Meet the Team

Here you can self book with a specific team member!

but here is our number just in case we can help!

Farah Kadhim

Farah completed her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto, specializing in mental health and health. She has worked closely with teens and their families in clinic and hospital settings such as Taddle Creek Family Health Team and Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, part of the internationally recognized Sinai Health System.

Farah recognizes that teenagers are experiencing a unique time in their lives full of potential and sometimes angst. She empowers teenagers through increasing their sense of self-awareness and self-compassion. She helps guide them to healthy ways of coping with their stress.

Having lived in several countries and practiced social work internationally in Dubai, Farah is a natural at providing safe space for teens and families with various backgrounds, cultures, and identities. She’s experienced in helping people with trauma, mood/anxiety disorders, regular anxiety, depression, self-harm, identity questions, life transitions, anger management and relationship stress.

Farah believes in providing culturally-competent, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed care. She draws from multiple evidence-based therapies including: Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness-based interventions.

If required, Farah is also able to provide services in Arabic.

Patricia comes to us from a career in counselling at a private university. We’re excited to add her vast experience with teens to this team.

Patricia’s passion is to help teens with transition, change, identity challenges, grief, loss, family tensions, mental health challenges, self-esteem, self-harm, relationships and big life-changing events.

Patricia believes that all emotions and behaviours come from a well intended place. Patricia adheres to the techniques and principles of Internal Family Systems, Relational Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. She practices with a strength-based, trauma-informed approach. She welcomes persons who identify as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Patricia believes in the mind-body connection and the power of early life attachment to self-development.

Personally, Patricia loves nature hikes, playing Just Dance on Nintendo Switch, and brisk walking on her way to grab her Iced Capp Mocha (with toppings!).  She also enjoys learning DIY crafts and completing sudoku puzzles. She speaks Tagalog, Hiligaynon, Cebuano, and English.

A firm believer in the human spirit, Andrea is passionate about fostering and supporting today’s youth with humour and heart. Previously she worked as a music therapist in the Greater Toronto Area, she has worked with youths coping with anxiety, depression, grief and trauma.

Andrea is a proponent for creating a safe space in sessions for the individual to be their true self and feel acceptance. She works from a person-centred modality, and brings in elements from psychoanalytic psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Narrative Therapy.

In her spare time, she could be found making messes in the kitchen, learning ASL, singing along to musical theatre tunes and talking to her plants.

Anis is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and comes from a broad cultural context. Of Indian origin, she has lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Massachusetts, Switzerland, and now Canada. 

Anis has worked in mental health at CAMH and in an acute care setting at SHN. Her work with families and adolescents includes complex trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, distress, identity, illness, and survivorship. 

Anis uses a person-centred, trauma-informed framework, and considers intersectional identity and relational awareness key factors in her approach to psychotherapeutic care. She works with a number of modalities including Grief Therapy, Psychodynamic, Transpersonal, Narrative Therapy, Family Systems and CBT. 

Anis values working in collaboration with her clients: in other words, the client knows themselves best. Anis believes in the power and uniqueness of the human story, where articulating one’s story has the power to ignite unbridled creativity. 

Her passion includes working with blended families, those whose lives have been impacted by illness or a new diagnosis (themselves or their loved one), racialized adolescents, and young newcomers who experience challenges when adjusting to living in Canada. 

Anis has a love for art and, in her spare time, searches for and visits art galleries in the city. She enjoys hiking, is a yoga teacher,  has a regular meditation practice, and has a podcast entitled The After 30 Podcast, where she discusses all things after turning 30.

Mariam is a Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying and has worked extensively with youth in community mental health and the non-profit sector. Mariam started her career working with youth in schools and then transitioned to counselling youth and families in York Region.

Mariam’s goal is to empower you to tap into your inner strength and develop radical self-compassion from within. Her lived experience as a first generation Canadian and as a person of colour shapes her practice in supporting Toronto’s diverse communities. She works from a culturally sensitive and anti-oppressive standpoint using a holistic approach focused on both mind and body.

Mariam uses an integrative approach to therapy drawing on various evidence-based therapies, including: Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, trauma- informed and Mindfulness strategies as well as applications of attachment theory.

In her down time Mariam paints, gets lost in new cities and is currently learning pottery.

