Daya Counselling Centre

Susan Alexander, M.S.W., R.S.W.

Susan is a Clinical Social Worker with a Bachelor of Social Work (1997) from King's University College at the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Social Work (1999) from the University of Toronto. Susan's primary work in her 15 years of experience is in providing therapy to clients responding to trauma; both acute trauma and post traumatic stress. Her work with people in the aftermath of critical incidents lead her to providing on-going support for survivors of many kinds of traumatic events including childhood abuse, critical loss and complicated grief. Susan is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Susan Birnie Marino, M.S.W., R.S.W.

Susan has worked in the mental health field for over twenty-five years. Following her early professional years working with female offenders and then with children in Toronto schools, she moved to London, Ontario and joined London Psychiatric Hospital, renamed in 2000 Regional Mental Health Care-London. She as had experience in several areas of psychiatric social work, including mood disorders, and geriatric psychiatry where she taught and published in the area of counseling the elderly. In 1998 she completed studies for clinical membership in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and is currently a certified Marriage and Family Therapist in Ontario. In 1995 she qualified as one of the first designated Capacity Assessors under the Substitute Decisions Act (1992) and began a part-time counseling and capacity assessment private practice. She has a special interest in issues of professional ethics and risk, and counseling adults facing relationship problems, separation and loss, and those coping with the challenges of living with mental illness.

Jennifer Carscadden, M.S.W., R.S.W.

Jennifer’s training and experience in working with diverse and disadvantaged populations include: criminal justice system (both male and female offenders), mental health, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, minorities, women’s issues and youth. Her practice focuses on empowering clients to overcome difficulties and self defeating thought and life patterns through the process of promoting their self-awareness, developing and utilizing problem solving techniques and enhancing life skills. Jennifer has her Masters of Social Work. She also has her Social Service Worker Diploma, Human Services Foundation Certification and General Arts and Science Certification from Fanshawe College. She is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers as well as the Ontario Association of Social Workers. .

Sally Cozens, M.S.W., R.S.W.

Sally is a Registered Social Worker with 30 years of experience working in the London community. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s in Social Work and has completed Doctoral coursework in Social Work. Her area of interest has always been the application of Social Work theory to the front line of community service, integrating theory and practice with individuals, couples, communities and organizations. Sally has worked in most areas of Social Work, including medicine, child protection, community planning, capacity development, social policy and mental health. She currently teaches in the School of social work at King’s University College, maintains a private practice, and has been a counsellor at Daya Counselling Centre since 1998. Sally includes EMDR, EFT, and Inner Child therapeutic tools in her work with clients. Sally attributes her success with Brief Solution-Focused Therapy to her fundamental belief that we all aspire to meaningful lives, based on concepts about ourselves and our world that we form at different stages of our development.

Rebecca Machado, M.Ed. (Counselling)

Rebecca holds an undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in thanatology, focusing on issues related to grief and loss. More recently, she obtained a master’s degree in counselling psychology, during which she completed her internship at Daya Counselling Centre. Rebecca works with clients to address issues related to grief and loss, identity, life transitions, and trauma. Combining several counselling approaches, Rebecca works with clients to identify their strengths and personal resources for coping with distress and creating change in their lives. Rebecca is a Canadian Certified Counsellor. 

Carey Main, B.S.W., M.Ed. (Counselling Psychology), R.S.W.

Carey has an undergraduate degree in social work and is a registered social worker. In addition, she obtained a Master’s of Educational Counselling Psychology degree from Althouse University, College in 2005. Currently Carey co-facilitating a Young Women’s Group weekly at the Youth Action Centre, and she sees both youth and adult clients individually.

In both her volunteer and paid practical experiences, Carey has made a concerted effort to support a varied client population in both group and individual interactions. Carey has worked at removing any bias she might have, and prides herself on a non-judgmental and supportive approach with all of her clients. Carey has an interest in exploring the emerging practice of using animals as a therapeutic tool within her counselling interactions, and due to this interest, Carey wrote her graduate research proposal on the benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy. As a great animal lover, she looks forward to exposing her clients to the benefits that animals can provide to the therapeutic milieu. Carey also utilizes EMDR in her work.

Carmen Marti, M.Ed. (Counselling)

Carmen is a trained psychologist in Mexico. She immigrated to Canada in 1986. She graduated from Althouse College with a Masters in Education and completed a specialty on Bioenergetic Analysis that consists on integrating the body to the healing process. My training and interests have supported my work on areas such as sexual abuse, depression, anxiety disorders, and trauma. I aim at working from a perspective that respects personal differences and integrates emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing.

Marg McGill, M.Ed. (Counselling), R.S.W.

Marg worked as a Registered Nurse for 15 years before returning to school to complete her M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology and beginning her work as a psychotherapist. She was a counsellor/advocate and counselling coordinator at Sexual Assault Centre London for 9 years. Currently she enjoys working with a variety of issues including self-esteem, spiritual development, abuse survivors, relationships, grief and loss. She utilizes EMDR and EFT to include a holistic approach in her work. Marg is a RSW, Certified Canadian Counsellor and Certified member of OACCPP. She has been working at Daya Counselling Centre since 1999.

