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.

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

02/13/2026

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

02/12/2026

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

02/10/2026

🔥 Navigating Perimenopause and Menopause with Support 🔥

Hot flashes. Sleepless nights. Mood swings that come out of nowhere. If you’re moving through perimenopause or menopause, you might be wondering, "Is this normal?" or "Why does no one talk about this part of life?"

The truth is, these changes can feel overwhelming physically, emotionally, and even relationally. You might be struggling with sleep, irritability, brain fog, or feeling disconnected from your body or your relationships. You are not alone.

Jennifer Hines is a Registered Nurse Psychotherapist who offers compassionate, tailored support for women navigating this transition. With a unique blend of clinical knowledge, holistic strategies, and mindfulness-based therapy, Jen helps clients:

🌿 Understand what’s happening in their bodies
🌿 Navigate emotional ups and downs with clarity and care
🌿 Improve sleep, reduce stress, and support lifestyle shifts
🌿 Reconnect with themselves and their relationships

This season of life doesn’t have to feel like a mystery or something you just have to “push through.” With the right support, it can be a time of empowerment and renewal.

✨ Reach out to learn how Jen can support you through it.

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

02/09/2026

Life can feel loud and demanding.
Even quiet moments can feel full.
Inner peace does not mean everything is calm.
It means finding steadiness within yourself.

If you can, pause for a moment.
Imagine a place that feels safe and grounding.
Notice what stands out there.
Notice how your body responds.

You can stay as long or as briefly as you like.
This place is always available to you.

02/05/2026

We’re feeling grateful and proud to be a 2026 sponsor of Dundas Little League ⚾

At Cherry Tree Counselling, we believe healing doesn’t just happen in therapy rooms. It happens in dugouts and on ball fields. In moments of teamwork, challenge, joy, and showing up for each other, over and over again.

That’s why supporting local sports matters to us. Because it’s about more than the game.

It’s about building confidence.
It’s about having safe adults on your side.
It’s about learning how to fall down, get back up, and keep going.

So to the incredible volunteers, families, and every kid stepping up to the plate this season:
We see you. We’re cheering for you. And we’re honoured to be on your team.

Here’s to a season of growth, grit, and good memories.

02/04/2026

Welcoming Rachel Gibbs, Registered Social Worker, to Cherry Tree Counselling

There’s a story so many people have been told — that if you're struggling with your mental health, it must mean you're flawed, broken, or weak.
And that the hard parts?
You’re supposed to figure them out on your own.

Rachel Gibbs is here to gently challenge that story.

She offers therapy for adults and families, and brings a calm, compassionate presence to every session. Whether you're navigating OCD, generalized anxiety, panic, perfectionism, or a major life transition, Rachel’s approach starts with trust.

She believes that before anything else, before skill-building or psychoeducation, we need real connection.
Because healing doesn’t happen in isolation.
It happens when you feel seen. Held. Understood.

Rachel walks alongside her clients with care and integrity, honouring their stories, their strengths, and the path that brought them here. Her work is structured and intentional but never rigid. There’s room for your humanity, your pace, your needs.

If you’ve been carrying something alone for a long time
If you’re tired of feeling like you have to “get it together” before reaching out
Rachel offers a space where none of that is required.

Just come as you are.

Book a session with Rachel or visit her profile to learn more at www.cherrytreecounselling.ca/rachel-gibbs

02/02/2026

That moment in therapy when your therapist gently asks,
“Who taught you that your needs were too much?”
And suddenly… it all makes sense.

The people-pleasing.
The overthinking.
The guilt that creeps in when you ask for help or take up space.

It’s not random.
It’s not because you’re broken.
It’s often because somewhere along the way, in family, school, relationships, or culture, you learned that your needs were inconvenient. Too big. Not welcome.

But here’s the truth:
Your needs are not too much.
Your feelings are not too messy.
You are not too anything.

In therapy, we get to untangle that story.
We get to ask where it came from, who it benefited, and whether it’s still true.

And with time and care, we begin to write a new one — where your needs get to exist. Get to be met. Get to matter.

If this resonates, you're not alone.
We're here when you're ready.

✨ Book a session here: cherrytreecounselling.ca

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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