online across Ontario
Cathy Penny
Registered Social Worker · BA · BSW · MSW · RRP · RSW
- Couples, Families & Individuals
- English
Support for ADHD, Affair Recovery, Anger Management, Anxiety and 12 more ↓
Areas of focus
If what you are carrying is not listed, it is still worth a conversation.
- ADHD
- Affair Recovery
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Behavioural Issues
- Bipolar Disorder
- Blended Family
- Conflict Resolution
- Couples Communication
- Depression
- Domestic Abuse
- Emotional Unavailability
- Grief and loss
- Separation & Divorce
- Anxiety in Children
- Women's Issues
Also works with Aggression, Attachment, Body image issues, Career change development, Caregiver stress, Control issues, Emotional / psychological abuse, Family conflict, First responders, Forgiveness, Health wellness, Identity issues, Immigration adjustment cultural adjustments, Mood disorders, Obsessive compulsive disorder, Parenting, Parenting attachment, Professional burnout, PTSD, Rehabilitation, Relationships dating, Return to work, Same sex couples, Self-esteem, Self-harm, Special needs / disabilities, Spiritual issues, Teen divorce and Workplace issues.
In Cathy's words
Whether you are seeking support for mental health or work, it is my belief nobody gets anywhere alone.
Continue reading Cathy's approach
With evidence-based practice as my cornerstone, I am a compassionate, trauma informed therapist who will remain open minded and practical, helping you address your situation(s), whether they be mental health challenges, life stressors, life transitions and the need for rehabilitation. I have specialized training for anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and trauma. Through practical programs like self-esteem building, boundary setting, communications, and values it is easier to focus on your life goals and put together a practical short term and long-term plan.
If you are pondering with one of life’s existential questions, who am I? or why am I here? I am happy to use my specialized training in career exploration to assist you with finding your way.
I have Master of Social Work training and am registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Worker. I am also a Registered Rehabilitation Specialist with the Vocational Rehabilitation Association and would consider it a pleasure to assist you with your life challenges or life endeavours. My aim is to help you understand who you are and help you achieve your life, health, and wellness goals.
Background
Master’s Degree Social Work
Registered with Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
Qualifications & registrations
- Also holds
- Bachelors Degree Sociology
- Bachelors Degree Social Work
- Post Grad Certificate in Career Counselling
- Diploma in Social Service Work
- Professional Development Solution Focused Training
- CBT Certificate
- TF-CBT Certificate
- Indigenous CBT Certificate
- Police Post Incident Re-entry Training
- Myers Briggs Type Indicator Certification
- Strong Interest Inventory Certification
- Experience
- 15+ Years
- Also a member of
- Registered Rehabilitation Specialist with VRA Canada - Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada
Trained in these approaches — drawn on depending on what each person needs, not a fixed formula.
A few questions, answered
I always had a natural curiosity about human interactions. I also had a natural aptitude and people would share with me their problems, even as a young person. I would listen and help them problem solve. This led to training in counselling, initially as a Christian counsellor, and then trained as a social worker. Although my focus is no longer Christian counselling, I will incorporate spiritually if this is led by the client.
I love it when I am able to help people reach their own aha moment.
Absolutely understand why a person would hesitant and wonder. I am a firm believer that no one gets anywhere alone, and a counsellor can be helpful as an impartial person to help with problem solving and figuring things out.
I would say what energizes me about my career is the privilege of sharing what I know and/or have experienced with others and finding that information useful to them.
If I had the ear of every parent, I would want them to know parenting is hard and worthwhile. Moreover, parenting the anxious child is best done through the process of acceptance and building confidence. Every child benefits from validation and support and when anxiety gets in the way, it is understandable that it feels hard. But you’ve got this!
You will suffer from trauma for the rest of your life. Although I believe trauma is life changing and certainly impacts many if not all areas of life, it does not have to be a lifelong injury. Although we can never change what happened in the past, we can learn to change how we interact with our past in our every day lives.
Getting to know Cathy
- What activity instantly calms you?
- I have learned that I really enjoy working in the garden.
- Would you rather cook or order in?
- I would not say I dance per se, but the song Sweet Dream by the Eurythmics will always get my body moving.
- How do you enjoy spending your alone time?
- My favourite way to spend alone time is outdoors in the garden. Whether it’s working in the garden or taking a walk in the woods (winter or summer), I always find these times enjoyable and reflective.