Southwest Counselling Services

Southwest Counselling Services Southwest Counselling Services offers professional and accessible counselling and therapeutic services to all ages residing in Sarnia & surrounding area.

Southwest Counselling Services is a group of clinical social workers that offer professional and accessible counselling and therapeutic services to adults, youth, and children residing in the city of Sarnia and surrounding area.

As we continue our 10-year anniversary celebration, today we’re shining a light on one of the bright, compassionate forc...
12/05/2025

As we continue our 10-year anniversary celebration, today we’re shining a light on one of the bright, compassionate forces on our team — Cami Sinclair, BSW, MSW, RSW.

Cami brings a rare blend of heart, grit, and lived experience to her work. With both her BSW and MSW and experience across children’s mental health, youth development, long-term care, and adult support, Cami brings a thoughtful, grounded presence to every client she works with. Her ability to meet people of all ages with warmth and understanding makes her an invaluable part of our team.

Cami also brings a unique perspective from her years as a high-level athlete — playing NCAA Division I softball and representing Team Ontario Women’s Softball. She now uses that lived experience to support clients navigating the emotional and mental demands that come with sport, performance, and life transitions.

We’re grateful for the heart, empathy, fun and strength Cami brings to Southwest Counselling Services each day. 💙

🎉 Story  #7 – Healing Through Play & Sound 🧸🎶For 10 years, Southwest Counselling Services has believed in meeting childr...
12/03/2025

🎉 Story #7 – Healing Through Play & Sound 🧸🎶

For 10 years, Southwest Counselling Services has believed in meeting children and youth where they are — and sometimes, that means beginning with play, creativity, movement, or gentle sound rather than words.

Our Play Therapy and Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) services have become a meaningful part of our work with families. We’ve seen children open up in the safety of a sandtray, express big feelings through art and imagination, and find calm and connection through the supportive rhythms of SSP. These approaches have helped countless young people in our community feel understood, regulated, and more confident in themselves.

We’re honoured to walk alongside families through these moments — supporting them, celebrating progress, and offering approaches that help each child feel safe, seen, and supported in their own unique way. 💛

💛 Celebrating Rachael Fowler, BSW, MSW, RSWAs we continue sharing the stories behind our Southwest Counselling Services ...
11/28/2025

💛 Celebrating Rachael Fowler, BSW, MSW, RSW

As we continue sharing the stories behind our Southwest Counselling Services team, today we’re honoured to highlight Rachael Fowler, who supports clients out of our Tillsonburg location.

Rachael brings a deeply empathetic, grounded, and non-judgmental presence to her work — the kind of presence that helps people exhale and feel safe enough to start exploring the harder parts of their story. Her practice blends evidence-based approaches with genuine connection, empowering youth and adults to understand themselves, reclaim their voice, and move toward healing at their own pace.

Rachael has extensive experience supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and those navigating trauma, anxiety, grief, body image, relationships, and major life transitions. She has a gift for helping clients understand their brain and nervous system in a way that makes everything feel less overwhelming and more manageable — because when people have the language to understand what’s happening inside them, they gain power over their own wellness.

We’re grateful for the compassion, clarity, and wisdom she brings to our team — and to every person she works with. 💛

🎉 Story  #6 – Breaking Barriers in Junior Hockey 🏒Over the past 10 years, one of the most meaningful parts of our work a...
11/27/2025

🎉 Story #6 – Breaking Barriers in Junior Hockey 🏒

Over the past 10 years, one of the most meaningful parts of our work at Southwest Counselling Services has been supporting athletes and performers — especially through our connection with the Sarnia Sting and local sports associations. What began as simple conversations about athlete mental health, mindset and focus has grown into a deeper commitment to helping young athletes navigate pressure, identity, and the emotional highs and lows of the game.

Through team sessions, locker-room talks, and ongoing mental-performance support, we’ve watched players open up, build confidence, and learn skills that serve them far beyond the rink. It’s been a privilege to be welcomed into their world and to help break down the barriers around mental health in sport.

Check out this great piece on Matt's work with the Sarnia Sting hockey club: https://pages.honeathletics.com/sarnia-sting

Here’s to the athletes and teams who’ve trusted us with their stories — we’re grateful to be part of your journey. 💛

Take a mindful pause this season. 🌿Join us for Holiday Harmony Within, a relaxing 2-hour workshop designed to help you r...
11/26/2025

Take a mindful pause this season. 🌿

Join us for Holiday Harmony Within, a relaxing 2-hour workshop designed to help you reconnect, reflect, and restore balance during the busy holiday season. We’ll explore simple, supportive ways to nourish yourself through food, rest, movement, and mindset so you can ease into a more enjoyable, sustainable December.

Workshop Details
🗓 Sunday, December 14 | 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 Southwest Counselling Services – Group Space
704 Mara St., Point Edward
💲 Cost: $35 (covered by most social work benefits)

Give yourself the gift of peace and presence this season. 💫
DM or call (519) 336-3100 to register.

💛 Celebrating Taylor Dunlop, CCAC, BSW, MSW, RSWThis week, we’re celebrating Taylor Dunlop, whose empathy, expertise, an...
11/21/2025

💛 Celebrating Taylor Dunlop, CCAC, BSW, MSW, RSW

This week, we’re celebrating Taylor Dunlop, whose empathy, expertise, and advocacy make her an integral part of our Southwest Counselling Services team since she joined us in 2022.

