Reem is a practicum therapist who believes that meaningful change happens in spaces where you feel safe, understood, and held. She recognizes the courage it takes to reach out for help, and strives to create an environment where folks can show up as they are, without pressure or judgment. Reem works with clients at their own pace to support them in feeling more connected to themselves and their inner resources, while navigating life’s challenges with greater clarity and self-compassion. Her approach is person-centered, collaborative, and trauma-informed.

Reem also understands that our struggles don’t happen in isolation. As a person of colour and second-generation immigrant, she brings an awareness of how culture, family, and larger systems can shape our experiences, identities, and sense of belonging. She supports clients in exploring these parts of themselves with curiosity, care, and compassion. She also works with individuals navigating anxiety, body image concerns, disordered eating, stress, burnout, and life transitions.

Outside of work, Reem enjoys all things crafty, especially crochet. She loves going to concerts, playing video games, getting lost in a good book, and taking nature walks.

Reem is a practicum therapist who believes that meaningful change happens in spaces where you fee... Read More

Email robyn@blossomcounsellingcentre.com to schedule an appointment

Robyn is a white-settler, cis gender, straight woman who has observed and experienced how using external expectations to define one’s body and personhood can be harmful to one’s self-esteem. She then began to consider both the personal and structural impacts of anti-fat bias and diet culture in her daily life. She works with clients to examine if expectations to look, act and heal in “normal” ways are incompatible with their values, experiences or goals. She is interested in exploring the stories that we tell about our bodies and consider the possibilities of generating affirming stories supported by client autonomy and consent.

Robyn’s approach is grounded in trauma-informed, anti-oppressive narrative counselling and informed by theories of harm reduction and body liberation. She embraces an integrative approach to therapy that highlights reconnecting with pleasure and creative endeavours, which are aspects of our lives that are often the first to be forgotten when experiencing stress.

Robyn has experience working with adults and post-secondary students. She is also a self-proclaimed Korean drama enthusiast/expert, a novice blogger and a reader of insufferable memoirs.

Email robyn@blossomcounsellingcentre.com to schedule an appointment Robyn is a white-settler, ci... Read More

Candace is a cis, white, middle class woman living in a larger body and has an ADHD brain. She is the mother of 3 children with both ADHD and learning disabilities. Her work is grounded in anti-oppressive, anti-racist and feminist approaches. She works through an intersectional and social justice lens. She works with clients using compassion and curiosity to understand challenges through not only an internal perspective but also an external perspective.

Her training and experience includes motivational interviewing, feminist therapy, cognitive and dialectical behavioural therapy and solution focused therapy among others. She has specific training in executive functioning, trauma, anxiety, depression and substance use. She uses a variety of modalities and tools to help clients achieve their goals.

When Candace is not working with clients, she is spending time with her children, partner and 2 cats. She loves to read and learn. You can normally find her hyper-focused in a new training via podcast, webinar, book or article.

Areas of Interest: ADHD Body Image Self-esteem Stress Anxiety/Depression Life Transitions Parenting

Ages 15+

Candace is a cis, white, middle class woman living in a larger body and has an ADHD brain. She is... Read More

Christine McPhail (She/Her)

Christine’s identities include being white, queer, neurodivergent, and straight-sized. Christine is a Registered Dietitian and Psychotherapist and Co-Founder of Blossom Counselling Centre. Her practice is grounded in principles of inclusivity, anti-oppression, and trauma-informed care.

She uses an integrative approach to therapy combining the humanistic approach with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) and feminist approaches. As a dietitian, Christine uses Health at Every Size (HAES), anti-diet and weight-inclusive approaches.

Christine’s area of interest are: supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, grief and loss, identity and life transitions, sexuality and gender Identity, anxiety and depression, neurodiversity affirming approaches, weight-Inclusive/anti-diet approaches, and treating eating disorders/disordered eating.

When Christine isn’t actively fighting diet culture, she enjoys dancing (ballet in particular), practicing yoga/meditation, reading, painting, colouring, cross stitching, watching TV and movies, writing, gardening, hiking, and exploring the local food, event and art scenes!

