Meet the Circle of Support

Registered Social Worker (MSW, BSSW, RSW) Psychotherapist

Emily founded Maternal Health Niagara with the vision of building a circle of support for individuals and families during the reproductive period and beyond. Emily's clinical focus is infertility, pregnancy loss, pregnancy, birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum depression. She coaches people through “guilt” and managing the mental load of parenting. 

Emily's passion for Maternal Mental Health was sparked during her own journey. Emily had hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) which took a toll on her physical and emotional wellness. During that time, Emily recognized the gap in services and was determined to build a circle of support for others. The combination of lived experience and extensive professional development allows Emily to bring a unique clinical lens of empathy and validation to her clients. She is down-to-earth and intuitive with a practical and accepting therapeutic style.

Emily has her Master's in Social Work from The Ohio State University (2007) and she is a Registered Social Worker in Ontario. She has over 15 years of experience supporting families. Emily’s professional affiliations include Postpartum Support International (PSI) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OSAW). Emily is trained in EMDR levels 1 & 2, completed Advance Perinatal Training and FLASH.

Building community capacity and awareness are essential in helping individuals and families build their circle of support. Emily has facilitated perinatal mental health training for health care professionals. She provides clinical consultation and mentorship to other therapists in the field of maternal mental health. 

When she is off work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family. She would describe herself as HSP and loves to have some quiet time to reset. Her favourite thing to do is go for walks and send handwritten cards. 

AVAILABILITY: WEEKDAYS (9-2)

RATE: $150

Registered Social Worker (BA, BSW, MSW, RSW)

Brittany is a Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist with a Master of Social Work and over 10 years of experience in social work and mental health. Brittany has been providing counselling and psychotherapy solely for over six years. Brittany is an Indigenous (Haudenosaunee, Cayuga) and Canadian settler and comes from a blended worldview when understanding life and wellness.       

After years of experience working with women, children, youth and families, Brittany’s interest in perinatal mental health specifically came with her journey into motherhood. It became evident to Brittany how significant of a life change parenthood is and how vital perinatal mental health support is in the well-being of the mother/gestational parent and the well-being of the entire family. Brittany has personal experience with pregnancy loss and pregnancy and parenting during the pandemic. Brittany’s other focus areas include trauma, attachment, anxiety, disordered eating, relationship issues and intimate partner violence.       

Brittany has training in trauma-informed and trauma-focused therapy (ATTCH Niagara: Trauma Integration Clinician Certification), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Internal Family Systems. Brittany is in the process of completing her Perinatal Mental Health Certificate (CPMHT). Therapeutic modalities aside, Brittany has a relational approach to therapy and believes the single most factor to positive outcomes in therapy is the client-therapist relationship.

AVAILABILITY: Tuesday 10-12pm & WEDNESDAY 7:30-9:30 pm 

RATE: $150

Registered Social Worker (MSW, BSW, RSW)

Taylor’s passion for perinatal wellness evolved through her role as a trained and certified labour and birth doula. She uses her frontline doula experience to shape components of her Social Work practice. Taylor supports people through their perinatal journey, including fertility, pregnancy, birth trauma and postpartum. She has bereavement training through Home Hospice Association and has helped families through infant and pregnancy loss. In addition, Taylor has completed Level 1 and Level 2 EMDR training and Advance Perinatal EMDR and FLASH. 

She displays strong compassion for the development and support of families from all walks of life. Her other care areas include grief and loss, disordered eating, self-esteem and sexuality and gender identity. Taylor is part of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Taylor completed her Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and Bachelors of Social work from Wilfred Laurier University. She is a Registered Social Worker and member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers and Postpartum Support International. 

In addition to her work at Maternal Health Niagara, she supports children at her full-time job and volunteers at Heartland Forest.

AVAILABILITY: EVENINGS ONLY

RATE: $130

Sliding Scale Available

Registered Social Worker (BA, BSW, MSW, RSW) 

Brittani has her Bachelor of Arts in child and youth studies (2016) from Brock, a bachelor’s in social work (2018) (BSW) from the University of Victoria and a Master of Social Work (2019) (MSW) from Laurier. Brittani is also a registered social worker in Ontario. Brittani’s professional experience includes working with children, individuals and families in the community and therapeutic settings.

Brittani’s main care areas include perinatal mental health, anxiety, trauma, grief/loss and eating disorders/body image. She works with children, teens, adults, and families. Brittani is keen on helping clients navigate complicated childhood experiences and traumatic experiences concerning attachment, relationships, sense of self, and parenting.

Brittani is compassion-focused, person-centred and strength-based in her approach. She often tends to use narrative therapy, EMDR and CBT in her work.

Brittani and her partner have a dog, two cats, and many house plants. She enjoys going for walks with her dog, reading, watching TV, and exploring local shops, restaurants and markets. 

