Suzanne has worked with children, teens and adults in a helping capacity for over 30 years. Suzanne’s experience as a teacher, foster parent, child and youth worker, Education Liaison with HCCAS, Family Service Coordinator with Autism Ontario, and rehabilitation support worker for individuals with traumatic brain injuries all inform her work today.
Suzanne’s services also include play based interventions and she meets regularly with a play therapy supervisor while she completes additional specialist training in play therapy. She expects to complete all of her training early 2025 and will soon be a fully certified, registered play therapist.
Suzanne also brings to her work canine-assisted therapy which is based off of her award winning research at Wilfrid Laurier University. These interventions offer non-verbal interventions that can assist with regulation, as well as trauma and grief processing.
What does a session with Suzanne look like?
All sessions are highly individualized. For example, younger clients typically have their sessions in a dedicated play room. This is also where sessions with a canine will happen if both client and therapist agree that including a dog brings a therapeutic benefit. (Please note that a canine is not always present and it is always at the sole discretion of the therapist. Canine-assisted therapy is more than just ‘bringing a dog to work’ and there is ongoing assessment and adjustment that occurs in every session).
And for adult clients, you may prefer a more relaxed, traditional approach and sessions will likely be held in the office.
What’s next at Riverway?
Riverway Therapy was launched during the pandemic and Suzanne is thrilled that it continues to grow and add new services. Our team and offerings keep growing. Stay tuned!
