Our Counsellors

Our professional counselling team consists of individuals who are all experienced and capable of helping.

We are all Social Workers, who are registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and have achieved a Master of Social Work degree.  

Our receipts may be used with your extended health benefits if you have coverage for social workers, and are able to be included on your income tax return as a part of your medical expenses for the year.

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Joy Lang, M.S.W., R.S.W. Certified EMDR Therapist (pronouns she/her)

Joy started in the field of social work after graduating from Ryerson University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree.  She moved to the Waterloo Region in 1997, where she was employed by Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region as an intake worker.  In July 2000, she became a child protection supervisor.

Joy returned to school and achieved her Master of Social Work degree from Flinders University (Australia) in 2009.  She is a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).

Joy has continued her to develop her skills and knowledge by taking courses in couples counselling, Critical Incident Stress Management, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, (certification completed in July 2013) and working first responders.

During the course of her career, Joy has worked with a variety individuals, couples and families and groups, including families of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, including same-sex couples.

Joy is particularly interested and experienced in working with individuals who have experienced trauma, first responders, and individuals who are looking to make changes in their lives.

Joy is currently able to offer appointments during the daytime.

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Betty Finnie, M.S.W., R.S.W. (pronouns she/her)

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Betty graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2010 with her Master of Social Work degree and Western University (formerly UWO) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences, Minor in Thanatology 2007. She is a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).

Over the course of Betty’s career, she has worked in a number of settings including Diabetes Education Program Clinical Social Worker, Inpatient Social Worker and Clinical Social Worker. She has taken many additional training courses including, Emotionally Focused Couple Counselling, Mindfulness and PTSD.

Betty brings calming and warm presence to her work with clients. She enjoys working with a variety of clients, including teens and their families, couples, women who have experienced trauma and individuals who are experiencing depression and/or anxiety.

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Betty can currently offer video appointments on Tuesdays in the daytime and early evening.

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Sue Gallagher, M.S.W., R.S.W. (pronouns she/her)

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Sue graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1984 with her Master of Social Work degree.  She is a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).  Over the course of Sue’s career, she has worked in a number of settings including post-secondary education, child welfare and with the Waterloo Region Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre.

Sue brings a warm and calming presence to her work with clients.  She enjoys working with a variety of clients, including teens and their families, women who have experienced trauma and individuals who are experiencing depression and/or anxiety.

Sue is currently not taking new clients.

Maryam Naji, M.S.W., R.S.W (pronouns she/her)

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Maryam graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2015 with her Master of Social Work degree and Conestoga College with a Post-Graduate certificate in Career Development Practitioner in 2006. She is a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services (OCSWSSW).

Maryam is a culturally competent, experienced clinical social worker, with experience as a career counsellor, behaviour therapist, and instructor working with post-secondary students from diverse backgrounds. Her goal is to empower and help her clients to achieve their full potential and sustain tangible outcomes. She works collaboratively with her clients to find and address the root causes of the issues they are facing, develops plan and steps to address them, and finds the best approach to cut stressors and create balance and happiness in their lives.  Maryam is able to work with clients throughout the lifespan, and enjoys working with couples and children.

She uses a mixture of treatment approaches depending on the clients needs to help them overcome obstacles and build the best coping skills. She provides services and treatment in English, Farsi, Dari, and Turkish based on the clients language and preferences.  Maryam is currently offering video appointments on Thursday mornings.

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Katrina Howie, M.S.W., R. S.W. (pronouns she/her)

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Katrina graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Master’s of Social Work in 2011 and the University of Guelph with a Bachelor's Degree in International Development in 2008.  She has continued her education by taking courses in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Counseling Techniques in Addictions (certificate completed in 2019 through Wilfrid Laurier University), Trauma, Parenting and Issues of Equity.

She is a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW). 

Katrina has worked with Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region since 2011 in various roles supporting children and youth, parents and alternative caregivers such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, foster parents and adoptive parents.  

She enjoys working with individuals of all ages.  She has worked with individuals who have experienced a variety of current and past trauma, anxiety/stress, depression and addictions.  She enjoys working with parents, helping them increase their wellbeing to increase the wellbeing of their family.  She works collaboratively with clients from a strength based perspective to help them reach their goals.

Katrina is available Thursday evenings and 12pm on Tuesdays for in person sessions or virtual sessions.

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