Meet our Trauma-Informed Providers

  • Dr. Teela Tomassetti (Psy.D)

    FOUNDER

    REGISTERED PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST (Alberta)

  • Jennifer Benson

    REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

    (Alberta)

  • Aliya Manji

    REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

    (Alberta)

  • Millicent Asiedu

    REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER

    (Alberta)

  • Katelyn Mayer

    MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST

    (Awaiting Registration as a Provisional Psychologist)

    (Alberta)

  • Breanne Jones

    CANADIAN CERTIFIED COUNSELLOR

    (Manitoba)

  • Chantal Carriere-Khan

    REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER/

    MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST (Manitoba)

  • Aislinn Hasty

    BIRTH TRAUMA DOULA/EDUCATOR & LACTATION CONSULTANT

    (Manitoba)

  • Renee Brochu

    BIRTH TRAUMA DOULA/ADVOCATE/EDUCATOR & REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER

    (Edmonton)

  • Cindy Goldhawk

    OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (Alberta)

  • Celine Sandberg

    DOCTOR OF ACUPUNCTURE (Alberta)

  • Nasim Switzer

    CANADIAN CERTIFIED COUNSELLOR (Alberta- on Maternity Leave)

  • Hayley Parke

    EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Dr. Teela Tomassetti (PsyD)- she/her-

Founder & Registered Provisional Psychologist

Teela is a Registered Provisional Psychologist through the College of Alberta Psychologists. Teela recently received her Doctorate (Psy.D) and completed her doctoral research at California Southern University. Her research consisted of a qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with therapists' experiences supporting birth trauma, the fawn trauma response and mistreatment by providers. It is currently in the process of publication.

Teela is also excited to share that she is the Co-Founder of the Global Birth and Perinatal Trauma Research Collaborative and continues to pursue research in the perinatal field.

Teela has been a counsellor since 2005, supporting those with sexual assault, domestic violence, tragic losses and addiction concerns before becoming a registered provisional psychologist in 2021. For the last few years, Teela has specialized in birth trauma and identifies as a birth trauma survivor of midwifery violence and an excessive hemorrhage that threatened her life.

Teela works from a trauma-informed lens and believes in client-centered therapy. She walks alongside her clients, and her approach sets out to empower those she works with while providing a warm, safe, compassionate space. Teela has also acquired her Perinatal Mental Health training through Postpartum Support International and the Postpartum Stress Centre. She has also sought out additional training on fertility struggles, endometriosis, PCOS, pregnancy and infant loss.

Her primary modality is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); she is also trained in Advanced EMDR, which means she can offer the Recent Events Protocol, Group EMDR and Couples EMDR. She also recently completed another EMDR training on Integrating Somatic Approaches in Trauma work.

However, she shares that her heart will always be with Narrative Therapy, which views “the problem is the problem, the person is not the problem.” The social justice lens that often shows up in Teela's works is Narrative Therapy. Her other primary modality is Compassion-Focused Therapy, which she believes is central to working with trauma.

Teela is an international conference speaker and has offered workshops to providers in-person and online on incorporating trauma-informed care into their roles and systems. She is also a published author of chapters on birth trauma from “The Pain Mothers Must Never Expose” and “Gone Feral: The Undoing of Normative Feminity.” You can also see her as a keynote speaker at the Collaborative Doula Conference in Ontario May 2025.

Teela offers support to those struggling with fertility, IUD trauma, pregnancy and infant loss, paternal mental health, endometriosis, PCOS, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She offers individual therapy in person and online support for all of Alberta as well as professional consultation across the world.

You can follow her @theteaonbirthtrauma, where she has worked hard to build a safe community for over 40,000 birth trauma survivors.

Jennifer Benson-she/her-

Registered Psychologist

Jennifer is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists, with a Masters in Counselling Psychology. Jennifer excels in supporting those struggling with fertility, pregnancy loss, birth trauma, paternal and perinatal mental health such as anxiety and depression, and parenting struggles.