Bjorn comes to us from an agency in Peel Region where he supported a variety of youth and families going through a wide variety of experiences. He has journeyed alongside youth and families during times of crisis helping families stabilize while working to improve communication and family dynamics. He gets inspired when he sees teens and families going through their journey of healing and change.

In session, Bjorn provides space for each teen and family to explore feelings of anxiety, depression, low motivation, grief, loss and life transitions. He values the therapeutic relationship and will spend time to listen deeply to each teen’s story.

Bjorn’s approach to counselling is highly relational, trauma-informed, strength-based and anti-racist and anti-oppressive. Bjorn will be there to encourage and uplift your teen and family. Modalities that inform Bjorn’s therapeutic approach are Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

Outside of counselling, Bjorn enjoys spending his time playing tennis, golf and has a passion for video games. He came to Canada when he was 6 years old and enjoys learning and experiencing different cultures.

If requested, Bjorn is able to provide therapy in Cantonese.

Our Team of Registered Psychotherapists, Registered
Social Workers & Registered Dietitians in Toronto

Accepting New Clients

Group by practitioner type
Bella Shulman, Student Therapist

Bella Shulman

Student Therapist

Bella is currently a graduate student...Learn More

Samantha Woolven, RP(Qualifying)

Samantha Woolven

RP(Qualifying)

Sam comes to us from the University of...Learn More

Jennie Benjamins, RP

Jennie Benjamins

RP

Jennie is a Registered Psychotherapist.Learn More

Katherine Lough, RP(Qualifying)

Katherine Lough

RP(Qualifying)

Katherine strives to make it easier for...Learn More

Veronika Brylinska, RP

Veronika Brylinska

RP

Veronika comes to us from a career in...Learn More

Loretta Mui, MSW, RSW

Loretta Mui

MSW, RSW

Loretta has worked with youth as a...Learn More

Apitha Rathakrishnan, Student Therapist

Apitha Rathakrishnan

Student Therapist

Apitha is a Registered Psychotherapist...Learn More

Laura Gongora, RP

Laura Gongora

RP

Laura’s Master of Education in...Learn More

Amy Appelle, RP

Amy Appelle

RP

Amy is a Registered Psychotherapist and...Learn More

Ailidh Carpendale, RP

Ailidh Carpendale

RP

Ailidh has been working with families...Learn More

Brittany Cory, RD

Brittany Cory

RD

Brittany Cory is an experienced...Learn More

Only Accepting Current Clients

Patricia Tuff, CYC MSW RSW

Patricia Tuff

CYC MSW RSW

Patricia has been working directly with...Learn More

Jenni Axelson, Student Therapist

Jenni Axelson

Student Therapist

Jenni is a Registered Psychotherapist...Learn More

Marlie Standen, MSW, RSW

Marlie Standen

MSW, RSW

Marlie considers adolescence an...Learn More

Bjorn Kwok, RP

Bjorn Kwok

RP

Bjorn comes to us from an agency in...Learn More

Sarah Baum, MSW, RSW

Sarah Baum

MSW, RSW

Sarah comes to us from Northern...Learn More

On Leave

Erin O’Rourke, RP

Erin O’Rourke

RP

Erin began her career in education,...Learn More

Client Care Coordinator

Deanna Gisborne, Client Care Coordinator

Deanna Gisborne

Client Care Coordinator

Deanna is currently completing a...Learn More

Rebecca Regio, Client Care Coordinator

Rebecca Regio

Client Care Coordinator

Rebecca is a Client Care Coordinator...Learn More

Owner And Clinic Director

JESSICA ZEYL, RP

Jess is our fearless leader here. She started Toronto Counselling Centre for Teens when her youngest was just a baby and now her kids are entering their teenage years themselves. As she loves teens, she’s pretty excited to be in this stage of family life.

Jess has a passion for young people and families. She sees it as her mission in life to empower teens and families to connect and feel great about themselves and one another. She wants families to be warmly welcomed here.

If you get Jess talking about her philosophy of leadership, you’ll find out she is a total nerd on that subject and can talk about it for a loooong time. Two of the ways her leadership nerdiness can be felt here are: Read More

Still Need Help?

Run by The Toronto Counselling Centre for Teens, seeing teens, youth and young adults ages 16 – 24.