We Are Committed to Your Mental Health

Online Therapy and Counselling for Durham Region & GTA

Meet The Team

Hugh Watkins

Owner/Lead Psychotherapist

For the last 31 years I have been serving, leading and coaching individuals with a diverse range of needs. I have worked in Canada’s urban centers, rural communities, and aboriginal communities and throughout the West Indies and USA.

I respect and admire diversity in the complexity of our individual uniqueness and the simplicity of our commonalities.  I am passionately interested in the lives of people; specifically, in assisting them to set and meet personal goals and achieve a high level of overall wellness.

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In my practice I recognize the advantage of education in building a persons’ self- worth and confidence, often supporting clients to seek opportunities to advance their skills in both formal and informal settings.

Every individual has the potential to be successful. Often individuals present with a unique range of challenges, be it emotional, cognitive, in our relationships both professionally and personal, and financial issues that may hinder our success. Therefore, it is imperative that we recognize problem areas, even highlighting some of our previous successes and then embark in some goal & value-oriented planning, uniquely tailored to each individual(s).

When working collaboratively with clients, we as counsellors here at Voice of Hope Counselling & Wellness Centre have been recognized as being authentic, providing a nurturing and engaging cultural atmosphere, where the client(s) can develop a sense of connectedness throughout the therapeutic process. It’s important for us to be engaging to our client(s) as we build our alliance toward the quality of life they are longing for; experiencing the power of life transformation, mindfully active in your lives, taking control of your journey, and build self- regulation skills that will empower you to actualize your full potential!

As CEO and in my role as a Registered Psychotherapist, I strive to support clients through, skills development, goal setting, accessing various community supports and being present, in the “here and now” for each client.

My approach is solution-focused in nature; I have an optimistic approach to identifying and building strengths. Establishing trust and building a positive and respectful relationship is paramount. I encourage and assist individuals in finding their voice in our sessions while I listening intently, paraphrase their words for clarification and reflection, expressing empathy, and having respect in their struggles. Encouragement, appreciative reflection, creativity, rapport building and co- constructing goal plans are the tools I rely on to encourage growth.

My genuine passion is people. It is my desire to assist YOU, in charting your course for success and personal happiness; bringing strength and encouragement while helping YOU achieve personal fulfillment, wholeness and tranquility within YOUR life!

Book An Appointment With Hugh Today

Shalini Subramanian

Psychotherapist

Shalini Subramanian is one of the therapists here at Voice of Hope. She is a social work honours graduate from York University, with a Masters in Social Work from the University of Windsor.

Shalini is extremely passionate in counselling, with a lot of her work grounded in using narrative therapy, anti-oppressive practices, and the concepts of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.

She loves working with individuals of all ages, and has spent a lot of time working in the school board with complex needs youth, as well as providing counselling to adults and families dealing with various challenges.

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In her spare time, Shalini loves to sing, dance, play with her dogs, and watch Netflix romcoms. She is very personable, adaptable, and loves meeting new people.

Contact Voice of Hope for an appointment with Shalini today!

Book An Appointment With Shalini Today

Andrea James

Psychotherapist

Hello! My name is Andrea James and I am a Registered Psychotherapist with eighteen years experience working in a variety of settings helping people to achieve their goals.

Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, to Caribbean parents, I earned my Master’s Degree at McGill in Education and Counseling Psychology and I am registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.  I am also a member of the Ontario College of teachers. I speak functional French.

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I believe in working in partnership with clients, utilizing their strengths to help them with challenges and to achieve desired goals. It is important to me as a therapist to explore all aspects of an individual’s life that impacts their well-being including physical health, support systems, work/school environment and spirituality. 

On a personal level, I am passionate about sports, food, dancing, and entertaining. When I am not helping in the professional sense, I appreciate time decompressing with my family.

Do not hesitate to contact the office to book an appointment today! I would love the opportunity to start a journey together.

Book An Appointment With Andrea Today

Andrae Belle

Psychotherapist

Andrae is a psychotherapist who has worked in community, residential, and hospital settings supporting mental health.  He is passionate about helping individuals and families through life’s difficulties and uses a calm and compassionate approach to create a space where his clients feel safe in exploring their challenges.

Andrae has experience treating a range of mental health and relational challenges, which include mood disorders, eating disorders, and trauma. Andrae also has a special interest in helping males become emotionally and spiritually healthy.

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Working from an attachment-based, trauma-informed lens Andrae utilizes a range of therapeutic modalities. He works with his clients to build a road map toward their therapeutic and relational goals by exploring where they have come from and where they would like to go while supporting them with practical tools for their journey.

Andrae obtained his Masters in Social Work from the University of Windsor and is in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).

Outside of supporting others professionally Andrae enjoys spending time with his wife and three children doing all things active. He also plays piano and bass guitar in his free time.

Contact Voice of Hope and begin your journey to wellness with Andrae today.

Book An Appointment With Andrae Today

Gillian Gibbes

Psychotherapist

Gill (pronounced “Jill”) is positive, empathic and passionate about psychology and helping others solve their problems, achieve personal wellness, and improve their interpersonal relationships.