Jennifer shares: “As a parent, I deeply empathize with others in similar roles. I understand firsthand the challenges that come with parenting, which allows me to connect with and support other parents in a meaningful way. My personal experience drives my passion for helping others navigate the complexities of parenthood.

I am deeply committed to supporting new parents, driven by my own experiences with birth trauma following the birth of my first son and prenatal and postpartum depression with my second. I am passionate about providing the support, guidance and understanding that can make a meaningful difference for other parents during this critical time. My goal is to offer emotional, practical, and educational support, ensuring that my clients feel empowered and understood as they build confidence and resilience.”

Jennifer has had the privilege of helping and supporting individuals for almost twenty years. She is compassionate, relatable, empathetic, and genuinely cares about her clients. Her counselling style is trauma-informed, collaborative, engaging, and feedback-orientated. She helps clients develop self-awareness and insight while exploring new strategies, skills, and behaviours to facilitate positive change. Mindfulness is a cornerstone of her practice, enhancing self-awareness and emotional regulation while fostering a deep sense of safety and trust in the therapeutic relationship.

Jennifer adopts a strengths-based approach to therapy, rooted in her belief that everyone possesses the potential to grow and thrive. She works with clients ages 15 and older, addressing a diverse range of presenting concerns. Jennifer is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), advanced EMDR techniques, and integrating somatic approaches into EMDR as well as Emotion-Focused Individual Therapy.

At the beginning of her career, Jennifer held various leadership roles in the health and fitness industry, giving her a broad knowledge base of health and solidifying her holistic view of well-being. Her interventions and techniques are tailored, comprehensive, and evidence-based. She looks forward to connecting and working together to create meaningful change.

 

Aliya Manji (she/her)-Registered Psychologist

Aliya Manji is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists with 10+ years experience.  She has worked with women fleeing domestic violence, children who have experienced trauma, and couples who have gone through infidelity and other life changes. Aliya supports individuals and couples who have experienced perinatal trauma, women's and men's health issues, and grief and loss.

 

Aliya's approach includes various trauma- informed and client-centered therapeutic interventions such as EMDR, Gottman Method and Internal Family Systems. Aliya will meet you where you are at in your journey and support you to grow at your own pace and level of readiness.  She aims to provide you with a safe and non-judgemental space to express your thoughts and feelings.

Aliya supports the communities that reach out to RPTC virtually on Thursday evenings, and her colleagues share that she excels in the area of couples work. This is great news as fertility challenges faced by a couple tend to impact them in ways they never imagined, and extra therapeutic support is critical. She can also assist couples who have begun their families and had their first chapters interrupted by the hardships of birth trauma, postpartum depression and/or anxiety.

You can book with Aliya at the link below!

 

 

 

Millicent Asiedu (she/her)-Registered Social Worker-

Millicent is a wife and a mother of 3 beautiful children. Millicent enjoys spending time with her family and going on little adventures with them. Millicent holds a Masters of Social Work degree as well as a Bachelors of Psychology degree. She is also a Canadian Certified Perinatal Mental Health Therapist. 

Millicent has over a decade of experience working with the perinatal population. Before entering into private practice, Millicent began her career supporting families who experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect, domestic violence, addictions and mental health challenges. 

As a dedicated social worker and mental health therapist, Millicent specializes in perinatal mental health and birth trauma, offering therapeutic support to birthing individuals and their families who are navigating the emotional and psychological challenges associated with conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. She has a strong understanding of the interconnectedness between maternal mental health and child mental health.

Millicent’s approach to mental health is client-centered and solution-focused, ensuring that every individual’s voice is heard and their needs are addressed with compassion and empathy, especially during the most empowering yet most vulnerable times. She prioritizes empowerment, collaboration and holistic care while meeting clients where they are at. Furthermore, Millicent uses a strength-based approach, an Anti-Oppressive lens and cognitive behaviour therapy to support clients in their healing journey as they navigate complex trauma, systemic barriers and relational conflicts. 

