Ian has worked in clinical practice for over 23 years with individuals, couples and families. As a therapist, Ian seeks to provide an environment of empathy, understanding and openness where individuals can feel safe and comfortable to sort through their presenting concerns. Ian has worked as a clinical therapist at a residential treatment facility and outpatient services for substance abuse treatment, mental health services at several local hospitals, and community organizing. Ian has a significant clinical background in adult and children's mental health/trauma/concurrent disorders. Ian is strongly connected to many community services, agencies and support systems.

For several years, Ian has focused on specializing in trauma. He has completed level 1 & 2 in Trauma Therapy at the Hincks-Dellcrest in Toronto and is currently working on his Traumatologist designation. Ian is also trained in Traumatic Incident Reduction. On a monthly basis for the last 4 years, Ian has received clinical supervision at the Hincks-Dellcrest from Natalie Zlodre who is recognized as a specialist/consultant in trauma. Ian has provided therapy for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, assault and physical violence, robbery and hold-ups, car accidents, fire, bereavement, child abuse, animal attacks, and suicide. Ian is also trained in field trauma for larger scale trauma events. Counselling Niagara as an agency is strongly grounded in trauma informed clinical practices.

Working with couples and families is an area of interest and significant component to his private practice today. Couples therapy is an opportunity to help couples who are simply stuck move towards resolution and rediscover a meaningful relationship. An in-depth couples assessment is available, which provides each couple with a ten-page summary of the strengths and areas that require strengthening within their relationship. This couples assessment reports on the 15 core areas of the couple’s relationship and becomes the clinical guide for ongoing counselling and treatment work while in therapy.

Ian has presented at several forums including local, regional, provincial, national and international on topics such as substance abuse, trauma, concurrent disorders, mental health, youth at risk, youth threat assessment, motivational interviewing, stages of change, forgiveness therapy, and organizational trauma informed practices.

Credentials:

• Master of Social Work - McMaster University
• Bachelor of Social Work - Niagara University
• Diploma of General Art and Sciences - Niagara College
• Certificate in Addiction Studies
• Certificate in level 1 & 2 Trauma Practices for Frontline Workers - Hincks Dellcrest

At the heart of Ian's clinical work, he helps people find solutions to problems in a timely, meaningful and safe environment. He realizes that people for the most part have busy lives. It can be difficult for some to re-arrange their busy schedules in order to sort out challenges and find solutions to problems. For this reason, Ian provides day, evening and weekend appointments with high flexibility. For this reason, Ian provides day, evening and weekend appointments with high flexibility. He has three office locations in Thorold, Welland, and St. Catharines. 

Counselling Niagara can be found on Face Book, Twitter and Skype. We now have our new webpage up and running. It can be located at www.counsellingniagara.com. Check us out!!

Counselling Niagara is now updating its services to include Skype webcam counselling sessions. Webcam therapy does not replace face to face therapy, but for those who are not able to do face to face counselling for various reasons, this is a great option. Webcam sessions are 55 minutes in length and the session time is arranged and purchased in advance. Please contact counsellingniagara@gmail.com for further information on this service.

Cheers,

Ian