With over a decade of experience in the social work field, Taylor specializes in addiction recovery and trauma-focused therapy, helping individuals and families navigate some of life’s most difficult challenges with compassion and understanding.

Her work is deeply rooted in the belief that healing happens within connection — whether she’s supporting a client through substance dependence, guiding families in co-parenting, or helping couples rebuild trust.

Taylor’s calm, genuine presence and her commitment to walking alongside clients through every step of their journey make her a true cornerstone of our practice. Taylor offers services in both Point Edward and Walpole Island and we are so grateful for all that she brings to the team and to those she supports. 💛

🎉 Story  #5 – EMDR & Trauma TherapyAt Southwest Counselling Services, every member of our team is trained in EMDR (Eye M...
11/19/2025

🎉 Story #5 – EMDR & Trauma Therapy

At Southwest Counselling Services, every member of our team is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) — an evidence-based therapy proven to help people heal from trauma and distressing experiences.

EMDR helps clients process difficult memories in a safe, structured way, reducing emotional intensity and promoting lasting relief and resilience.

We’re proud that Dawn Whalls, one of our co-founders, is a Certified EMDR Consultant, assisting with training and supporting our clinicians to ensure trauma-informed care is at the heart of everything we do.

💛 Healing is possible — and we’re here to help.
Learn more at southwestcounselling.ca

💛 Celebrating Erin Lyon, MSW, RSWAs we continue our 10-year anniversary celebrations, we’re honoured to shine a light on...
11/14/2025

💛 Celebrating Erin Lyon, MSW, RSW

As we continue our 10-year anniversary celebrations, we’re honoured to shine a light on Erin Lyon, a valued member of the Southwest Counselling Services team. Erin joined us as a full time staff in May 2021 after completing her MSW placement with us.

Erin brings a compassionate, creative, and grounded approach to her work and she has a real gift for working with children and youth — especially those healing from early life trauma. Her sessions often weave together art, play, movement, and mindfulness, creating a space where clients feel seen, safe, and supported.

Beyond her professional expertise — including certification in EMDR Therapy, Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), and Play Therapy — Erin’s warmth and authenticity make her someone clients instantly trust. She has a gift for meeting people where they are and helping them reconnect with their inner strength and sense of safety.

We’re so grateful to have Erin on our team and for the heart she brings to this work every single day. 💛

🎉 Story  #4 – Spotlight on Social Work Me 🎙️We're highlighting one of the powerful tools we've created to support practi...
11/12/2025

🎉 Story #4 – Spotlight on Social Work Me 🎙️
We're highlighting one of the powerful tools we've created to support practitioners and the community — the Social Work Me podcast, hosted by Matt Barnes, MIchele McPherson, Rachael Fowler and guest appearances from the team at Southwest Counselling. Launching in late 2019, this podcast has been a huge part of our journey.

It has offered expert interviews, evidence-informed practice, and real conversations about wellness, psychotherapy, mindfulness and all aspects of the social work profession.

🔗 Tune in and explore past episodes — available wherever you get your podcasts.

✨ Staff Spotlight: Lauren Markos, B.A.H., MSW, RSW ✨As we continue celebrating 10 years of Southwest Counselling Service...
11/08/2025

✨ Staff Spotlight: Lauren Markos, B.A.H., MSW, RSW ✨

As we continue celebrating 10 years of Southwest Counselling Services, we’re highlighting the incredible people who bring care, compassion, and expertise to our community.

This week’s spotlight shines on Lauren Markos — a dedicated clinician whose human rights and trauma-informed approach creates a safe and empowering space for clients of all ages. Lauren works with individuals, couples, and families, drawing on her training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems, EMDR, mindfulness, and self-compassion to guide meaningful change.

Her passion for solution-focused and trauma-specific therapy reflects her deep commitment to helping clients navigate life’s challenges — from grief and loss to anxiety, depression, and relationship stress. Lauren’s warmth, professionalism, and dedication to human dignity embody the very heart of our mission at Southwest Counselling Services. 💛

We were honoured to be in Windsor this week working with the  hockey team and helping them grow their mental skills tool...
11/06/2025

We were honoured to be in Windsor this week working with the hockey team and helping them grow their mental skills toolkit! 💪🧠

It’s been a pleasure mentoring an MSW student with throughout her time with the team and to work with these amazing athletes! 🙏

Story  #3 of "10 Stories in 10 Weeks" in celebration of our 10th Anniversary: Walking With GriefOver the years, one of o...
11/05/2025

Story #3 of "10 Stories in 10 Weeks" in celebration of our 10th Anniversary: Walking With Grief

Over the years, one of our most meaningful community programs has been Walking With Grief — a simple yet powerful idea that brought people together to heal while moving forward, one step at a time. What began as a short-term walking group soon grew into an ongoing space for connection, reflection, and shared strength. 💙

Programs like this remind us why we do what we do — helping our community find comfort, hope, and companionship through life’s hardest moments.

Address

704 Mara Street, Unit #207
Point Edward, ON
N7V1X4

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15193363100

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