Cherry Tree Counselling

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Hamilton, ON
Cherry Tree Counselling

Our team provides counselling and psychotherapy services for women and their families. Message us today for your complimentary 15 minute consultation.

At Cherry Tree Counselling we offer confidential & compassionate counselling specializing in women's concerns & perinatal mental health.

03/02/2026

That moment in therapy when you realize…

Oh.

This is bigger than I thought.

It is not just about the argument last week.
Or the email that sent you spiralling.
Or the way your chest tightens every Sunday night.

It is about the story you have been carrying for years.

It is about the belief that you are too much.
Or not enough.
Or responsible for everyone else’s feelings.

And sometimes that realization feels freeing.

And sometimes it feels overwhelming.

Because once you see it, you cannot unsee it.

Here is the gentle truth. Awareness is not failure. It is not proof that you are broken. It is the beginning of choice.

When you realize the pattern, you can start interrupting it.
When you realize the wound, you can start tending to it.
When you realize the need underneath the coping, you can begin meeting it with care.

Therapy is not about dramatic breakthroughs every week. It is about these quiet moments of clarity that shift everything, one layer at a time.

And you do not have to navigate that realization alone.

If you are ready to explore your own “oh” moment, schedule here or book a call to get started.

03/01/2026

Psst, therapists! Want to know the secret to tackling your most challenging clients? It's Michelle, our extraordinary Certified Nurse Psychotherapist and clinical supervisor!

Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, specializing in areas that often leave us scratching our heads. From perinatal and maternal mental health to perimenopause and menopause, she's got you covered. But that's not all - Michelle shines when it comes to Borderline Personality Disorder cases, health and medication management, and clients with multiple diagnoses.

Ever feel stuck with a challenging case? Michelle's expertise in diagnostic support and clinical formulation can help you see things from a fresh perspective. Her unique nurse psychotherapy background bridges the gap between physical and mental health, offering guidance and wisdom that can provide immense clinical support.

Supervision with Michelle isn't just another box to tick - it's an opportunity to grow, learn, and enhance your clinical skills in a supportive environment. Whether you're grappling with medication questions or complex diagnoses, or just need a sounding board, Michelle's here to help you navigate the trickiest parts of our profession.

Michelle is ready to walk with you through the most difficult cases and help you thrive as a therapist - book today by sending an email to admin@cherrytreecounselling.ca

02/28/2026

Family life can be a wild ride, can’t it?

Even the most connected families hit bumps, navigate big transitions, or find themselves carrying old hurts they’re not sure how to put down.

If your family is moving through tension, conflict, loss, or any kind of growing pain, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to navigate it without support.

At Cherry Tree Counselling, we offer a calm, confidential space where every voice matters and every story is held with care.

Our family therapists draw from attachment-based approaches because we know that the patterns we learn early often shape how we show up with the people we love most. Together, we work to nurture safety, strengthen connection, and tend to the places that feel tender or tangled.

And here’s the thing: family therapy isn’t about a certain structure. It’s for any constellation of people committed to healing, repair, and deeper understanding, chosen family included.

If you’re feeling ready to begin, you can always book a call to connect with someone from our team at cherrytreecounselling.ca

You deserve support that meets you where you are.

We’re here when you’re ready.

02/27/2026

Supervision, slowed down.

Not another box to check.
Not something to rush through between sessions.
But a place to land.

Our new Half-Day Supervision Intensive is a four-hour, seasonal experience for therapists who are craving more spaciousness. Time to pause, turn inward, and reflect in a way that feels deeply supported.

Co-facilitated by our frolleague Heather Hendrie from True Nature Wilderness Therapy and Clinical Director Cree Lambeck of Cherry Tree Counselling, this intensive blends CRPO-eligible clinical supervision with intentional mentorship, grounded community, and space for real integration.

Think of it as a seasonal retreat for your supervision practice.
A companion to your individual, dyad, or group supervision.
A slower rhythm that invites you back into your own wisdom.

You can expect grounding.
You can expect renewal.

You’ll leave feeling resourced, witnessed, and reconnected to the heart of your work.

This small, closed group is especially supportive for therapists working in perinatal and women-focused care, trauma and grief, identity-centred practice, and eco- or nature-based frameworks.

If you’re ready to reflect, reset, and return to your work with intention, you’re warmly invited.

Learn more and register here: cherrytreecounselling.ca/group-supervision

02/25/2026

Today is Pink Shirt Day. 💗

A day that invites us to pause and consider how we show up for children and youth who are experiencing bullying, and how we create spaces that feel safe, seen, and welcoming.

Because kindness isn’t just a colour we wear.

It’s a practice.

It’s the way we listen.
The way we intervene.
The way we teach our kids to care for themselves and each other.

At Cherry Tree, we believe inclusion is built in everyday moments: in classrooms, at home, on playgrounds, and in our communities.

So yes, wear the pink shirt.

And also?

Let’s stay P.I.N.K.:

P – Positive (leading with encouragement over criticism)
I – Inclusive (making room for every identity and experience)
N – Nurturing (supporting growth with care and boundaries)
K – Kind (especially when it would be easier not to be)

Bullying prevention isn’t a one-day event. It’s a collective commitment.

Today, and every day, we choose respect. We choose safety. We choose compassion.

If your child is struggling with bullying or feeling unsafe, we’re here to help. You can book a call through the link in our bio.

02/23/2026

Many of us are quick to criticize ourselves.
Especially when things feel hard.
Especially when we are tired.
Especially when we think we should be doing better.