AVAILABILITY: THURSDAY 10-12 & 5-8pm, & FRIDAY 1-6pm

RATE: $130

Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW)

Ashley has her Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Registered Social Worker in Ontario. Her care areas include working with children, youth, parents, perinatal mental health, and adults. She supports children and youth struggling with various mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, ODD, and ADHD. Her work with families and caregivers focuses on providing tools and resources to help meet their child’s social/emotional/behavioural needs and develop secure attachment.

Before being a Social Worker, she worked in the field of communication. Her lived experience perinatally was a catalyst for her to switch career paths. She is heartfelt to support people during the perinatal period through loss, pregnancy and postpartum. She brings deep compassion and care into all that she does. 

Ashley utilizes a variety of strength-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Attachment Theory, and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT).

Registered Social Worker at Maternal Health Niagara, Ashley works part-time at a children’s mental health agency. 

AVAILABILITY: MONDAY 12-3 & 4-6pm; WEDNESDAY: 9-12 & 4-6PM THURSDAY 9-12

RATE: $130 

SLIDING SCALE AVAILABLE

Registered Social Worker  (RSW/ BSW)

Master of Social Work- Intern

Heidi has her Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Worker at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is a Registered Social Worker in Ontario. Her combined education brings an in-depth, comprehensive lens to her care for women’s wellness. She has worked with women who have faced health concerns throughout her career and has contributed to their healing journey. She is passionate about the mind and body connection and the importance of a holistic treatment approach. She brings creativity, compassion, empathy, and comfort to her clinical role. She completed the Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders course through the Seleni Institute and is training as a postpartum doula through Doula Canada.

Heidi is excited to be completing her practicum at Maternal Health Niagara from January 2022- to June 28, 2022. 

Upon completing her internship, she will remain at Maternal Health Niagara. 

** Services by Heidi will be billed under Social Worker Services as Emily Pollak, MSW, RSW, supervises her.

Heidi speaks English, French and Spanish.

AVAILABILITY: MONDAY & WEDNESDAY 9-5 pm & 

TUESDAY 11-7 pm

UPDATED HOURS FOR JULY: MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY:  9-5 pm & TUESDAY: 11-7 pm

RATE: $85 (UNTIL JUNE 29)

$130 (JUNE 30TH ON)

Registered Social Worker (RSW, BSW)

Amanda has a passion for working with children, youth, and families. Amanda understands the difficulties that personal life stress can bring to an individual and the ripple effect stress can have in one's life, including relationships, parenting, employment, and emotional wellness. 

Amanda is dedicated to supporting people through times of difficulty while helping them to uncover their strengths and abilities. She empowers people’s healing journey using storytelling (Narrative Therapy). Her approach includes assisting people in developing self-awareness and insight into their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.7

With over 15 years of experience in the field, she brings maturity and life experience. She attended the Ryerson School of Social Work and obtained a bachelor’s degree in social work and a minor in Psychology (2005). She is a Registered Social Worker in Ontario. Amanda’s clinical training incorporates various theories, crisis intervention, child development, cognitive behaviour therapy, conflict resolution and attachment.  Amanda practices from an equitable, inclusive, strengths-based and trauma-informed approach. She strives to support individuals in becoming their best selves.

Amanda is a mother of three children. Amanda enjoys spending time with her children, partner, and their dog on her time. Amanda uses jogging and yoga as a form of self-care, and she is an advocate for helping others understand the importance of taking care of themselves. 

Amanda is here to work alongside you to support you in setting your personal goals and to be part of your circle of support.

AVAILABILITY: MONDAY 6-9 PM 

RATE: $130

Registered Social Worker (MSW,  RSW) 

NO LONGER ACCEPTING CLIENTS

Jessica has an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Family Studies from the University of Guelph, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Wilfred Laurier. Jessica has received additional training in trauma-specific interventions and has spent most of her career supporting parents. 

She practices anti-oppressive and trauma-informed care. She uses an integrated, evidence-based approach and focused on nurturing self-compassion, and healing. 

Jessica is passionate about working with families and individuals during the prenatal and postpartum periods. There can be a range of emotions that come up during this time and having a person you can trust and lean on can make a world of difference. She supports families with infertility, perinatal mental health, infant loss, birth trauma, attachment, and parenting issues, as well as providing relationship and co-parenting support.  In addition to her perinatal work, Jessica has experience in addictions and supporting the LGBTQ community.

Some modalities that Jessica practices are cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, somatic body experiencing, mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive restructuring, and narrative therapy. She is currently completing Level 1 & 2 EMDR.

When not working Jessica enjoys spending time with her partner, her little one and her pets. She loves playing soccer, going for walks, eating donuts, and tending to her plants.

JESSICA will be away on Maternity in June 2022