Ruth SImmonds

Registered Social worker

Ruth Simmonds is a Registered Social Worker with over 20 years’ experience and specialized training in Family Systems Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Triple P Parenting, and Collaborative Problem Solving.

Ruth’s experience includes:

• Interviewing, assessing and providing ongoing individual therapy to adolescents dealing with anxiety, depression, sexual identity issues, self-harming behaviour, and suicidal ideation
• Providing crisis intervention to adolescents who had made a suicide attempt
• Counselling and supporting parents of young people on domestic violence, separation and divorce, and bereavement
• Advocating for clients within and outside the organization when appropriate
• Co-facilitating two adolescent girls’ groups that dealt with issues of sexuality and body image
• Co-leading Problem Solving Group
• Serving as liaison between family members of forty patients in a maximum secure mental health facility and other professionals on staff

Qualifications:

• Masters in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University with concentration in Individuals, Families and Groups.
• Bachelor of Arts Degree from Trent University with specialization in Psychology and Sociology.
• Certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Triple P Parenting Programs
• Training as facilitator in Facing Your Fears – Anxiety Group for Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Continuous training and workshops on self-harming and suicidal behaviour, bereavement, and other issues.

Availability:

Wednesdays from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Location: St. Catharines.