Counselling Staff Directory, UofG 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.
Deb McNally (she/her) Counsellor/Therapist, Registered Social Worker
Deb is a Counsellor/Therapist and is a Registered Social Worker. Deb has a friendly and calm presence that makes it easy to share your story with her. Her approach to counselling includes listening carefully to what you need as a client and finding a therapeutic approach that works for you. She strives to form meaningful connections and utilizes an eclectic approach to practice. She often pulls from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). She strives to use a strengths-based, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed approach to practice.
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.
Aman Singh (she/her) Registered Social Worker
Aman is a Registered Social Worker who practices from an integrative approach to therapy, utilizing a variety of therapeutic modalities to best fit client’s needs. She has experience working with individuals including children, youth, and families as well as individuals living in Violence Against Women shelters. She has worked with issues including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, bullying, sexual violence, domestic violence, at-risk youth, separation/divorce. Aman is a firm believer that each individual has the strengths within them to tackle their struggles, and is passionate about supporting individuals in uncovering and building up those strengths.
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.
Naszrin Arghoshi (she/her) Registered Social Worker
Naszrin is a Registered Social Worker, who uses an integrated approach to therapy. She incorporates different modalities to meet students' unique needs and practices from a place of curiosity, gentleness, and compassion. She is passionate about decolonizing mental health and uses anti-oppression practices to support the healing of individuals, families, and communities. Naszrin is a settler and a refugee, who spent her teenage and young adult years in Scarborough and Tkaronto. As a Muslim woman from a mixed background, she has a deep and nuanced understanding of what it's like to navigate complex intersectional identities and experiences. As a therapist, she strives to support people in healing from racial and intergenerational trauma and in exploring the impacts of larger systems on their wellness. In sessions, she focuses on creating safety, meaning making and opportunities for skill-building and self-reflection.
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 (Qualifying) working as a Counsellor/Therapist
Isha (she/her) is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) 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.
Ming Ma (he/him) Registered Social Worker
Ming is a Registered Social Worker who works with young adults and adults who experience anxiety, depression, changing life stages, PTSD, addictions, finding community, and grief. Ming is a 1.5 generation Chinese-Canadian immigrant, who's lived in Southern Ontario, on the traditional lands of the Haudensaunee and Anishnaabeg, as well as Bella Coola, on the traditional lands of the Nuxalk. Ming comes from a background of community and case management work with youth, LGBTQ+ folks, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) folks, and people who use substances. Ming firmly believes that health and healing needs to be done in a way that is decolonial, anti-racist, and LGBTQ+-affirming. Using an eclectic approach that draws on elements of narrative therapy, CBT, and DBT, Ming works in a way that emphasizes the values of harm reduction, personal agency, and leaning on the arts and nature to facilitate healing. When not working, Ming enjoys cycling, cooking, reading, being in nature, and his cat.