In person in Simcoe · online across Ontario
Pat Allen
Registered Social Worker · RN · CPMHN(C) · RSW
- Families, Individuals & Couples
- English
Support for Anxiety, Behavioural Issues, Bipolar Disorder, Blended Family and 8 more ↓
Areas of focus
If what you are carrying is not listed, it is still worth a conversation.
- Anxiety
- Behavioural Issues
- Bipolar Disorder
- Blended Family
- Couples Communication
- Depression
- Domestic Abuse
- Emotional Unavailability
- Grief and loss
- Teen Issues
- Women's Issues
- Toxic Relationships
Also works with Abortion issue, Abuse survivor issues, Adoption, Aging parents / elder care, Alcohol drug addiction, Attachment, Body image issues, Caregiver stress, Child abuse, Children divorce, Co-parenting, Confidence, Control issues, Crisis intervention, Developmental disorder, Elder abuse / exploitation, Emotional / psychological abuse, Family conflict, Financial stress, First responders, Forgiveness, Health wellness, Mood disorders, Obsessive compulsive disorder, Parenting, Personality disorders, Professional burnout, PTSD, Rehabilitation, Relationships dating, Return to work, Self-esteem, Self-harm, Sexual assault victim, Sexual health, Special needs / disabilities, Spiritual issues, Stress management, Trust issues and Workplace issues.
In Pat's words
Helping people achieve a joy-filled life, a life of purpose has always been my passion. I love people, and love hearing their story, their trials and their strengths. Many people don’t know that they have such strength. I have always found it an honour that individuals would let me join their journey. The fact that you are seeking assistance shows me that you can do it. That you want to be the person you’ve always dreamed you’d be. You wish you could wake up tomorrow and life, as it is, would be different. Sometimes it takes sitting down and looking at where you are and where you want to be and finding the way to get there. I am a registered social worker, registered nurse and a psychiatric mental health practitioner. I have worked in the field of mental health for 11 years.
Continue reading Pat's approach
In my experience, I have found that at times a mental health assessment would help you understand yourself. “Why do you feel the way you do?” I have seen so many people obtain renewed life with the help of psychiatry. This can be facilitated with a much shorter wait time than is available in the public sector. Our assessment, then meeting with the psychiatrist, along with my follow-up, can achieve this.
The counselling techniques used in our one-to-one sessions – cognitive behaviour therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy – have proven effective. Perhaps I could help your teens and family conflict. I have worked at length with youth at risk and in our youth justice system. I found that always seeing the best in our youth worked to help them attain their potential.
Adoption was an area I enjoyed for many years. Open adoption has changed the face of adoption, and I was glad to be a part of that change. I have always loved what I do, which is why I am still doing it. I hope I can work with you!
Background
Graduated from nursing school and attended University of Toronto. I have worked in the area of public health, labour and delivery and m mental health.
Registered with College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
Also listed on
Qualifications & registrations
- Also holds
- I worked for 20 years doing birth parent counselling in the area of adoption.
- I was a crisis worker and have completed Suicide Prevention Training and was an ASIST trainer.
- I have taken courses in CBT and youth trauma and addictions as well as FASD training.
- Experience
- 22 years of social work and 15 more in nursing.
- Also a member of
- Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
Trained in these approaches, drawn on depending on what each person needs, not a fixed formula.
Professional contributions
- I Was On Huntley Street Twice In The Past Sharing Birth Parent Options And Adoption Outcomes.
A few questions, answered
I found there were lots of hurting people and I had the capacity to interact and help people look at their life goals and to see how their difficulties were impeding their progress. I could support them as they addressed their concerns and their background and learned skills to be able to affect life change.
I truly enjoy people. I feel I can relate well to them and provide them with ease in sharing. I feel good when I see that there has been a difference in their lives and that they can move forward without me as a coach but become their own coach.
It is sometimes hard to come to counselling as you may not have shared openly with someone you do not know in the past. Everything is confidential and not shared without your consent. It takes a few sessions to get to know each other, but often you will find you do feel comfortable after the first session. If not, perhaps the therapist is not the right fit for you. This happens at times, and it is not a fault of yours. Therapy is something that you may want to try to see if it is for you. Perhaps the cost is a factor. Many people are covered with benefits and, if not, remember, it is an income tax deduction as a medical expense.
Parenting is not easy but it is wonderful and rewarding. Many times, people are not shown good parenting skills themselves, and so it is difficult but not impossible. There are many resources that are available and with knowledge and skills, issues can be improved. Children need lots of love, and acceptance, but also firm boundaries. These boundaries are necessary in order for them to feel secure enough to move forward in their own development. Learning that children can have different learning styles and that working with and understanding your child is so important. Having strong boundaries around screen time and bedtime routines are very important in child development.
I am very proud of the work I have done in birth parent counselling, and helping birth parents with very important life choices. I have helped facilitate over 200 adoption placements and assisted many birth parents in their role of parenting their children.
"I have found you very easy to talk with, and found your approach very calming" "I feel the changes I have made through counselling have saved my marriage" "I think counselling should be done by everyone. "
Getting to know Pat
- What song always gets you out on the dance floor?
- Unchained melody
- Who would play you in the movie of your life?
- Edith Bunker
- What was your favourite age growing up?
- 15
- Who has had the greatest influence in your life?
- God