Biographical Info
My name is Josée McKenzie. My experience as a therapist includes over 22 years of clinical experience. I have significant therapeutic experience supporting adults and adolescents using a wide variety of modalities. I comfortably and effectively work with individuals, adolescents and their parents.
I am a psychotherapist and registered social worker (R.S.W) with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and the Ontario Association of Social Workers. My educational background includes a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from the University of Ottawa. Prior to founding HopeStone Therapy, I spent several years at The Ottawa Hospital and Children’s Aid Society, as a Professor at La Cité Collégiale in the Faculty of Social Work, and as a clinical investigator for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. Most recently, I spent almost twenty years as a clinical social worker at The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), where I specialized in the treatment of youth and adults with mental health disorders and associated mood and anxiety disorders, as well as in parenting support and psychoeducation. I am also specialized in supporting families experiencing grief and loss and have specialized clinical skills in working with individuals with anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic illness, and grief.
I am also excited to have become one of Canada's first certified practitioners in The Richards Trauma Process, a very successful and innovative modality for trauma treatment.
At the root of my treatment philosophy is the belief that any effective therapeutic relationship is based upon building a trusting, safe and compassionate relationship with each person. I believe in the inherent strength, healing power and resilience of individuals and families, and strongly believe that therapy is a portal to instill hope and mend past emotional wounds and traumas. I have a special interest in Trauma Informed Practices and was the first trained TRTP trauma therapy practitioner in Canada. My special interests also extend to Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and I am one of only a few practitioners in Eastern Ontario to offer this treatment modality.
