TAHERA VAWDA (she/her) Associate Therapist Registered Social Worker,(MSW, RSW)

Tahera, a first-generation Canadian, brings a unique blend of cultures to her work. Her parents immigrated from South Africa in 1980 and have roots in East Indian and African communities. With over a decade of experience in the social services field, Tahera’s passion lies in supporting and empowering others during their most challenging times.

Tahera shares a lived experience with fertility issues, pregnancy, birth trauma and parenting. Tahera has training in perinatal mental health through Maternal Mental Health Now. She deeply understands how difficult, beautiful, terrifying and blessed this time can be in one’s life. Tahera also shares a lived experience as a woman of colour navigating fertility and pregnancy, the perinatal period and parenting.

Tahera believes that being curious about our mental health and exploring the areas that aren’t often exposed is essential for the resiliency of our minds. However, unexpected circumstances always require us to explore deeper within ourselves. Modalities like emotionally focused therapy, narrative therapy, mindfulness, and positive psychology are ways to do that. Tahera has training in Family Systems Theory and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Tahera’s primary approach is client-centred care. Tahera brings maturity, authenticity, compassion, kindness and nurturing into her practice.

Tahera’s educational journey is a testament to her commitment to professional growth. She holds a Social Work Social Service Work diploma (2011), a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from Niagara University (2013), and a Master of Social Work Degree from Dalhousie University (2014). Her career began in case management, working with individuals who experienced catastrophic injuries from motor vehicle accidents. She then transitioned into hospital social work, focusing on rehabilitation and community reintegration. Her diverse experience includes work in oncology, acute medicine, and long-term care, as well as palliative care, end-of-life care, and MAID. She is a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Outside of her career, Tahera is enjoying time as a new mom. She is often with family, friends, or her dog, Bo. She enjoys cooking, the outdoors, gardening, live music, sports, reading and podcasts.

Location: Ontario Virtual & In-Person

TAHERA VAWDA (she/her) Associate Therapist Registered Social Worker,(MSW, RSW) Tahera, a first-g... Read More

HEIDI BERCOVICI (she/her) Associate Therapist Registered Social Worker (RSW, MSW, BSW, BSc )

VIRTUAL ONLY!

Heidi is a somatic therapist who focuses on the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. She believes everyone has inner wisdom and strength waiting to be uncovered; sometimes, we need support. Heidi recognizes the transformative power within each individual to overcome challenges.

As a Registered Social Worker and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in training, she is deeply committed to her clients, fostering an atmosphere of warmth, creativity, compassion, and empathy. Heidi guides her clients toward finding balance in their lives by working with nervous system regulation. She understands that the body holds and stores trauma, and through Somatic Experiencing, healing becomes possible by improving access to internal resilience and releasing trauma at the body level. Heidi emphasizes the importance of her clients discovering the answers within themselves and adopts a gentle approach to help them connect with their bodies.

Heidi practices from anti-oppressive and strength-based perspectives, integrating modalities such as mindfulness-based therapies, Somatic Experiencing, body-based techniques, attachment theory, and FLASH.

Clients can use the skills learned to support their nervous systems between sessions.Heidi invites clients to be mindful and to learn to trust their needs between sessions.

Heidi holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Social Work from York University, a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology with a joint major in Spanish Language and Culture from Concordia University. Her diverse educational background has shaped her comprehensive approach to therapy. She has experience working with women and families in physical health, rehabilitation, and emotional and mental well-being, utilizing various modalities to create a holistic therapeutic experience.

Additionally, she is trained as a postpartum doula with Doula Canada and has completed the Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders course through the Seleni Institute. Her training includes grief and trauma, and she continuously engages in professional development.

In her leisure time, Heidi enjoys being in nature, playing hockey, dancing, and travelling.

Heidi is bilingual and speaks both English and French.

Location: Virtual

HEIDI BERCOVICI (she/her) Associate Therapist Registered Social Worker (RSW, MSW, BSW, BSc ) V... Read More

AMANDA TRAN (she/her) Associate Therapist RP (Qualifying)

VIRTUAL ONLY

Amanda understands that therapy can be a deeply personal and transformative journey. Her approach to therapy is warm, holistic, and trauma-informed, blending mindfulness, somatic healing, attachment-based strategies and intuition. She works alongside each client to build coping skills, process emotions, strengthen relationships, and set meaningful goals—helping them feel more grounded and authentic.

Amanda believes that when we tune into our inner wisdom—mind, body, and spirit—we can navigate challenges with greater ease and confidence. She provides a safe, supportive space for individuals facing various complexities, including fertility treatments, pregnancy, birth trauma, postpartum struggles, the emotional shifts of parenting and one’s own inner child healing.