Gill’s welcoming presence, empathy, selflessness, and compassion motivate deep therapeutic connections with her clients, and provide a safe, supportive, non-judgmental space to share their story. Gill’s collaborative, integrative approach of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) infused with client-centred techniques, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) focuses on building your strengths and skill set to help you overcome anxiety, depression, and relational issues as required for your specific needs.

Gill holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree from Yorkville University and a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. Gill loves meeting new people from all around the globe, and in her spare time, she loves to travel, and spend time with her family, friends, and pets.

Book An Appointment With Gillian Today

Brooke Jarrett

Psychotherapist (qualifying)

Hello! My name is Brooke and I am a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) here at Voice of Hope. I aspire to offer an empathetic, soothing, and non-judgmental presence where you can feel safe to share your story. I care deeply for others and am passionate about cultivating authentic therapeutic connections and genuine support so that you can grow, flourish, and achieve wellness in your life. I proudly identify as a queer woman who is passionate about creating a safe space where the unique needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are supported. Honouring diversity is very important to me, so I’ve made it my mission to create a counselling environment where everyone’s unique intersectional identity is acknowledged and celebrated. 

Whether your goal is to explore your gender identity or sexuality, build self-confidence, overcome depression or anxiety, improve your relationships, navigate difficult life transitions, begin the process of healing, find purpose and meaning in life, or understand yourself on a deeper level, I am here to support you. I would love to help you discover your innate strengths, passions, and values and offer you tools that will help you navigate life and achieve your goals.  

My hope is to validate you in whatever capacity you show up to counselling. Whether you are ready to dive into deep self-exploration or are still hesitant about seeking counselling (or somewhere in between), I encourage you to take that step today. I would love nothing more than to meet you where you are and walk alongside you on your journey to wellness.

Book An Appointment With Brooke Today

Dave Larmour

Psychotherapist (qualifying)

 

My name is Dave and I really love helping people and have spent the last 30 years working in a faith-based people-helping profession. I have a wealth of experience coming alongside people across all ages, stages, and experiences of life and have enjoyed assisting them with the things that challenge them the most. I am a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) in the Qualifying category. I have an undergraduate degree in Theology (B.Th.), a Master of Arts Degree (M.A) in Leadership and a Master of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology (MACP) from Yorkville University.

Life happens to all of us and navigating the challenges we face often requires a non-judgmental, understanding, and an empathetic perspective. Going it alone doesn’t always lead to the outcomes we want.  Finding a trusted person who can join your team to help you live your best life is what we’re all about here at Voice of Hope Counselling and Wellness Centre.

Anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, addictions, workplace challenges, relationships, marriage parenting, existential issues; these are all real-life realities that so many people face. We all need help and support when life gets hard.  

Modalities that I often employ to help people emerges from my emphasis on Person Centered Therapy. The client is at the very center of my therapeutic approach. I also employ Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy along with Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, these evidence-based approaches have proven effective for so many people.

It would be a privilege for me to join your team and help you reach your goals.  So why not reach out today, I’m here to help and am available in-person, or on-line – whatever works best for you.  It would be so good to connect with you.

 

Book An Appointment With Dave Today

Meet Our Student Interns

Kristen Malcolm

Psychotherapist (qualifying)

Kristen is a positive, welcoming, and empathetic individual who loves helping people be the best versions of themselves. Whether it be just needing someone to talk to or wanting to talk through some hard emotions, she loves connecting and helping others to recognize the strengths that they already have and take advantage of them. With over eight years of experience in the people-helping profession, she creates a safe and non-judgemental place for people of all ages to share their story. Life is not always easy and some pretty significant challenges can happen, therefore, it’s important to make space for the emotions that we carry, the relational struggles that we walk through, and any other issues that we face with another trusted individual who cares. Kristen is passionate about making that space for you to be yourself.

She is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the CRPO and has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology from York University as well as currently completing her Master of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology (MACP) from Yorkville University. She loves continually learning and understanding how to add value to the people’s lives around her. With each client being at the centre, she utilizes interventions from Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy to aid in contributing to each client’s toolbox. Kristen would love to connect with you and help you on your continued journey to wellness.

Lisa Chapman

 Psychotherapist (qualifying)

Lisa has joined Voice of Hope as a practicum therapist. She is completing her Masters degree in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from York University in Toronto.

Lisa has a history of volunteer work in communities serving people of all ages in various capacities. Her predominant skill is the capacity to communicate empathically and effectively with others. Lisa believes that meeting people where they are is the beginning of a safe and trusting relationship.

Lisa has adopted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and some aspects of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) into her practice as methods for helping others to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Her passion is to help you discover your “A-Ha!” moment.

Your Growth Starts Here

Flexible appointments and urgent care.

12 + 3 =

Committed to Your Mental Health

Hugh Watkins

Owner/Lead Psychotherapist

Better Mental Health is Our Mission

Online Therapy and Counselling for Durham Region & GTA

(905) 655 4111

contactvoh@gmail.com

1A-5959 Anderson Street Whitby Ontario L1M 2E9

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