Through her own experiences of reproductive trauma, Millicent was able to channel her struggles into a passion for women’s health.A strong belief in social justice and advocacy has driven Millicent. She fiercely advocates for equitable and culturally affirming resources for the BIPOC community.  Millicent believes in creating safe spaces where birthing people are seen, heard and valued. 

Millicent Asiedu is the Founder and Executive Director of Mesh of Mothers (MOM) Foundation Inc., a not-for-profit organization. Millicent started M.O.M during the height of the pandemic as she recognized the disparities experienced by black mothers in the perinatal period. Through MOM, Millicent has brought awareness to maternal/mental health. She has helped create a community of mothers, annual workshops and conferences, access to culturally affirming resources and community engagements in Alberta. She has been recognized for her passion, dedication to service and advocacy in Canada and the United States. 

“I am excited to join the RPTC because this is the type of support I needed early on in my maternal journey. My vision is aligned with RPTC as we all commit to improving mental health services for expectant and new parents, and their families while fostering resilience, ensuring that each clien’s unique needs are met and that mental health care is an integral part of perinatal care.”

 

 

 

Katelyn Mayer (she/her)-Mental Health Therapist-

Katelyn is a Mental Health Therapist in Edmonton with a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle. Her capstone research focused on understanding how experiences of grief are impacted by ambiguous loss when a loved one goes missing. This work led her to become passionate about supporting individuals who are experiencing grief and loss and has provided her with a unique understanding of how to support those who feel that their grief has been misunderstood, minimized, or dismissed. 

Her approach to sessions is based on collaboration, connection, and authenticity. She believes that each of us has the capacity for healing and that this journey looks different for everyone. Her goal within each session is to create a space that feels safe enough for you to show up as your true self, feeling seen, heard and welcomed. She truly believes that you are the expert in your own life and that her role is to walk beside you as you learn to nurture your inherent strengths, healing, learning, and growth. To support this, Katelyn draws on several different approaches based on the unique needs of her clients, primarily Internal Family Systems (IFS), Polyvagal Theory, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Additionally, Katelyn has completed basic training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for the treatment of trauma. She has also pursued training through the Hakomi Institute of Edmonton to integrate mindfulness-based somatic interventions into her practice.

Katelyn is passionate about supporting individuals who have experienced pregnancy loss, birth trauma, fertility struggles, health complications such as endometriosis, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She also provides support for partners and their mental health as they navigate the pregnancy and postpartum period. To support this area of her practice, she has pursued additional training in perinatal mental health through Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings (CPMHT).

Katelyn genuinely believes there is a place in the counselling space for everyone, and genuinely thanks you for taking the first step in showing up for yourself by being here! 

Katelyn is awaiting her registration through the College of Alberta Psychologists and will be offering sessions at $100 per session until that takes place. You can book with Katelyn below.  

 

 

Breanne Jones, (she/her)- Canadian Certified Counsellor

Breanne’ is able to see clients virtually across Canada! When booking know that the times you see are in MST-Mountain Time- when considering your own

Breanne is a Certified Canadian Counsellor residing in Manitoba, with over a decade of experience in the social services field, dedicated to supporting individuals through their wellness journeys. While she upholds a high standard of professionalism, Breanne prioritizes authentic human connection with her clients, offering them a safe and empathetic space to share their stories and experiences.

Breanne holds a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and is trained in reproductive and perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International. She has pursued additional specialized training in reproductive and birth trauma. She is actively working towards her certification as a Canadian Certified Birth and Reproductive Trauma Specialist (CC-BRT) with Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Training.

Drawing from her own experiences with pregnancy loss, birth trauma, and being a NICU parent, Breanne has a deep and personal understanding of the profound impact that the reproductive and perinatal period can have on individuals and families. This personal insight informs her compassionate and client-centered approach to therapy.

