Connected Counselling Services

09/06/2025

Know someone who might be a good fit for our practice? We are looking for a part time administrative assistant / Clinic Coordinator!

Connected Counselling Services is recruiting for an Administrative Assistant-Clinic Coordinator. Apply by September 22nd. Details here: http://www.ovjobs.ca/index.php?p=jobs&cat=QWRtaW5pc3RyYXRpb24=&id=14169

09/04/2025

Intern doesn’t mean inexperienced.

Intern therapists are graduate-level clinicians in the final stages of their training—many with years of experience in related fields. They’ve studied hard, trained deeply, and bring a serious dedication to helping people heal.

They’re also learning the latest, evidence-based approaches to therapy. That means they bring modern tools and fresh perspectives, all while being closely supervised by a licensed professional.

And here’s something you might not have considered—you’re part of their journey, too. By working with an intern therapist, you’re helping shape the next generation of mental health professionals. Together, you’re building a relationship rooted in mutual respect, learning, and shared humanity.

We’re excited to welcome our new intern therapists starting in September: Jennifer Remus, a Master of Social Work (MSW) student, and Erin Nicholson, a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) student. They bring compassion, dedication, and the fresh perspective that comes from being immersed in their professional development- paired with the steady guidance of experienced, fully licensed supervisors. With more availability, a sliding scale “pay what you can” model, and the added benefit of clinical supervision, working with Jennifer or Erin offers modern care, thoughtful insight, and mutual growth.

Ready to learn more?

If you’re curious about working with one of our intern therapists, we’d love to connect. Reach out to us at Connected Counselling Services at connectedcounsellingservices@proton.me or 613-585-3834 to schedule a free consultation with one of our interns or to be added to the waitlist-we’re here to help.

Note: Intern therapists at Connected Counselling Services work under direct licensed supervision. All care is provided in accordance with the same high professional standards and ethical guidelines as our fully licensed therapists.

09/02/2025

Ever wish you could have two therapists for the price of one?

When you work with an intern therapist at Connected Counselling Services, that’s exactly what you get- your therapist and their supervisor, both thinking about how to best support you.

Intern therapists meet with their supervisors weekly- or more often when needed- to review cases, explore new ideas, and ensure your care is thoughtful, thorough, and tailored to your needs. You benefit from the fresh perspective and dedication of a therapist in training, plus the wisdom and experience of a seasoned professional.

In our case, that’s me, Adrienne Carfagnini, Clinical Director and Owner of Connected Counselling Services, and Emily McKenzie, MSW, RSW. Between us, we bring decades of experience working with children, youth, adults, couples/relationships, and families—supporting people through everything from everyday struggles to deeply complex challenges. We love mentoring new therapists, and we’re just as invested in your care as your intern is.

We’re excited to welcome our new intern therapists starting in September: Jennifer Remus, a Master of Social Work (MSW) student, and Erin Nicholson, a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) student. They bring dedication, compassion, and a fresh perspective from being immersed in their professional development—paired with the steady guidance of experienced, fully licensed supervisors. With more availability, a sliding scale “pay what you can” model, and the added insight of clinical supervision, working with Jennifer or Erin could be the perfect way to start your therapy journey.

Ready to learn more?

If you’re curious about working with one of our intern therapists, we’d love to connect. Reach out to us at Connected Counselling Services at connectedcounsellingservices@proton.me or 613-585-3834 to schedule a free consultation with one of our interns or to be added to the waitlist—we’re here to help.

Note: Intern therapists at Connected Counselling Services work under direct licensed supervision. All care is provided in accordance with the same high professional standards and ethical guidelines as the rest of our fully licensed team.

08/31/2025

Hi ! Adrienne here :) where the heck did the time go, and how is this Labour Day weekend?? I hope you are soaking up every last moment, and doing something that brings joy or rest - or both!- into your life ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🤍🤍

It’s never too late to reschedule! Even though our winter holiday gathering had to be cancelled at the last minute due to weather last December, we managed to reschedule it… 8 months later! Like everyone else, we therapists are a busy bunch, with families, work, and a multitude of other responsibilities and chores we need to do. But spending time together is a priority and we made it happen! Thank you to nomadatacos for hosting us and for the DELICIOUS food!

And THANK YOU to my ABSOLUTELY amazing team of admin and therapists- I am so grateful to have you working alongside me- we missed those of you who couldn’t make it! Here’s to another school year together 🥹

08/28/2025

If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy, you probably know the common roadblocks- being stuck on a long waitlist or feeling like the cost is out of reach. At Connected Counselling Services, we have good news: there’s another option you might not know about- working with an intern therapist.

Our intern therapist sessions are offered on a sliding scale, “pay what you can” model- making therapy more affordable and accessible. In other words, cost doesn’t have to be the thing that keeps you from getting the support you need.

You’ll receive the same safe, confidential space you’d expect from any therapist on our team- just with more access, more support, and more flexibility. If you’ve been wanting to start therapy but have felt held back by wait times or cost, this could be the perfect time to take that first step.

We’re excited to welcome our new intern therapists starting in September: Jennifer Remus, a Master of Social Work (MSW) student, and Erin Nicholson, a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) student. Both bring dedication, compassion, and a fresh perspective from being immersed in their professional development, while working under the close supervision of experienced, fully licensed clinicians. With this combination of affordability, availability, and high-quality support, working with an intern therapist could be the ideal way to begin your therapy journey.

Ready to learn more?

If you’re curious about working with one of our intern therapists, we’d love to connect. Reach out to us at Connected Counselling Services at connectedcounsellingservices@proton.me or 613-585-3834 to schedule a free consultation with one of our interns or to be added to the waitlist- we’re here to help.

