GRAHAM SUMMERHAYES, B.Sc., M.S.W., R.S.W.
INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY & RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING
As of March 24, 2022, after 25 years, I will be closing my in-person Counselling and Psychotherapy practice in Stouffville and semi-retiring with my wife, Sharon, to the Niagara region. On April 12th, 2022 I will reopen my practice providing primarily remote service by way of live streaming and/or telephone. While I have been a therapist for over 35 years,
my professional credentials and experience will be expounded on in subsequent pages. In this space I want to tell you a bit about me as a person. I would suggest that when selecting a professional therapist to work with, you also feel comfortable with him/her as a person. Thus, here, I will share some things about me on the personal side.
The aspect of my life that gives me the greatest joy and has challenged my personal development most is as a husband and father. Sharon and I have been married 25 years and together 28. I have 2 daughters, Claire (24) and Charlotte (18). They have both graciously taught me the experiential lessons in parenting that before them was mostly theoretical. I was a child care worker before I was a therapist, so I wasn’t completely inexperienced, but as it has been said, it is different when it’s your own kids.
I have been active in sports throughout my life and still currently dabble in a number of activities recreationally, such as swimming, 
basketball, baseball, tennis, badminton and ping pong, but primarily I play hockey in the winter and golf in the summer. I also workout regularly to try and offset my love of junk food. I try to stay active in the community by participating in events such as the Terry Fox Run, local fundraising and clean-up events. I love to travel with my wife and children and learn more about our province, country and other places around the world. When I am being less active I love to read and I always enjoy a heart felt discussion of a good book.
I feel blessed to be surrounded by a large group of friends from many different aspects of our lives. From church
to school to sports to work to travel I have come to know many people from various backgrounds journeying along differing paths. And I learn from them all. I also have a closer knit group of friends whom I’d call my confidants. I have leaned on these people in the hard times and I hope I have been able to reciprocate their love and support.
I grew up the middle son of an Anglican minister. That in itself presented some of its own challenges, but things became much more difficult for me and the family when my parents separated when I was thirteen. My teen years 
were tumultuous and my relationships with both parents and both brothers were strained and estranged at times. I am happy to say that through hard work and a number of years of my own therapy I am resolved in and enjoy a good relationships with my younger brother and my mom and I was close to my dad until his passing in 2010. I worked hard to resolve issues with my older brother, who was abusive to me through much of my childhood and teenage years, and for a time we were closer. But more recently he has transgressed back to his old ways and again we have become estranged. While I hope this changes, realistically I know not every story has a happy ending.
I hope this gives you a flavor of me as a person and as I tell all my clients, feel free to enquire further about me as it relates to your decision to seek counselling.