Counselling Staff Directory, U of G Student Wellness

Meet our Counselling Services Team

Our team includes a diverse group of practitioners who take a variety of approaches to support your personal and professional wellness needs.

Carrie Charles (she/her) Registered Psychotherapist 

Carrie is a Registered Psychotherapist at the University of Guelph and the point person for Varsity Athletes. Carrie’s therapeutic practice is informed from her diverse background & training in, but not limited to, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Brainspotting (BSP) - all of which are practiced through anti-oppressive trauma-informed care, implementing a harm reduction lens. She has experience working with individuals and groups facing; anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, eating disorders, chronic pain, identity exploration, grief/loss, relationship issues, & sport performance barriers -to name a few. Through her extensive experience as a varsity athlete and education in Sports Psychology, she assists athletes in gaining greater focus and clarity for reaching their optimal performance goals. Using a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) model for student-athletes balance is supported; mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Lisa Detwiler (she/her) Registered Psychotherapist, Registered Occupational Therapist

Lisa Detwiler, is a Registered Psychotherapist and a Registered Occupational Therapist with 25 years experience working in mental health in a wide range of diverse settings including individuals, groups, adults and young adults. Her approach includes specialty training in Gestalt Psychotherapy, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy ( she has completed her Certificate in MBCT with the Centre for Mindfulness Studies), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT) Levels 1-2, Dialectical Behavior Therapy ( DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ( ACT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy ( CPT). She has worked extensively with individuals, and groups including but not limited to depression, anxiety, trauma, loss, anger, low self -esteem, and relationship issues. She has formal training in Psychotherapy Supervision  and has been a co- author, and presenter with several publications in the field of Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy in Ontario.

Lisa believes that change happens within a strongly held relational space, that both supports the student, and gently challenges perspectives so that new outcomes can happen. Lisa brings an embodied wisdom and empathy to the therapy process.

Julie Elliotson (she/her) Registered Social Worker

Julie is a registered Social Worker and Alumna of the University of Guelph. She comes to Counselling Services with over 10 year’s experience working in and around Guelph with community-based, and crisis-driven mental health services. Julie has received training in Cognitive and Dialectical Behaviour Therapies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Internal Family Systems Therapy and is a firm believer in practicing what works, however different that may be from student to student. Using skills of mindfulness, self-compassion and behavioral interventions, Julie holds the essential awareness that within moments of crisis are nestled opportunities for deeper self-awareness and compassionate understanding. Her primary focus is to help students access both internal and external supports to promote safety, growth, and confidence.

Dorothy Goettler (she/her) Counsellor/Therapist

Dorothy is a Counsellor/Therapist with extensive experience in couple, family, individual and group therapy. She is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist and a Registered Social Worker. She works in collaborative conversations with people to discover strengths and resources and to build skills to enable them to navigate challenging circumstances, life transitions and crises in relationships. Working from a social-constructionist worldview, tools for therapy include narrative therapy as well as cognitive-behavioural and family or origin approaches.

Estera Lawrance (she/her) Registered Social Worker

Estera is a registered social worker and one of the Counsellors for First Year Students. She loves the energy that comes with creating meaningful connections with students and building stronger communities. Estera is passionate about harm reduction and is committed to working towards the eradication of all forms of social injustice. Practicing from an anti-oppressive and trauma-informed lens, her clinical approach is comprised of eclectic modalities and remains grounded in trust to engender change. She believes therapy can be a powerful instrument of transformation when you hold space and welcome curiosity. 

Erin Lipsitt (she/her) Counsellor/Therapist, Registered Social Worker

Erin is a Counsellor/Therapist and a Registered Social Worker with experience working with individuals, families, and groups in a variety of educational, community, and hospital settings. Her approach to counselling is based upon principles from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Erin enjoys learning each person's unique story and personal experience while working together to develop the insight and strategies to create meaningful change.