Her passion for maternal mental health is rooted in her own experience with motherhood. Growing up in a multicultural family as a second-generation Canadian with Vietnamese refugee parents, Amanda understands the complexity of balancing different identities and expectations. This perspective shapes her inclusive, non-judgmental approach to therapy, where every client’s story is honoured and valued.

With training in mindfulness, somatic regulation strategies, trauma-focused therapy, and emotion-focused therapy, Amanda helps individuals break free from self-doubt, overwhelm, and exhaustion. Whether you’re navigating excessive thoughts, adjusting to life’s transitions, or working through past experiences that surface in parenthood, she’s here to guide you with compassion and care.

Before becoming a therapist, Amanda spent two decades working in corporate, government, nonprofit, education, and wellness settings, bringing a wealth of real-world experience to her practice. Outside of work, she finds joy in family time, yoga, and nature—embracing the little moments of rest and play that bring balance to life

Location: Virtual Only

AMANDA TRAN (she/her) Associate Therapist RP (Qualifying) VIRTUAL ONLY Amanda understands that ... Read More

MICHELLE, MSW, RSW Associate Therapist

Michelle is a Registered Social Worker (MSW) with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She brings extensive experience providing individual counselling for children, youth, young adults, and parents navigating the challenges of growth, relationships, and life transitions. Michelle practices holistically and compassionately, recognizing the connections among mind, body, relationships, and environment in the healing process.

She is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients can feel truly heard and empowered to explore their emotions and strengths.

Her approach is integrative and client-centered, drawing from attachment frameworks and evidence-based models such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). Michelle emphasizes emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and goal setting to support meaningful and sustainable personal growth. In addition to her work with youth and adults, Michelle provides perinatal support, helping individuals and families navigate the emotional and relational changes that accompany pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood.

With a background in community mental health, the education system, and the private sector, Michelle brings a well-rounded perspective to her practice. She is committed to delivering therapy that is authentic, collaborative, and tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals.

MICHELLE, MSW, RSW Associate Therapist Michelle is a Registered Social Worker (MSW) with the Ont... Read More

In-Person Services

In-Person Services Read More

LISA MARIE THOMPSON (she/her) Associate Therapist

RP (Qualifying) & Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)

Lisa Marie’s journey to joining Maternal Health Niagara was shaped by her 15 years in the education sector, where she worked closely with youth. These experiences ignited her desire to transition into a counselling environment where she could work with individuals, couples, and families on a more personal level.

She obtained her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University in 2018. She completed her thesis in couples counselling, which focused on restoring relationships to the foundation of effective communication. Lisa Marie also received her Level 1 certification in EMDR and has a heart for working with individuals and couples to find strength and healing.

At the core of Lisa Marie’s counselling philosophy is a belief in a client-centred approach. She sees individuals as active participants in their healing process. Lisa Marie empowers her clients through techniques such as cognitive behaviour therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, EMDR, and the Gottman method for couples.

Lisa Marie’s counselling practice is inclusive and versatile. She is adept at working with youth, adults, and couples, providing support for challenges such as anxiety, depression, stress, and marriage or family concerns. Her understanding of the intricacies of post-partum allows her to provide empathetic support to new moms on their journey through motherhood.

Behind the scenes, Lisa Maire is a ray of light and loves to laugh and have fun! She keeps things real and shows up for her colleges by small acts of kindness. When Lisa Marie is not counselling, she is a busy mom of three who spends time in the rink, gym, or studio. She enjoys choreographing musical productions, working on puzzles, or spending time near the water. She is so grateful to be a part of this incredible team.

AVAILABILITY: Tuesday: 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm Wednesday: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm Friday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm *virtual

Location: Ontario In-Person & Virtual

LISA MARIE THOMPSON (she/her) Associate Therapist RP (Qualifying) & Canadian Certified Coun... Read More

Virtual Provider in Ontario

Virtual Provider in Ontario Read More

Zara works alongside our Client Care Coordinator to ensure the first steps into your mental health journey feel safe and pressure-free. Through her own life experiences, she has discovered a passion for creating and nurturing healthy human connections and believes that everyone deserves the chance to feel like their best self.

During your initial consultation call, you can expect Zara to offer you a space where you can be vulnerable and feel heard, while discussing the goals you are hoping to work towards in therapy. She hopes to create a feeling of empowerment that can ripple into all areas of your life.

With a diverse background in client care and mental health, Zara understands that therapy is far from a one-size-fits-all experience. With this in mind, she places value in meeting you where you’re at – honouring your pace, your needs, and your life experiences.

