Meet the Circle of Support

 Marie-Eve Nackers has been a Registered Physiotherapist in Ontario since 2012, focusing on pelvic health and chronic pain. 

Her approach is connecting the mind and body as a critical component of her assessment and treatment. Marie-Eve provides trauma-informed care to create a space where her patients feel supported. Her natural and down-to-earth approach makes her patients feel at ease. She utilizes breath work to build core stability and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.  Marie-Eve is passionate about providing her patients with education to understand their bodies and functioning. She is a member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Marie-Eve is a francophone and can offer services in English and French. 

AVAILABILITY: DAYS & EVENINGS

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

Registered Psychotherapist (see below about billing).

Whitney is a Registered Psychotherapist who has a passion for working with children, adolescents, and families. She thrives on creating a warm, caring, and supportive environment when focusing on various mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, ASD, and ADHD.
In addition to working with children and youth, Whitney supports parents in discovering new ways to improve family dynamics. She empowers parents to learn their child’s emotional needs in-depth and provides strategies that help facilitate a secure attachment. She supports adults with learning to regulate their own emotions as well as inner-child work. 

Whitney uses a holistic and strength-based approach to counselling and understands that everyone’s needs are different.  She uses therapeutic interventions including, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Dialectic behaviour therapy (DBT), emotion coaching, and solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT).

Whitney is a graduate of Brock University in the Honours Bachelor Child and Youth Studies program and is currently completing her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology with Yorkville University. She is registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.

Whitney is thrilled to be completing her practicum at Maternal Health Niagara and would be pleased to accompany you on your therapeutic journey.
** Services by Whitney will be billed under Social Worker Services as Emily Pollak, MSW, RSW, supervises her 

Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW) 

Dedicated to ensuring families have compassionate support as they navigate the ups and downs of the perinatal period, Amanda is an experienced practitioner who believes in a holistic approach to well-being. She specializes in supporting those who are survivors of abuse and trauma and works to empower her clients with the skills to generate internal strength, calm, confidence and reduce stress, anxiety, fear and depression.

Amanda holds a Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Toronto as well as a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Sociology Degrees from McMaster University. Amanda achieved a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Social Work Practice Education from Goldsmiths University in London, England. She is a Registered Social Worker and member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers. She has undertaken her MBSR teacher qualification through the University of California, San Diego and qualified as a Nurturing Parent: Mindfulness and Well-Being Facilitator. She is currently completing Level 1 & 2 EMDR training. 

In addition to her practice at Maternal Health Niagara, Amanda Teaches Yoga, Mindfulness

AVAILABILITY: MONDAY pm, WEDNESDAY day and THURSDAY mornings  

Occupational Therapist, Psychotherapist M Sc. OT. OT Reg (Ont.),  

***REGISTERED WITH THE COLLEGE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS OF ONTARIO FOR BILLING***

Melissa has devoted her career to working with parents, infants and young children. Melissa supports families with perinatal mental health concerns, parenting challenges, attachment concerns and navigating the ups and downs of the parenting journey. This includes those whose own experience of being parented impacts their parenting and parents who struggle to know how to respond to their children's big emotions. 

Melissa has extensive experience addressing various presenting concerns in infants, toddlers, and young children, including behavioural problems, emotion regulation challenges, and anxiety.

Melissa holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and a Master's in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University. She then obtained additional training in various Play Therapy approaches and attachment-based interventions (including Circle of Security, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, and Infant-Parent Psychotherapy) as well as training in perinatal mental health and perinatal loss and grief. Melissa is a registered Occupational Therapist, Psychotherapist and a member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.

As an Occupational Therapist and Psychotherapist Melissa utilizes a unique and comprehensive lens to address the 'occupation' of parenting, looking at the various factors within the person, the environment, and the tasks of parenting themselves that can impact the parenting experience.

AVAILABILITY: TUESDAY afternoon and evenings.

Communications Intern

Zuhrina is a fourth-year undergraduate student, who studies Media Studies and Communications. Originally from Toronto,  she is now a full-time student at Brock University, who resides in the Niagara region. Her passion for community work, wellness and digital creativity has led her to join the team as a Communications Intern.

She will be with us from November 1, 2021- April 8, 202