OUR TEAM
Meet Caitlyn
Caitlyn Young
MSW, RSW
Director, Therapist
She/ They
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Caitlyn is a Registered Social Worker offering psychotherapy to children and families in the Hamilton area. Caitlyn specializes in counselling children, adolescents and families, as well as offering specialized parent coaching for specific life challenges and diagnoses.
For nearly a decade, Caitlyn has supported children and families in various settings, including community counselling centres, schools, residential treatment homes, and inpatient mental health.
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Caitlyn works with each child and their family to help develop a treatment plan specific to their goals. They utilize an eclectic approach to therapy - drawing on different skills, theories and trainings to assist children in developing the skills they need to cope with difficult emotions and situations. A focus on the entire family empowers parents to feel capable in their roles guiding their children through challenges and improve relationships within the family. Caitlyn strongly believes that helping parents to understand and support their child is one of the most powerful ways of reducing risk around children’s mental health issues.
Caitlyn specializes in providing affirming therapeutic services and resource navigation for trans and gender non-conforming children and youth. They have additional training regarding the WPATH guidelines for working with trans youth, as well as extensive experience in navigating trans healthcare in the Hamilton-Niagara region. Caitlyn has provided training on supporting LGBTQ patients to major hospitals in the Hamilton region.
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Caitlyn has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Wilfred Laurier University and is a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers. She has training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Emotion Focused Family (EFFT) . They have additional training in working with people who have experienced trauma, including training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. She also incorporates aspects of mindfulness and play therapy in sessions to build resilience and help translate skills to real life situations.
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Caitlyn lives just outside the city with their wife, children, and a house full of fur babies.
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Anxiety
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Seperation Anxiety
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ADHD
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Autism
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Behavioural Issues
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Depression
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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Panic Attacks
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PTSD
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Self Harm
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Suicidal Ideation
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Trans Affirming Counselling
Meet Kim
Kim McDermott
BSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
She/ Her
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Kim is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who comes with over five years of
exemplary and varied experience in mental health. She enjoys working with people of all ages, and applies her diverse, practical life skills and experiences with the educational preparation she’s received through Wilfred Laurier University to help
her clients develop innovative and effective ways to work through the stressors in their lives. Kim’s educational focus has been on Indigenous knowledge.
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When Kim is looking at helping her clients, she takes a holistic viewpoint. Your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health impacts all your body.
She is especially passionate regarding the needs of men and women in every season of their lives, and is very sensitive to the many concerns and issues within the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Kim is a kind, genuine, warm, open-hearted human being. Kim has a passion for helping others work through their trauma. Kim’s perspective is that it does not define who you are as a person.
When not at work, she channels her creative energies into creating the most beautiful quilts, some of which have been displayed internationally. Kim is also the proud Mom of a bi-sexual child.
Meet Chelsey
Chelsey Kurtz
Office Administrator
They/ Them
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Meet Chelsey Kurtz, the Office Administrator at Tree and Sapling Counselling. Chelsey is the powerhouse behind the scenes, orchestrating the daily operations of our practice with finesse.
As the first point of contact for every person seeking care from Tree and Sapling Counselling, Chelsey is the one keeping things running seamlessly. They ensure that every client's journey starts off on the right foot.
When they're not busy being the office magician, Chelsey embraces the simple joys of life in Brantford. They've got a partner, kids, and a lively bunch of four-legged pals in tow. They've made autumn hikes a family tradition – you'll often spot them exploring the trails, crunching leaves, and making the most of those golden moments.
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