Outside of her professional life, Zara enjoys staying active in the gym, indulging in her favourite restaurants and spending time in the sunshine with family and friends.

Zara works alongside our Client Care Coordinator to ensure the first steps into your mental healt... Read More

RANDI PAXTON (she/her) Associate Therapist Registered Social Worker (BA, BSW, MSW, RSW)

VIRTUAL ONLY

Randi has completed a diploma in Social Service Work, a Bachelor’s and a Master of Social Work degree. Randi is a lifelong learner who continues to passionately build her knowledge about the impact that childhood trauma and hurtful adult partnerships can have on current parenting challenges. Throughout her studies, Randi primarily worked with caregivers and children aged 0-6 through a lens of relational and attachment-based trauma-informed care. From this, it sparked her clinical passion for providing parenting support to caregivers of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She focuses on self-compassion and well-being while parenting, promoting secure attachments, and exploring the role our relationships with our caregivers growing up may play when responding to children’s emotional spectrum. Randi believes all caregivers possess the strengths and tools to help their children thrive, and through a collaborative therapeutic process, those skills and expertise can flourish!

Randi has experience supporting parents in recovery from substance use, women parenting and co-parenting after hurtful and/or abusive relationships, and supporting pregnant and parenting youth. Randi uses warmth and curiosity, bringing her authentic self to the therapeutic dynamic. Randi recognizes that the parenting journey can be tough! Randi will work with you to explore the role that your unique experiences may play in the parent-child dynamic as you support your child throughout evolving stages of development. She will honour and recognize your needs as a parent/human.

Randi recognizes the importance of healthy adult relationships and has experience supporting caregivers in healing early attachment wounds that may show up in your current adult relationships. Randi can work with you to identify specific challenges you may face, such as fostering open communication with your partner, setting healthy boundaries, resolving intimate partner conflict, and honouring your relational needs. These domains may not have been modelled for you growing up and can make these skills much more challenging to integrate within adult relationships.

Randi has experience integrating a working blend of trauma-informed cognitive behavioural therapy principles, attachment theory and strengths-based perspective through anti-oppressive and intersectional lenses. Randi values mindfulness and grounding strategies in her practice and helps caregivers integrate them with their children using child-friendly techniques.

Randi believes that work/life balance is crucial to self-fulfillment and personal well-being. In her spare time, Randi loves to read fiction, do yoga, spend time outdoors and listen to comedy podcasts.

Location Ontario Virtual only

RANDI PAXTON (she/her) Associate Therapist Registered Social Worker (BA, BSW, MSW, RSW) VIRTUAL ... Read More

Emily founded Maternal Health Niagara (est. 2017) to build a circle of support for individuals and families during the perinatal period and beyond. Emily’s clinical focus is infertility, surrogacy, pregnancy and infant loss, birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, and healing from childhood trauma. Emily enjoys working with birth and health care professionals as they navigate the intricacies of the field, and she is a therapists therapist.

During her perinatal journey of pregnancy loss and pregnancy complications, Emily’s lived experience sparked her passion for maternal mental health. Emily had hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which affected her physical and emotional wellness. From her challenges during the perinatal period, Emily recognized the service gap and was determined to build a circle of support for others. Combining lived experience and extensive professional skills allows Emily to bring her clients a unique clinical lens of empathy, validation, and healing. She is down-to-earth, nurturing, realistic and accepting.

Emily has been in the profession for 19 years. She obtained her Master’s in Social Work from Ohio State University and is a Registered Social Worker in Ontario. Emily is trained in EMDR levels 1 and 2, advanced perinatal EMDR, Maternal Mental Health Now, Postpartum Support International advanced perinatal training, and FLASH. Emily often says therapy is an art and blends different skills into her therapy with clients. She uses her intuitive connection to help guide her work.

Embracing all parts of yourself is something Emily deeply values, and lives true to this by embracing her ADHD as a superpower. Emily can connect themes with her clients, use her creatively to explore topics and go to a deeper level. Emily values accepting all people for who they are, and strives to be inclusive.

Developing community capacity and awareness is essential in helping individuals and families build their circle of support. Emily has facilitated perinatal mental health training for healthcare professionals and provides clinical consultation and mentorship to other therapists in periantal mental health.

When she is off work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family. She is a mom of two active kids and is often at the baseball diamond. She would describe herself as an HSP and loves to have some quiet time to reset. Her favourite things are going for walks, sending handwritten cards, diamond art or cuddling with her furbabies!

Emily founded Maternal Health Niagara (est. 2017) to build a circle of support for individuals an... Read More