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Meet The Esinam Counselling Team

Personal & Professional Empowerment

MEET STACY

Owner
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Stacy Darku is a Registered Counselling Therapist-Candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists.  Stacy has been working in the mental health field for over 12 years in different capacities. The essence of her work is to support individuals that are struggling to find themselves and want to heal from their trauma. She specializes in working with individuals that have experienced sexualized trauma, domestic violence, addictions, grief, sexual difficulties, and racial injustice.

Stacy uses a strength-based approach and the modalities she uses are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Exposure Therapy. Stacy's approach is person-centered, culturally informed, and trauma informed and she uses approaches that best suits her client's needs. ​Stacy holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology-Psychology (honours) from the University of New Brunswick.

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MEET ZARRIN

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Zarrin Ghaferi is a Registered Counselling Therapist with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists, and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Zarrin has experience working in the field of mental health at private practice, community-based organizations, and in both residential and outpatient treatment facilities. Zarrin offers virtual individual counselling services to adults dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and interpersonal issues.She works with diverse populations, and her experience as an immigrant has also helped her to support other newcomers who are struggling with their identity or are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression due to migration and settlement. Zarrin can offer services in both English and Persian/Farsi.
Zarrin’s approach is person-centered, trauma-informed and culturally sensitive. The evidence-based modalities she uses are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.
Zarrin holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Honours) from Dalhousie University

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MEET SAMANTHA

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Samantha is a Registered Counselling Therapist-Candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists. She has over 5 years of experience in the mental health field in various settings. She offers individual counselling to adolescents and adults seeking support with depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationships, stress, the immigrant experience, and issues of identity (race, culture, gender, sexuality).  Samantha’s warmth, calm demeanor, and person-centered approach are key components of her clinical treatment. She utilizes evidence-based modalities such as Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Samantha is strength-based and culturally aware in working with clients of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Samantha understands that seeking therapy can be hard and will meet you where you’re at on your journey, creating a safe and empathetic environment.  She holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Framingham State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology & Social Work from Regis College. 

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MEET LETICHA

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Leticha Lucas is a Registered Counselling Therapist-Candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists. Leticha has over 7 years of experience working in the field of mental health in a variety of different roles. She specializes in working with individuals that have experienced sexual trauma, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, PTSD, addictions, grief, sexual difficulties, life transitions and racial injustice. Leticha uses a strength-based, person-centered approach and utilizes modalities such as Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). Leticha is also interested in evidence-informed practices such as Mindfulness, Meditation, Art Therapy and Somatic Experiencing. She offers individual counselling and virtual counselling to adolescents and adults. Leticha holds a Master of Education in Counselling degree from Acadia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Saint Mary’s University.  

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MEET SANDI

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Sandi Champion is a Registered Counselling Therapist-Candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists. With a strong background as an educator spanning over a decade, Sandi has developed an understanding of human behavior and the unique challenges individuals face at different stages of life.

Utilizing a variety of therapeutic modalities and techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Sand Tray, and Narrative Therapy, Sandi empowers her clients and help to cultivate positive change. She believes in tailoring her counselling approach to meet the specific needs and goals of each individual, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment where clients feel safe and heard.

Sandi holds a Master of Education in Counselling degree from Acadia University, as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of New Brunswick and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas University.

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MEET LINDA

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Linda Al-Jokhadar McLeod is a Registered Counselling Therapist-Candidate with the Nova Scotia of College of Counselling Therapists. She sees herself as a lifelong learner. Linda holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, a Bachelor of Science and a Masters degree in Applied Human Nutrition from Mount Saint Vincent University. Linda has experience working with diverse populations through community-based organizations, in-person and remotely. She offers counselling services to adults living with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and interpersonal issues.

Linda is a proud Syrian-Canadian.  She, her younger brother, and parents arrived in Halifax, Canada in 2000. Linda has since had her own family with her husband, son and stepchildren. Linda sees her experience as an immigrant to be of value when working with newcomers and individuals from varying backgrounds. Linda's approach to Counselling is a holistic one that utilizes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. She is always looking for ways to learn and grow, with her recent focus being on improving her Couple's Therapy skills through the Gottman Method Couples Therapy training program. Her approach to mental health is strengths-based, person-centred, and goal oriented, with the client being the driver, and Linda being their passenger. Linda can offer services in English and Arabic, and can be accompanied by the sweet and loving Bubba the dog if the client sees fit. 

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MEET CHANTAL

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Chantal is a Registered Counselling Therapist-Candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists & Therapeutic Play Practitioner. Chantal has experience with a variety of different counselling modalities that include Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR); CBT & traditional talk therapies; as well as play therapy and Theraplay-informed practices. Chantal works with children (aged 2+), youth, adults, siblings, parent-child dyads (from babies to adolescents), & families. She also provides Trauma-Focused CBT to children (5-16 years old), with parents/caregivers’ involvement in the process. Chantal has a passion for play and expressive arts, including sand tray. She works with a large range of clients including those with PTSD or trauma symptoms, BPD, anxiety, depression, OCD, neurodiversity, learning disorders, intellectual disabilities, exposure to domestic violence, grief, divorce/separation, bullying, more severe mental health issues such as suicidality & self-harm, adoption/fostering & general life stressors. Chantal is a humanistic person-centred practitioner who works through strength-based and attachment lenses, exhibiting empathy, acceptance, congruence, and unconditional positive regard for all my clients. She is culturally humble and has had the privilege of working with culturally diverse clientele including BIPOC; immigrants and refugees; and 2SLGBTQIA+ populations.

Chantal holds a Masters in Counselling Psychology; EMDR levels 1-3 (and special populations); Masters level qualifications in child-centred play therapy, CAPT play therapy trainings; Level 1 Theraplay; basic training in IFS; Lego Therapy, CBT and Trauma-Focused CBT.

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