Angie Collie (she/her) Counsellor/Therapist, Registered Social Worker

Angie is a Counsellor/Therapist and a Registered Social Worker with experience working with individuals, families, and groups in a variety of settings. She uses an eclectic therapy approach with emphasis upon principles from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Angie enjoys working collaboratively with clients to focus on their resiliency and to develop deeper understanding of themselves in order to work toward their goals for change.

Jay Jung (he/him) Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Marriage and Family Therapist

Jay is a Korean-English speaking Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s degree in counselling. He has many years of experience in community mental health and counselling, including group facilitation and conducting community seminars. He has worked with clients with various mental health issues including depression, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, trauma, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD as well as relationship issues such as couples’ conflict, family conflict, domestic violence, and parenting. Jay has a specialty in engaging men/fathers. Jay works with various intervention modalities including Family Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness, and CBT and enjoys helping his clients experience inner healing, find directions for their problems, and build healthy relationships with their loved ones.

Peter Wedel (he/him) Counsellor/Therapist

Peter is a professional Counsellor/Therapist with a Master's degree in marriage and family therapy. He has worked with individuals and groups dealing with a wide variety of issues including anxiety, depression, relational problems, self-esteem, spirituality, grief and trauma. Peter is also experienced in working with couples and families with issues such as communication, conflict resolution and relational dynamics. He draws on diverse approaches including narrative, cognitive-behavioural, solution-oriented, and family of origin.

Samantha Durfy (she/her) Registered Social Worker

Samantha is a Registered Social Worker and has been providing counselling to individuals, couples, families and groups since 2003.  She specializes in working with clients coping with eating disorders, disordered eating patterns, poor body image, low self-esteem, self-harming behaviours, addictions, and relationship difficulties.  She has specialized training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). Samantha’s creative and resourceful therapeutic style has aided in making her a well-liked counsellor by her clients and their families. Samantha is known for her whimsical approach and she enjoys staying well versed in pop culture.

Stella Mfoafo-M'Carthy (she/her) Counsellor/Therapist

Stella is a professional Counsellor/Therapist with a Master’s degree in Social Work, is a Registered Social Worker, and a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist. She has worked extensively with Individuals, couples, families, and groups on a variety of issues including but not limited to depression, anxiety, separation/divorce, domestic violence, and grief/loss. As an eclectic social worker, Stella works from a strength-based perspective using diverse interventions such as narrative, solution-focused, and cognitive-behaviour therapy.

Crystal Wyllie (she/her) Registered Psychotherapist working as a Counsellor/Therapist

Crystal is a Registered Psychotherapist working as a Counsellor/Therapist. She has worked many years in a wide variety of settings with individuals, couples and groups, responding to issues that cross the lifespan.  University aged students have always been a favourite population. Working from the premise that ALL people have inherent worth and value, Crystal recognizes spirituality as a part of personhood.  She roots her work in believing that we each have the resources we need to aid us in moving towards better mental health and sees her role as helping clients to recognize these resources and to support them in learning how to utilize them.  She uses a variety of modalities including ACT, Self Compassion, DBT,  Mindfulness and CBT but also draws from other areas.  Crystal believes that her primary work of a therapist is to help people make meaning of their situation and to aid them in using this to inform their next steps.  

Rachel Keenan (she/her) Counsellor/Therapist, Registered Social Worker

Rachel is a Counsellor/Therapist and a Registered Social Worker with experience working with individuals, families, and groups in a variety of environments. Rachel has experience working with individuals struggling with challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm, grief & loss, identity development, and relationship issues. Rachel's approach to counselling is based upon a trauma-informed approach to principles from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). Rachel believes that individuals are the experts in their own lives, and she works with others to develop understanding and strategies to create meaningful change.

Isha Saini (she/her) Registered Psychotherapist working as a Counsellor/Therapist

Isha (she/her) is a Registered Psychotherapist working as a Counsellor/Therapist with experience working with individuals, including children, youth, and families, survivors of domestic violence and those who identify within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Isha’s approach is grounded in feminist, narrative, anti-oppression, and person-centred frameworks, and is guided by the principle that individuals inherently have the capacity and inner resources to meet life’s challenges from a place of empowerment. Isha’s experience as counsellor and advocate over the past 5 years along with her personal identity as a second-generation South Asian Canadian woman have allowed her to recognize the importance of honoring and respecting the unique and complex identities of each client she works with. Through a warm, non-judgmental and collaborative approach Isha will work towards creating a safe and compassionate space to explore your inner thoughts, feelings, strengths, and challenges, along with the systemic and structural barriers that may be impacting your overall well-being.