Breanne is committed to providing an inclusive, culturally sensitive, and 2SLGBTQI+ affirming therapeutic space. She recognizes and values the diversity of her clients' backgrounds and experiences, ensuring that her practice respects and honours each individual's unique identity and needs. Breanne actively seeks to create an environment where all clients feel seen, heard, and validated.

In her practice, Breanne has experience supporting individuals and couples through various reproductive and perinatal challenges, including infertility, pregnancy loss, pregnancy after loss, birth trauma, infant loss/stillbirth, NICU experiences, postpartum mental health issues, and paternal mental health.

Breanne recognizes that each individual’s trauma narrative is unique, and she is committed to developing holistic and personalized treatment plans that honour this individuality. She believes that no two treatment plans should be the same, and she integrates a variety of therapeutic modalities into her practice. Her approach includes a Social Justice and Person-Centred lens and integrates theories, such as Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal Theory, Narrative Therapy, and Somatic practices. Additionally, Breanne will also be completing her certification in EMDR and the Gottman Method, which she anticipates finishing by the end of 2024, and she is enthusiastic about expanding the range of therapeutic options available to her clients.

Breanne resides in Manitoba, where she has the capacity to see clients virtually or in person. Breanne can also provide telehealth services across Canada. Breanne will also be completing in EMDR training in January of 2025.

 

Chantal Carriere- Khan-she/her- Registered Social Worker/Mental Health Therapist

Chantal is a bilingual (French and English) mental health therapist with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With over a decade of experience in social services, she has supported individuals through diverse and challenging experiences. Her focus is on reproductive and perinatal mental health, including pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, and pregnancy loss. Chantal’s passion for this work stems from her own personal experience with pregnancy loss. During that time, she struggled to find the support she needed  which led her to pursue specialized training and dedicate her career to supporting others through similar journeys.

Chantal hold’s specialized training in perinatal mental health through Canadian Perinatal Mental Health (CC-PMH) and is currently pursuing Brainspotting training, which offers an innovative, body-based approach to processing trauma and promoting healing. Her approach is client-centred and evidence-based, integrating modalities such as Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal Theory, mindfulness-based practices, somatic techniques, and social justice principles. Chantal strives to create a personalized, client-centered space that honors each individual’s unique experiences and needs.

Chantal shared that: “Joining the Reproductive and Perinatal Trauma Centre was really meaningful for me because it allows me to provide the kind of support I wished I had during my own experiences. It also allows me to explore other areas of interest, such as paternal mental health and women’s health and the complexities of perimenopause, alongside my passion for perinatal mental health. Becoming a first-time parent brought its own anxieties and challenges, and I know how isolating it can feel when the right resources aren’t accessible. Being part of this team aligns with my passion for perinatal mental health and my commitment to bridging those gaps in care. It is a privilege to contribute to a team that shares a dedication to providing compassionate and personalized support to clients. Whether you’re navigating grief, adjusting to parenthood, or exploring the intersections of reproductive health, I am here to provide care that is tailored to your unique journey.”

Aislinn Hasty- Birth Trauma/Educator, Postpartum Doula & IBCLC

Aislinn [pronounced Ash-lynn] is an IBCLC, postpartum doula and a former hospital-based Midwife from Ireland. She is an empath who is truly passionate about client and family-centered care.

With almost a decade of experience as a hospital-based midwife specializing in high-risk and complex birth cases, Aislinn brings a unique perspective to birth trauma education. Having worked in several demanding healthcare environments, Aislinn has developed a deep understanding of the emotional and physical challenges surrounding birth, particularly in cases where trauma impacts outcomes for parents and families. By bridging clinical expertise with empathic education, Aislinn empowers care providers to create safer, more accommodating spaces for all birthing experiences.

Her passion for this work is deeply personal - after becoming a mother herself, Aislinn experienced care where she didn't feel truly heard or supported. This experience ignited her commitment to advocating for others, ensuring that every individual feels validated and respected in their maternity and postpartum journey.

