COUNSELLLING TEAM

Amelia Perri | Flora Svinarenko | Mary Marano

About Amelia Perri, RN, BScn, MC

Amelia Perri is the owner and founder of Therapy Heals Psychotherapy and Counselling Services.  She developed Therapy Heals to offer people high quality counselling services that are respectful of each person as a unique individual with his/her own strengths and ability to heal.

Amelia’s experience includes a combination of work in counselling and nursing, which allows her to provide her clients with a distinctive perspective.  She has been a Registered Nurse for over 13 years, and it was in her nursing role where she began to develop her counselling skills. Amelia holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Ryerson University in Toronto, and a Master of Counselling Psychology degree from Athabasca University in Edmonton.  Amelia has also received specific education and training in narrative therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, the Gottman method for couples, and emotion-focused therapy.   Amelia  provides therapy and counselling to individuals, couples, and families for a range of problems, for example, eating disorders, couples counselling, anger and stress management, anxiety, depression, and more.

Amelia Perri practices  a non-judgemental approach in which she works to help clients feel empowered so that they can grow both during and beyond therapy. Amelia  believes that the individual or Client is the expert of their own life and has inside of them the ability to resolve their issues and live a fulfilling life. With the individual as the expert of their life and Amelia, the therapist, as the expert in various therapy modalities, guidance is provided, and this collaborative approach leads to the best possible outcomes.

Amelia supports Clients in finding realistic solutions that suit their life and who they are. She aims to cultivate a sense of safety and security for Clients so they feel comfortable speaking their mind and therefore can obtain maximum benefits from the therapy sessions. Throughout and at the end of therapy Amelia will help Clients to assess their progress by reviewing goals and achievements which will further reinforce their strengths and progress.

Amelia’s personal past struggles including overcoming an eating disorder make her passionate in her role and desires to help others overcome similar issues. Amelia’s experiences and positive outcomes provide her the compassion to help others achieve their goals and feel a sense of lightness and harmony in everyday living.

Other past and current professional activities: 

• Group Facilitator at Eating Disorders of York Region
• Group Facilitation at Danielle's Place
• Community Outreach Speaker for Sheena’s Place
• Licensed and Registered Member of the College of Nurses of Ontario (since 1998)
• Member of the OACCPP (Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists, and Psychotherapists)
• Treasurer/Board Member of the Ontario Psycho Geriatric Association
• RNAO (Registered Nurses Association of Ontario) Best Practice Champion
• RNAO E-Health Champion

About Flora Svinarenko, BSW, MSW, RSW

Flora Svinarenko is a psychotherapist with over 10 years of experience, working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Flora is a Registered Social Worker with OCSWSSW (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers) and OASW (Ontario Association of Social Workers).  She holds a Master of Social Work degree from York University. Flora is also a Founding Member of the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CACBT).  

Flora has advanced training in cognitive behavior therapy, narrative therapy, trauma therapy, emotion-focused therapy, mindfulness, and harm reduction. 

She specializes in the areas of depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, stress management, anger management, relationship issues, and addictions. Flora also speaks Russian fluently and is able to provide counselling in Russian upon a client’s request.

Flora believes that each person is unique, bringing their own personality, experience, and perceptions into the therapy. Therefore, her approach is holistic and client-centered. Flora aims to be very flexible and open minded, providing a safe environment for clients to share their stories. Flora works together with clients, helping them regain their strengths and empowering them on their journey to recovery and healing.

About Mary Marano, RIHR, CYW

Mary specializes in relationships, teen and family work, parenting, depression, grief, anxiety, fears, stress management, meditation/relaxation, personal and spiritual growth. Mary has over 7 years of experience working in the Education System as a Child and Youth Worker supporting adolescents, children, and school staff.  She worked primarily with emotionally/behaviourally challenged children at the elementary level, providing strategies for teachers and parents working with ADD. At the secondary level, Mary supported staff in dealing with behaviour challenges, attendance issues, and provided students with support. Mary also has fifteen years of experience providing individual, couple, and family counselling in a variety of settings.

Mary has studied at the University of Toronto and has a diploma in psychotherapy from the Transformational Arts College.  Although there are several schools of thought in counselling, for example, Freud, Jung, and Adler to name a few, Mary uses a multi disciplinary approach that is individualized to meet the needs of each client.  Mary views therapy as a safe and healthy way to facilitate growth and enhance relationships. She focuses on establishing a relationship of trust with clients, so that they may feel free to express personal thoughts and emotions, helping them to gain insight into issues that may be a source of difficulty. 

The Therapy Heals counselling team provides psychotherapy and counselling services in York Region including Vaughan, Woodbridge, Concord, Thornhill, Richmond Hill and Toronto areas.