Note: Intern therapists at Connected Counselling Services work under direct licensed supervision. All care is provided in accordance with the same high professional standards and ethical guidelines as our fully licensed therapists.

08/25/2025

There’s something powerful about sitting across from someone who’s truly listening- someone who isn’t distracted, watching the clock, or rushing to a diagnosis. Intern therapists bring time, focus, and in-the-moment presence- you’re not just another name on their calendar. Like all of our therapists, they care deeply about doing this work well-but at this stage in their training, they naturally have an extra level of attentiveness and dedication.

Many people are surprised by how supported they feel in sessions with an intern therapist. There’s a fresh energy and genuine curiosity they bring into the room. They arrive without assumptions or judgment, showing up open, thoughtful, and deeply interested in truly getting to know you.

So if you’re considering therapy and wondering if working with an intern therapist is “enough”- it absolutely can be. In many ways, it might be exactly what you need.

We’re excited to welcome our new intern therapists starting in September: Jennifer Remus, a Master of Social Work (MSW) student, and Erin Nicholson, a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) student. Both bring dedication, compassion, and the fresh perspective that comes from being immersed in their professional development.

If you’re curious about working with one of our intern therapists, we’d love to connect! Reach out to us at connectedcounsellingservices@proton.me or 613-585-3834 to schedule a free consultation with one of our interns or to be added to the waitlist—we’re here to help!

Note: Intern therapists at Connected Counselling Services work under direct licensed supervision. All care is provided in accordance with the same high professional standards and ethical guidelines as our fully licensed team!

07/18/2025

We are incredibly proud to sponsor this year's Multicultural Festival! Head on down to the waterfront/amphitheatre tonight from 4-8 PM or tomorrow 12-8 PM to check out some great food, dance, cultural booths and more!

We sincerely thank our generous Festival sponsors. This event would not be possible without your support!

07/08/2025

We’re so excited to welcome Erin Rickli, MSW, RSW, back from maternity leave! She’s now accepting new and returning clients- if you’ve been waiting to connect (or reconnect!) with Erin, now’s your chance!

Erin brings warmth, realness, and a non-judgmental approach to therapy—meeting clients wherever they’re at, whether that means big emotions, tough questions, or a little dark humour.

Book through the link in bio or at https://connectedcounsellingservices.janeapp.com/locations/virtual-team/book #/staff_member/27

Welcome back, Erin!

06/28/2025

Hey friends, Adrienne here! June has been a busy month, including last Thursday evening when fellow psychotherapist Terri Ann Brazeau & I had the honour of attending Fellowes HS graduation ceremony. We presented the Skip Ross Memorial Bursary—an annual initiative we created & proudly sponsor as part of Connected Counselling Services’s committment to ongoing reparations and relationship-building with First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and other Indigenous communities.

This award is given in memory of Skip Ross (Running River Man), a deeply respected Algonquin Elder who generously shared his teachings with local students through drumming, ceremony, and cultural connection. It is awarded to a graduating student who identifies as Indigenous and who has demonstrated resilience and/or personal growth, with plans to pursue post-secondary education or enter the workforce.

We were so pleased to present this year’s award to Amilia Wawatie, who will be continuing their education in the field of medical aesthetics.

Congratulations to all the grads—and wishing you all the best in your future endeavours Amilia! 💛 Thank you also to Trevor Pearce for assisting us in developing this award, for the work you do in the community, and for being an all-around swell human being! 🧡

06/27/2025

This past Saturday, we set up our very first ever community event display at the marina in Pembroke for National Indigenous Peoples Day. It was such a lovely day—great conversations, kind people, and some meaningful ceremony, education and music. I had a “super bubble” station set up for kids, and I think I may have had more fun than they did with it! thank you Family and Children's Services of Renfrew County for organizing the Day!

Can’t wait to do it again at the next event—the Pembroke Multicultural Festival, which we’re proud to be sponsoring this year. It’s happening July 18 & 19 down at the waterfront, organized by the Pembroke Public Library. Hope to see some familiar faces (and meet some new ones) there! Come and blow giant bubbles with us, and learn about our services!

06/16/2025

Adrienne here, happy Monday everyone!

Did you know—you don’t have to talk through every detail to heal from trauma?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that helps the brain safely process distressing memories so your body can finally exhale and let down. It’s one of the most effective, research-backed approaches to trauma recovery. Best of all - it works without needing to rehash everything out loud - although if talking’s your jam, you can incorporate that into EMDR too!

From childhood experiences to medical trauma and everything in between—if something’s still rattling around in your nervous system, EMDR can help.

Want to know how it works—and if it might be right for you?
I wrote a whole blog post about it; check it out here:
🔗 https://connectedcounsellingservices.com/what-is-emdr-therapy-and-how-can-it-help-with-trauma-recovery/

Reach out today to get started with one of our many EMDR therapists: phone/text at 613 585-3834 or email at connectedcounsellingservices@proton.me

06/12/2025

Adrienne here, and Happy Pride everyone!!

Did you know Connected Counselling Services is a queer-owned psychotherapy clinic? Probably not — and that’s okay. I’m a straight-passing cis woman, which means a lot of people assume I’m straight.

But nope :)
I proudly live in the “+” of 2SLGBTQIA+ as a pansexual/androsexual person. I’m a little fluid :)

So when I hear people say things like, “Why are there so many letters?”
I can’t help but think the opposite — why stop at 10 letters, digits and symbols?
Why do we feel the need to limit ourselves at all?

To me, those letters aren’t confusing — they’re beautiful.
Love is more like a bowl of alphabet soup than a spelling bee.
Every letter is someone’s truth. Every identity is love in REAL LIFE.

And that’s worth celebrating — fully, loudly, and without apology ❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🩷🤍🩶🖤