Terri-Lynn Oliver, M.Ed. (Counselling Psychology)

After spending 5 years studying Therapeutic Recreation, Terri-Lynn decided that she wanted more possibilities to work with people in ways that encouraged and promoted self-growth and development. Terri-Lynn completed her Masters in Counselling Psychology with a goal of working with Daya Counselling Centre, as a result of completing her internship with the agency. With years of working with young offenders, clients with disabilities, elderly populations and children, Terri-Lynn worked on and off for 3 years with Addiction Services of Thames and with the University of Western Ontario in career counselling. Currently, Terri-Lynn sees clients at Daya Counselling Centre 4 days per week and continues to work at the University of Western Ontario 1 day per week, while continuing to see private clients with issues surrounding abuse, trauma, addictions, relationships and grief. Terri-Lynn utilizes EMDR in her work.

John Pretti, M.S.W., R.S.W.

John is a Registered Social Worker with more than 35 years experience in the London Community. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Social Work. His main areas of professional interest are the clinical practice of Social Work with individuals, couples, and families in a variety of settings including health care, corrections, addictions, and mental health. He has extensive experience in health care planning and administration, teaching as well as the development of social policy. John has been a counsellor at Daya Counselling Centre since 1997. He believes that people must be treated as a whole and therefore it is critical to address issues of mind, body, spirit, and environment. He believes that pain and struggle are inevitable. That's how people learn and grow. However, he also believes that we have an innate and enormous capacity to heal and emerge even stronger from such experiences. John believes that good therapy helps people reach a higher level of awareness, a deeper understanding of themselves and others, and provides new ways to help them live richer, happier lives. Above all, he believes that we need to be heard, understood, accepted, and validated. Therapy can help people achieve this.

Cheryl Stewart, M.Ed. (Counselling Psychology)

Cheryl Stewart has an undergraduate degree in psychology specializing in life development and clinical psychology. She then continued in school completing a master’s degree in counseling psychology before joining the counseling staff at Daya Counselling Centre in 2001. She utilizes a holistic approach in her work with individual adults on a variety of issues including grief, trauma, relationship and family issues, self-esteem, and self-concept development, both at Daya as well as in private practice. She is a Canadian Certified Counsellor. 

Marvin Tench, M.A.

Marvin holds a Masters Degree in professional counselling with 2 years formal training in Bioenergetic Analysis. He has been involved in the field of psychotherapy for over 25 years, primarily through Bioenergetic Analysis with some Gestalt therapy. He has maintained a private practice since 1992 specializing in the treatment of anxiety, with a secondary focus on depression and self-esteem. From 1999 to 2006 he worked at the London-Middlesex branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association where he worked with the seriously mentally ill. He developed and facilitated the CALM therapy group (Coping with Anxiety and Living More) that is a psychotherapy group for individuals dealing with anxiety. Marvin conducted several CALM groups at Daya Counselling Centre and the CMHA. Marvin has been employed at Daya Counselling Centre since 2005.

Marvin operates from an eclectic orientation utilizing various techniques from different psychotherapies (cognitive, behavioral, analytic) as he feels it is important to try and fit the approach to the client, rather than using a “one-size-fits-all” approach with clients. For the past 9 years Marvin has been employed at Fanshawe College in the Human Service Foundation and Social Service Worker Programs where he teaches intro psychology, basic counselling skills, abnormal psychology, theories of personality, and developmental psychology.

Dr. Anne Toth, M.S.W., Ed.D., R.S.W.

Dr. Anne Toth is a clinical social worker offering a wide range of services to individuals, couples, families, and groups in English, French, and American Sign Language. With 28 years of experience in the field, she provides consultation, assessment, and counselling for those affected by trauma, abuse, bereavement, adoption, and interpersonal and work related issues. Anne Toth holds degrees at both the Bachelor and Masters level of Social Work and has also earned certificates in French, and an Honors Bachelor degree in the specialization of American Sign Language and Deafness. Committed to excellence, she has achieved the degree of Doctor of Education and continues to contribute to the field through her work at a school for the Deaf, as an Applied Dissertation Chair to doctoral candidates, as a guest lecturer, and as a supervisor of practicums for social work students. A strong proponent of life-long learning, Dr. Toth presents her work at provincial, national, and international conferences.

Morella Yepez-Millon, M. Ed (Counselling), R.S.W.

Morella has practiced Psychology for more than twenty years. Her career began in Colombia where she was a licensed clinical psychologist. Morella moved to Canada in 1991 and began working with immigrant and woman abuse issues initially. She also worked for years at the Sexual Assault Centre London in a variety of capacities. Morella obtained a Masters of Education (Counselling Psychology) from the University of Western Ontario in 1999 and is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Morella has had extensive counselling experience with several issues such as childhood sexual abuse, traumatic issues such as car accidents, anxiety disorders, complicated grief and grief due to loss, sexual identity, and psychosomatic issues. She is open to diverse cultures and experiences. Morella practices an integrative approach based on ‘Client Oriented’ principles that provide for deep empathic listening and constant positive regard. Morella is a certified EMDR therapist providing services in English and Spanish. Morella has been involved with Daya Counselling Centre since 2004.