Find a CRM® Therapist

DTATI RCAT RP

Sharlene has been in independent practice since 1989. She was born in South Africa and came to Canada to study Art Therapy. In conjunction with private practice where she focuses on work with individuals, couples and supervision, Sharlene is on faculty with the Toronto Art Therapy Institute as the Group Art Therapist. Sharlene has been doing CRM since Sept 2017

I provide In Person and Video Comprehensive Resource Model Counseling to adults, couples, teens and pre-teens. CRM has been shown to help with many issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, Complex PTSD, eating disorders, addictions, relationship issues, sexual orientation, serious mental health issues, dissociation, chronic pain, concussions, childhood abuse, relationship violence, relocation issues, sleep, anger and many other issues. I am adaptable to the style and needs of each individual client. I believe that behind your struggles is an astonishing ability to find hope, healing, strength, creativity, connection and fulfillment.

I am aware of how difficult, frightening, or embarrassing it can be to see a counselor. Most people have a fear of healing and the consequences of healing – as well as a fear of the counseling process itself – not wanting to talk, remember, or feel. I can help you with those obstacles and I have ways to help you, even if you don’t want to tell me what happened to you or what issue you want to work on. We can talk about “the problem.”

I have been a Social Worker for 32 years and have been doing individual and couple counseling for 19 years. I have learned and regularly use a wide variety of techniques.

I am aware of the link between current issues and past trauma, including how past traumatic events can affect mood, sleep, relationships as well as illness and pain within the body. I am LGBTQ positive. I am a yoga teacher and sensitive to the Spiritual as well as Psychological needs of my clients, including the needs of atheists and agnostics, and the need to leave that topic alone completely. I work well with people with any religious affiliation – including a religion you’ve made up on your own. I work well with people who are members of 12 step groups and with those who want a harm reduction approach. My Bachelor’s degree was in Biochemistry and I spent my first 12 years as a Social Worker with adults with Developmental Delays. So, I work well with people with very high and very low intelligence and anything in between. I was exposed to many different cultures as a child, teenager and young adult, and enjoy working with people from all ethnicities.

I am a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers and the OCSWSSW.