TEAM
Marion Balla, M.S.W., RSW
President, Adlerian Counselling and Consulting Group
Diplomate, Adlerian Psychology
Co-director: Adlerian Integrative Therapy Certificate, Adler School of Professional Psychology, Toronto
Marion Balla is a Registered Social Worker who has provided counselling and consulting services for over 45 years as a counsellor, therapist, consultant, educator, trainer, facilitator, and coach for therapists, and clients in the fields of mental health and education, as well as in workplaces and organizations.
She has been the President, Adlerian Counselling and Consulting Group, Inc. in Ottawa for 37 years, providing therapy and counselling to individuals, couples and families based on a holistic, cognitive-behavioural model of psychotherapy rooted in the theory and practice of Adlerian Psychology. As well she has designed, delivered and facilitated workshops, courses and keynote addresses nationally and internationally.
Nanci Burns, M.S.W., RSW
Social Worker and Therapist
Nanci Burns is a Registered Social Worker with over 40 years of experience working with children, families and systems to address mental health issues and create positive change. During her 20 years at the Ottawa school board (OCDSB), Nanci worked with children and their families using a proactive and strengths-based framework, building partnerships to nurture resiliency. In addition to that work, Nanci also supported clients of all ages at the Crisis Centre in Winnipeg and the Emergency Department at the Ottawa General Hospital.
While at the school board, Nanci was involved in the development and delivery of prevention programs such as Safe and Caring Schools, Roots of Empathy, In Love and In Danger, Child-to-Child, and Character Education and Anti-Bullying initiatives. She has been a facilitator of ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and SafeTalk (suicide prevention) training for youth and adults.
Nanci has also co-authored a workbook for parents called Take Your Temperament: Finding the Way to Family Harmony through an Understanding of Diverse Temperaments that helps families understand the uniqueness of each family member and how best to work together.
Nanci uses an eclectic range of modalities with clients including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, mindfulness strategies and strength based approaches that are based in Adlerian theory. Areas of focus in her work include child/youth mental health, parenting support, and developing self-awareness through the lens of temperament. She integrates a mind/body approach to issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress management. Nanci also works with adolescents and adults who have experienced abuse or other harms within personal relationships. She aims to help clients navigate whatever is creating challenges in their lives to find strength in themselves and develop new expertise that will fuel their future paths.
Martine Hubert, M.A., RP(Q)
Psychotherapist (Q)
Martine offers individual and couple therapy in both English and French. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Ottawa and a Master’s Degree from Saint Paul University in Counselling and Spirituality. Prior to becoming a therapist, Martine was an elementary school teacher for almost a decade.
Martine’s practice is focused on working with individuals and couples to address issues of anxiety, depression, grief and loss, anger management, unresolved issues from the past, and to build healthy and affirming relationships.
Martine strives to establish a strong therapeutic alliance with clients to support them in sharing present and past issues and traumas in a safe and respectful environment. She strongly believes that people have the ability to successfully address life’s challenges while improving relationships with self and others.
Using mindfulness as a powerful grounding tool, Martine encourages clients to connect with their emotional and psychological reality in the present moment. Clients are supported and guided to gain new perspectives and resources to overcome current and recurring issues.
Martine works within the framework of Adlerian Psychology with an emphasis on Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy and Mindfulness. She understands that every person’s story is unique and that everyone’s growth happens in a step by step process. Martine works with a strengths-based compassionate lens to facilitate change and positive outcomes in clients’ lives.
Gwyneth Humphreys, M.A., RP(Q)
Psychotherapist (Q)
Gwyneth is a therapist and coach combining clinical training in psychology with a broad range of experience gained through a previous career in international corporate management, coaching and training. Working with a range of ages from young to older adults, her practice areas include addressing anxiety and worry, depression and sadness, grief and bereavement, navigating transitions in life and career, and workplace stress and distress.
Gwyneth is committed to working together with clients to help them define their unique goals, explore patterns of thought and behaviour, identify internal and external resources, and build or rebuild healthy, productive relationships to enable them to engage in positive movement forward in their personal and professional lives. She knows that there is no one way - no one size fits all - approach to achieve this. Rather, based on the individual needs, circumstances and goals of each client, Gwyneth will integrate different modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, complementing an Adlerian approach and building the skills most useful to help meet life’s challenges and move forward in communal life, work, and relationships.
Gwyneth firmly believes each person has the capacity and inner resources to choose differently and to bring change to their life and the way they consider themselves, others, and the world. Moving to change takes courage. Talking with someone in a place of comfort and trust can help to sort out thoughts and feelings; gain perspective; and enhance existing strengths, drawing on them to “grow ahead”.
FAirooz Kermalli, M.S.W., RSW
Social Worker & Therapist
Fairooz is a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s degree in Social Work, a Certificate in Addictions, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Minor in Aging Studies, all from the University of Central Florida.
Fairooz has almost fifteen years of experience working in a wide variety of settings. Her work in children’s mental health, the education system, hospice and home health across both Canada and the United States has fostered her natural ability to form positive and healing relationships with children and families. She believes that life’s challenges can foster mental, social, physical, and spiritual growth when people have the relationships and tools needed to believe in their ability not just to survive, but to thrive.
Fairooz integrates cultural experiences and spirituality while using a strengths based cognitive behavioural approach to addressing trauma, stress, anxiety, depression and addictions in children, youth and young adults. Fairooz employs play therapy techniques and embeds gratitude and mindfulness practice in her sessions to cultivate contentment and hope. As a mother who knows how humbling, challenging and rewarding parenting can be, she includes and empowers parents using an attachment lens, seeing them as a vital ingredient in a healthy family system.
kiri Legg, M.S.W., RSW
Social Worker & Therapist
Kiri is a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Social Work and Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Kiri has almost a decade of experience as a Social Worker supporting child and youth mental health and working with families in schools (OCDSB). Prior to earning her social work degree, Kiri worked in a variety of client facing environments, including supporting vulnerable children, youth and families.
Kiri’s experience allows her to create an engaging and compassionate environment where clients can connect and feel comfortable with the therapeutic process. Kiri works with clients of a variety of ages, with a special focus in children, youth, parenting and younger adults. Using a strengths based approach with an attachment lens, Kiri helps clients explore and address issues such as life stress, anxiety, depression, school avoidance, and parenting challenges. When working with children and youth, Kiri feels that parents are an important part of the process and involves them whenever possible.
Kiri understands that every client has unique experiences, perspectives, strengths and resources, and that therapy is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Kiri aims to meet the needs of each individual client by drawing from a variety of modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, and strengths based approaches that are based in Adlerian Theory.
Cathy lumsden, M.A., RP
Psychotherapist
Cathy Lumsden is a registered psychotherapist, author, and speaker with over 30 years of experience in the field. In her counselling, Cathy provides effective tools, skills, information and encouragement to help her clients find solutions to real-life problems. She has extensive experience working with anxiety, depression, separation/divorce and stress. In her corporate training programs, Cathy focuses on improving employee engagement and satisfaction which increases productivity and decreases staff attrition rates. In her coaching and counselling she provides effective tools, skills, knowledge and encouragement to help her clients find solutions to real-life issues whether it’s in the workplace or in their personal lives.
Cathy is the author of two books – one for adults, “The Best Advice Your Mother Never Gave You’ and one for children, ‘Debugging Those Bad Thoughts’. Cathy was the host of a successful TV show called “The Best Advice”, focusing on topics such as domestic violence, mental health, bullying, and separation/divorce.