Angeline Boswell, MA Candidate (she/her)

**Accepting new individual therapy clients**

My goal is to work collaboratively with each client along their own personal journey of self-growth. Counselling sessions are a safe space in which we can compassionately explore client struggles together, working toward deeper understanding and positive change. My approach focuses on the client’s own needs, values, and goals in creating a personalized counselling experience.  

I work with those who are experiencing a range of emotional difficulties, and who are looking to better understand thought patterns, feelings, and behaviours. Clients looking for support through feelings of depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem issues, grief and loss, difficult situations, relationship and attachment issues, burnout, and more, are encouraged to explore their experiences in a welcoming and non-judgmental space. I welcome opportunities to meet with teens (12 years +) and adults (of all ages), and honour all forms of diversity. I strongly believe in integrating the client’s own experiences, values, and beliefs into the therapeutic process.  

I am a Counselling and Spirituality student at Saint Paul University, and when I’m not working you can find me in the garden or curled up with a good book. I look forward to meeting you, and I hope we can work together toward meaningful change and growth!

Angeline will be available to meet with individual therapy clients for daytime and evening appointments as of June 2021. Angeline has sliding scale options available. Please contact Shannon to schedule with Angeline.

Yamina Abassi, MA Candidate (she/her)

**Accepting new couple therapy clients for June/July**

My passion lies in supporting the development of healthy communication and connection in relationship. Working from an integrative approach I provide clients with a safe space to get to the root of their challenges in order to initiate positive change. I trust that each client has within them an innate capacity for transformation. My role as a therapist is to work collaboratively in identifying and working towards therapeutic goals that will best serve you, your well-being, and your relationships. With unwavering acceptance, compassion, and empathy I offer you a platform from which to begin this journey.

I draw from a systemic, psychodynamic, narrative, attachment, and trauma-focused lens to work with couples and families faced with various challenges including: communication, addiction and substance use, disordered eating, non-monogamy, sexual anxiety, interethnic partnership, grief and loss, and mental health issues.

I hold an undergraduate degree from the University of Lethbridge in addictions counselling, and I am currently completing a Master’s in Counselling with a specialization in couples and family therapy at Saint-Paul University. I am dedicated to being of service to others with an open heart and an attentive ear. My personal time is spent connecting with friends, being in nature, swimming, dancing, and meditating. 

Yamina will be working exclusively with couples and families and will have daytime and evening availability as of mid-June 2021. Yamina has a few sliding scale options available. Please contact Shannon to schedule with Yamina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shannon Lawless RP, RMFT-S (she/her)

I am a relationship therapist specializing in individual, couples, family and sex therapy, and maintain a private practice in Ottawa West (Kanata). In this section you can learn a little about me, my training, and my research.

Education

I hold a Bachelor degree in Psychology from the University of Ottawa, and a Master of Science degree in Couple and Family Therapy from the University of Guelph. The University of Guelph Couple and Family Therapy Training Program is a specialized therapy training degree that is one of two university-based Master's Programs in Canada. I also have had additional training to be able to specialize in Sex Therapy. I strongly believe in continuing education and regularly seek out additional training through conferences and workshops.

Additional Training

I strive to continue my education through all means available to me. Often I will seek out additional training through regular perusal of academic journals, conducting my own research, and attending workshops and conferences. Some of the notable workshops that informs my clinical work are listed below: 

- AAMFT/OAMFT Approved Supervision course - 30 Hours and reflection paper

- Certified Yoga Instructor - Yoga Alliance 

- Elliot Connie - Solution Building Couples Therapy

- Jill Freedman - Listening, witnessing and intimate relationships: Using narrative therapy in working with couples

- Michael Stone - Living an intimate life: exploring the existential dimension in clinical work

- Barry McCarthy - Rekindling Desire: assessment, treatment and relapse prevention of sexual dysfunction

- Esther Perel - Attachment, Intimacy and Sexuality in Individual and Couples Therapy

- Lalita Salins - Sandtray-Worldplay: An Introduction

- Bruce Perry – Neurobiology and the Traumatized Child

- Collaborative Problem Solving Training - Tier I and Tier II intensive training

- The Winds of Change Narrative Conference

- Liana Lowenstein - Creative interventions with children who have experienced sexual abuse

- Best Practices in Treating Youth with Substance Use Problems

- High On Life Challenge Training – Certified group leader 

- Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) Training 

- Integrating attachment and Narrative Approaches in the Trauma Healing Process 

- Gottman Couples Therapy Level 1: A Research Based Approach

- Families Facing Addiction Workshop 

- Kaethe Weingarten: Fostering Resilience in our Clients and Ourselves 

- Dan Hughes: Building the Bonds of Attachment 

- Intensive Sex Therapy training and Sex Attitude Reassessment (Audited again in 2021) 

- ASIST Suicide Intervention Training 

 

Professional Associations

I am affiliated with a number of professional associations. I am a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (registration number: 0001588) and a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist and Approved Supervisor with the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (membership # 2017672). 

I was elected as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and served in this role from January 2017 to December 2019. 

 

Presentations and Research Contributions

I remain a long-standing member of the Optimal Sexual Experiences Research Team with the University of Ottawa. For more information on the research and group therapy options please see: http://www.optimalsexualexperiences.com

Kleinplatz, P.J., Paradis, N., Charest, M., Lawless, S., Neufeld, M., Neufeld, R., Pratt, D., Ménard, A.D. et al. (2018). From sexual desire discrepancies to desirable sex: Creating the optimal connection. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44 (5), 438–449

Kleinplatz, P.J., Paradis, N., Charest, M., Lawless, S., Neufeld, M., Neufeld, R., Pratt, D., Ménard, A.D. et al. (2018). From sexual desire discrepancies to desirable sex: Creating the optimal connection. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44 (5), 438–449

Kleinplatz, P. J., Paradis, N., Charest, M., Lawless, S., Neufeld, M., … Rosen, L. (2018). From sexual desire discrepancies to desirable sex: creating the optimal connection. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44 (5), 438–449.

Ménard, A.D., Kleinplatz, P.J., Rosen, L., Lawless, S., Paradis, N., Campbell, M., & Huber, J. (2015). Individual and relational contributors to optimal sexual experiences in older men and women. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 30(1), 78-93.

 

Personal Features

When I am not providing therapy, I enjoy reading, dancing, practicing/teaching yoga and spending time with family and friends.