who are looking for services outside what we can offer.

We are incredibly grateful to have her working with us and she truly does support each and every client coming through our doors.

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