Dawn Mewhinney (she/her) Registered Social Worker

Dawn is a Registered Social Worker with extensive experience working in school/community mental health and counselling. She has supported individuals across the lifespan coping with various challenges, including life transitions, anxiety, depression, interpersonal difficulties, childhood trauma, and substance use. Following graduate school, Dawn received advanced training in several modalities, enabling her to use an eclectic approach best suited to her clients’ needs.  She believes strongly that we have inherent strength and wisdom to overcome our challenges and feels it is a privilege to join her clients on their well-being journey.

Karina Docampo-Nash (she/her) Counsellor/Therapist, Registered Social Worker

Karina is a Counsellor/Therapist and a Registered Social Worker with experience working with individuals, families, and groups in a range of community and in-patient settings. Her training is based upon principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, and attachment-based therapies. She also uses strengths-based, client-centered, recovery-oriented, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed approaches in planning and providing optimal psychosocial care. Karina’s commitment is to provide you with a safe and supportive environment that emphasizes growth, development and meaningful change.

Lindsay Smart (she/her) Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist

Lindsay is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist, as well as a University of Guelph Alumnus. Lindsay has worked with individuals with Anxiety, Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Anger, Interpersonal Relationship concerns, and more. She has received specialized training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and uses an eclectic approach based on DBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness Based practices.  Lindsay takes a compassionate and accepting approach to therapy, recognizing it can be difficult to talk with a counsellor at first. She works collaboratively with you to help you achieve your goals, and looks to support you in developing further meaning and understanding. She believes that people can thrive when they discover their strengths and strives to create a nonjudgmental and respectful space.

Adria Joel (she/her) Registered Social Worker

Adria is a Registered Social Worker and Alumna of the University of Guelph with over 10 years of experience working in university and community-based organizations. As a multi-racial Black woman with Trinidadian and Italian heritage, who also identifies as bisexual, her lived experiences inform her work. Adria strives to work from an anti-oppressive, anti-racist, decolonial, trauma-informed, intersectional, person-centered approach. Adria has expertise in supporting individuals and groups in their healing from sexual and gender-based violence, racial and intergenerational trauma, and relationship challenges. Adria draws from a variety of modalities, including somatics (body-based), Internal Family Systems (IFS), expressive arts, narrative, self-compassion, and mindfulness-based therapies. 

Rashida Odumoye (she/her) Counsellor/Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Rashida Odumoye is a dedicated Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying with over four years of experience in the mental health field. She has a strong academic background in biomedical science and counseling psychology. Rashida has assisted individuals, children, and families in navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. Particularly skilled in trauma counseling, she has received extensive training to address complex PTSD and sexual or gender-based violence. Rashida has a notable history of working with individuals affected by these issues within the Guelph community. She employs various therapeutic modalities, including solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Her practice is centered on creating a safe, nonjudgmental environment for clients to explore their thoughts and emotions. Rashida values collaborative goal setting, which fosters positive change and empowers clients to work through their difficulties. Known for her adaptability and compassionate approach, Rashida provides empathetic support as people navigate their unique journeys.

Heather Cholack (she/her) Registered Social Worker, Counsellor/Therapist

Heather is a registered social worker with both a BSW and MSW. Over the years she has worked with people utilizing trauma informed, strengths based and client centered approaches in a variety of community, hospital, and post-secondary spaces. It is important to Heather to create a safe, inclusive, identity affirming space for people, bringing anti-oppressive awareness to herself and her work. She is passionate about being present and hearing people’s stories, with understanding and compassion as they make sense of themselves, their relationships, and the world. Heather uses a combination of modalities to help guide the therapeutic process including Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).