Christine McPhail (She/Her) Christine’s identities include being white, queer, neurodivergent, a... Read More

Lori is a white, thin, queer woman with lived experience in mental health and autoimmune disease states. Her approach to nutrition counselling aims to be weight-inclusive, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and queer identifying/affirming. Lori believes that every body deserves care and respect and values consent and choice when working with others. Lori will support you as you break free from diet culture and work to heal your relationship with food and body. When Lori is not working or completing her studies you can often find her driving her 2 children to one of their various sports. You will almost always find a coffee in her hand and she is always ready for an adventure.

Lori is a white, thin, queer woman with lived experience in mental health and autoimmune disease ... Read More

Rae is a white, cisgender queer woman with lived experience of various eating disorders. Rae utilizes an integrative approach that incorporates various psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioural approaches, such as Internal Family Systems, ACT, and attachment theory.

Her practice is strength-based, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and is grounded in Health at Every Size (HAES) principles. Rae has a particular interest in working with those who struggle with disordered eating, anti-fat bias, body shame, anxiety, stress-management, and depression.

Rae is passionate about being gender and sexuality affirming and weight inclusive; her ultimate goal as a therapist is to help clients achieve a sense of peace and safety in their bodies, minds, and relationships.

Outside of work, Rae can often be found on long walks listening to podcasts or audiobooks, playing on her Switch, playing board games with friends, or watching some of her beloved TV shows like Supernatural.

Rae is a white, cisgender queer woman with lived experience of various eating disorders. Rae util... Read More

Josée is a white, French Canadian, thin, bi, and genderqueer woman with lived experience of mental health struggles and neurodivergence (ADHD). Her practice is grounded in principles of trauma-informed care, social justice, fat positivity, and person-centered care. They aim to offer compassionate and non-judgmental support as people navigate their relationship with themselves, their brains, food, and their bodies. They deeply believe that you are not broken, and that all parts of you are valid and welcome.

Josée uses a variety of therapy approaches to support clients, including humanistic modalities, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and feminist therapy.

Outside of their work, Josée loves to perform and is involved in community musical theatre. She loves reading queer YA fiction, re-watching episodes of Star Trek, tending to her plants, and discovering new flavours of tea.

Josée is a white, French Canadian, thin, bi, and genderqueer woman with lived experience of menta... Read More

Julie Sweeney is a white, self-identified fat, cis-gender woman with lived experience of mental health and body shame struggles as well as fibromyalgia and Type 2 diabetes. She works from a client-centered, anti-oppressive and social justice-oriented perspective specializing in supporting clients in finding freedom for themselves.

Registered with the OCSWSSW as a social service worker, Julie offers openness, honesty, and a willingness to be part of your journey in a way best suited to your needs.

Helping clients feel less alone in their struggles, Julie offers clients the opportunity to develop new skills and ways of thinking. Outside of her specialty with body image and self-esteem, she also works with clients experiencing anxiety, shame, and relationship issues, focusing on self-care and changing negative coping habits.

Julie enjoys helping people become aware, gain insight, and move into action to create lasting change. You would be a fit for her work if you’re interested in the change process and taking action toward making space for new energy in your life.

“I have been there,” Julie explains. “My personal story is what led me to this work, and I look forward to sharing when appropriate.” She works with a client-first approach and meets each individual where they are at. “I believe that we are all capable of change if that is what we want for our lives.”

Areas of Interest Body Image

Self-esteem

Disordered Eating / Eating disorders

Shame/Body Shame

Stress

Anxiety

Relationships (parent/child; intimate partner; sibling or other)

ADHD

Julie supports teens (13+) and adults.

Julie Sweeney is a white, self-identified fat, cis-gender woman with lived experience of mental h... Read More

Madysen is a white, fat, pagan, acespec, Autistic, femme lesbian with lived experience of mental health struggles and neurodivergence. She is a student therapist at Blossom Counselling Centre and a Master of Arts in Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality candidate at Saint Paul University. Their practice is rooted in trauma-informed, person-centred, identity-affirming, and social justice-oriented care.

Madysen strives to provide a curious, compassionate therapy space that prioritizes the client’s intersectional experience and celebrates individual identity. She works from an anti-oppressive framework that empowers the exploration of resilience, meaning, and introspection. She honours each individual’s lived experience, social context, and personal philosophies, and believes in the importance of community and self-knowledge.

Outside of their clinical work, Madysen loves engaging in her special interest (collecting dolls), teaching dance, live music, witchcraft, sewing, and appeasing her drama queen of a cat.

Madysen is a white, fat, pagan, acespec, Autistic, femme lesbian with lived experience of mental ... Read More