CREDENTIALS, EXPERIENCE & AREAS OF SPECIALTY

 

Graham’s skill as a counsellor draws on over 30 years experience working with people from diverse backgrounds in the private and public sectors.  In the Public Sector, Graham has worked for such notable Children’s Mental Health organizations as the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, The Integra Foundation, East Metro Youth Services, Clifton Youth Services and Craigwood Youth Services (London, ON).  These experiences have made Graham an expert in parenting and family related issues with both adolescents and children.  Graham also has experience as a therapist in a medical setting on a global health team.

In the Private Sector, Graham has first-hand knowledge of the stresses that exist in the contemporary corporate environment.  Having worked for a major financial institution for over 10 years, providing counselling to employees and consultation to management & executives,  Graham is well versed in workplace issues.

FORMAL EDUCATION

Graham holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology (with a minor in Philosophy) and a graduate degree in Social Work, both from the University of Toronto.  He became a certified Social Worker in 1998 and is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.  Graham is a member in good standing with the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

Graham is also certified in trauma intervention and has conducted in excess of 100 debriefings following serious events.  He has extensive training in gender-related issues, such as communication and covert depression for men and self-esteem, and assertiveness for women.

Graham has received specialized training in couples counselling at the Relational Life Institute in Boston, Massachusetts with Terrence Real.  He has also completed an externship in emotionally focused couples therapy with Sue Johnson in Ottawa.

Specialized Training:

  • Family Therapy, C.M. Hincks Treatment Centre, Toronto, 1990-91
  • Play Therapy, C.M. Hincks Treatment Centre, Toronto, 1990-91
  • Adolescent Therapy, C.M. Hincks Treatment Centre, Toronto, 1990-91
  • Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), Warren Sheppell (The Mitchell Model), Toronto, 1991
  • Solution Focused Brief Therapy, deShazer 1990; Inso Kim Burg 1991, Toronto; Michelle Weiner-Davis, London, 1993
  • Functional Family Therapy, Jim Alexander, Sarnia, 1991
  • Family Therapy, Scott Miller, London, 1995
  • Multi-Systemic Therapy, Scott Henggeler, London, 1996
  • Trauma and Loss, Teresa Rando, Toronto, 1997
  • Male Depression and Genger Socialization, Terrence Real, Toronto, 1998
  • Marital Therapy, Brief Therapy Training Centre, Toronto, 1999
  • Couples Therapy and Gender Socialization, T. Real-Relational Life Institute, Boston, 2000
  • CISD Re-Certification, UMBC and The International CIS Foundation, Toronto, 2002
  • Couples Therapy and Gender Socialization Practicum, T. Real-Relational Life Institute, Boston, 2004
  • Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy Intensive Externship, Sue Johnson, Ottawa, 2007
  • Narative Therapy Intensive Externship, Michael White, Toronto, 2007
  • Attachment, Psychotherapy and The Therapist, Dave Wallin, Toronto, 2011
  • Infidelity and Narcissism, Esther Perel and Terry Real, Toronto, 2016

CURRENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

In recent years Graham has focused developing a greater understanding of self and how it impacts his therapeutic process. He has worked with colleagues and trainers, such as David Wallin, to enhance his professional sense of self, but he has also reach out to other professionals in disciplines such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness and spirituality. The intent has been to become even more considered in his work with an eye to the larger context of this work. As Graham points out, we don’t live in isolation. We share the planet with other people and other living things. We can’t truly take care of ourselves if we ignore this reality.