Self compassion begins with noticing.
It sounds like saying this is difficult.
It feels like softening instead of pushing.
It allows room for being human.

If you can, offer yourself a kind word today.
It does make a difference.

02/19/2026

When a client names Residential School, the Sixties Scoop, or other colonial trauma in your office…

That is not just “history.”

That is living harm.

And how we respond in that moment matters.

A lot.

Because here’s the thing.
We don’t get to treat colonial violence like a chapter in a textbook.
We don’t get to rush to resilience.
We don’t get to centre our shock.

We get to slow down.

We get to ground ourselves.

We get to honour that this disclosure is an act of trust.

Our practice guide walks clinicians through what that actually looks like in practice:

• Holding a core stance that names colonial harm as systemic violence, not personal weakness
• Using validating language like “You didn’t deserve what happened to you.”
• Prioritizing choice and pacing in every step
• Avoiding retraumatizing questions or minimizing responses
• Gently regulating and containing when overwhelm shows up
• Exploring support options collaboratively, never prescriptively
• Documenting with respect and the client’s own words
• And completing a thoughtful self-check after session

Honestly? These moments can feel heavy. Tender. High stakes.

But they are also moments of profound repair when we meet them with humility, steadiness, and care.

If you’re a clinician who wants clear, values-rooted guidance for navigating disclosures of colonial trauma in session, this resource was created with you in mind.

Grounded. Practical. Compassionate.

Download the guide and keep it close to your clinical notes.

Access the guide through our link-in-bio or on our website at https://www.cherrytreecounselling.ca/responding-to-client-disclosures-of-colonial-trauma-clinician-guide

02/18/2026

It happens so quietly.

You’re telling the story like it’s no big deal. Like you’ve told yourself a hundred times that you’re fine. That other people had it worse. That you should be over it by now.

And then your body tells the truth.

Your voice wobbles. Your chest tightens. Your eyes fill before you even understand why.

Here’s the thing. Minimizing is often how we survived.

If it “wasn’t that bad,” then we didn’t have to feel how alone we were.
If it “wasn’t that bad,” then we didn’t have to grieve.
If it “wasn’t that bad,” then we could keep going.

But sometimes healing starts in that exact moment. The moment your nervous system says, actually… it mattered.

Those tears are not dramatic.
They’re not weak.
They’re not proof that you’re broken.

They’re information.
They’re release.
They’re a sign that something inside you is ready to be witnessed with care.

And you don’t have to rush past that.

You’re allowed to feel it.
You’re allowed to name it.
You’re allowed to let it be as big as it actually was.

If this resonates, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to hold it all by yourself.

Book a session at cherrytree.janeapp.com to begin your own therapy journey.

02/17/2026

Do you ever feel like no matter how much you do, it’s never quite enough?

Perfectionism and people-pleasing often take root quietly, shaped by years of unspoken expectations, invisible labour, and the belief that your worth depends on how well you care for others. Over time, it can leave you feeling anxious, exhausted, and disconnected from yourself.

Victoria offers gentle, trauma-informed support for women who are ready to let go of overfunctioning and begin reconnecting with their own needs and values. Her approach weaves together EFT, IFS, somatic therapy, and talk therapies like CBT and ACT to help clients move from self-pressure to self-trust.

With Victoria, you can:
• Gently explore the inner critic with IFS and compassion
• Build emotional awareness through somatic therapy and EFT
• Shift unhelpful thought patterns with CBT and ACT
• Strengthen boundaries and reconnect with your voice

You don’t have to do it all to be enough. You already are.

💛 Book with Victoria online through Jane at cherrytree.janeapp.com or email us at admin@cherrytreecounselling.ca to get started.

02/14/2026

“Behind every criticism is a wish.”

Ever found yourself thinking, “You never listen!” or “Why do you always have to…” and suddenly you’re both caught in a loop of defensiveness and frustration?

Here’s the thing: what sounds like criticism often starts as a wish.

A wish to feel heard.
A wish to feel seen.
A wish to feel like you’re on the same team again.

In couples counselling, we slow things down. Together, we unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface, so you can communicate clearly, listen with empathy, and reconnect in ways that feel safe and authentic.

You don’t have to be the one holding space and trying to repair things at the same time. That’s where we come in. A trusted therapist guides the process, supporting both of you with care, curiosity, and compassion.

Whether you’re working through a tough season or simply wanting to strengthen your connection, it’s never too early (or too late) to reach out.

✨ Book a free, no-pressure consult today. We’ll answer your questions, ease any worries, and help you find a plan that fits.

Book now at cherrytree.janeapp.com

02/12/2026

We’re so happy to share some exciting news.

Please join us in congratulating Lauren Anastasi on officially moving from Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) to Registered Psychotherapist. This is a meaningful milestone that reflects years of training, supervision, ongoing learning, and deep commitment to ethical, compassionate care.

Lauren brings warmth, thoughtfulness, and steadiness into every therapeutic relationship. Her work is grounded, attuned, and deeply respectful of each client’s lived experience, and this step is a beautiful reflection of the clinician she continues to grow into.

We’re incredibly proud to have Lauren as part of the Cherry Tree team and grateful for the care she offers our community every day.

Interested in working with Lauren? Book a session or learn more here at https://www.cherrytreecounselling.ca/lauren-anastasi

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Hamilton, ON

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http://www.cherrytreecounselling.ca/

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At Cherry Tree Counselling & Psychotherapy Services we offer compassionate counselling specializing in perinatal mental health & women's wellness. Call or message us today for your complimentary 15 minute consultation or to book. cherrytreedundas@gmail.com