Her journey to becoming an IBCLC started with delivering breast pumps, where she met countless parents struggling with low milk supply—a stark contrast to what she had learned as a midwife, that “99% of women can breastfeed.” That question—why so many?—sparked a passion to dig deeper.  

Personal experience with low supply after her own baby’s birth in 2020 fueled her drive to support others through their feeding journeys. Aislinn has since worked with hundreds of parents, navigating everything from Plan A to Plan C, and supporting the grief that can come with unexpected feeding challenges.  

Collaborating with mental health professionals has been key to client success, providing whole-being care, ensuring clients get the emotional and practical support they need during this deeply personal journey.  Aislinn will also work with our multi-disciplinary team to deliver trauma-informed and highly innovative groups, workshops and presentations as a Birth Trauma Doula and across Canada online and in person for Winnipeg as a Lactation Consultant specializing in low supply . Stay tuned for all that Aislinn’s unique role will offer!

Renee Brochu -Birth Trauma Doula/Advocate/Educator and Registered Social Worker

Renee is a passionate Doula and Registered Social Worker (RSW) with over five years of experience supporting children, families, and individuals through the profound transitions of parenthood. Her approach to birth work is deeply rooted in personalized holistic care that addresses the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of the journey to parenthood. Connection is at the core of her practice as she focuses on building trust, being emotionally present, and genuinely caring for the families she supports.

In her role as a social worker, Renee draws on her experience working with clients facing challenges related to trauma, anxiety, or complex family dynamics. Her practice is grounded in empathy, active listening, and a commitment to ensuring that everyone she works with feels respected and heard.

As a Social Worker and trained full-spectrum doula, Renee is passionate about providing trauma-informed support to individuals who have experienced a traumatic birth or birthing process. Her care centers around creating a safe, compassionate space where survivors feel validated, supported, and empowered in their healing journey. She recognizes the profound impact that birth trauma can have on one's physical, emotional, and psychological well-being, and she strives to offer care that honours each person’s unique story and experience.

Through years of work in wellness support, she has gained a profound understanding of trauma's complexities and its lasting effects, particularly in the context of childbirth. She is committed not only to helping survivors process their experiences but also to educating families, communities, and other professionals about the nuances of birth trauma and the importance of a sensitive, respectful approach to care. By fostering greater awareness and understanding, Renee aims to contribute to a more informed and compassionate culture that recognizes and responds to the needs of birth trauma survivors. If we continue to create awareness and understanding of birth trauma and the effects this trauma can have, we can begin to address these issues even before they arise. At the very least, the awareness spread can create a safe environment for survivors to feel heard and supported through their healing journeys. 

Renee firmly believes every survivor deserves a voice in their healing journey and access to the resources and support they need to thrive. Whether working directly with survivors or advocating within the broader community, she is motivated by a commitment to empowering individuals to reclaim their strength and resilience after challenging birth experiences. 

Renee will be supporting birth trauma survivors as a doula specializing in the area, who are thinking of or have become pregnant with their next child and need someone in the space that truly gets it! Renee will also be working collaboratively with our mult-disciplinary team to deliver trauma-informed and highly innovative groups, workshops and presentations. Stay tuned for all that Renee’s unique role will offer!

Celine Sandberg-she/her

Doctor of Acupuncture

As a doctor of acupuncture in Edmonton, Alberta , and trained fertility/birth doula, Celine has worked with countless people as they navigate hormonal problems, fertility struggles, pregnancy discomforts, and postpartum recovery. She is extremely passionate about patient education and loves using TCM to help patients find their own healing potential.

Celine strives to offer a space for patients to explore their situation with curiosity while feeling supported. She utilizes a variety of TCM modalities such as acupuncture, moxibustion, auricular therapy, cupping, and gua sha to regulate the nervous system, stabilize mood, and reduce physical symptoms.

Celine is aware of the challenges surrounding pre-conception, fertility treatments, pregnancy, and postpartum and hopes to provide individualized and trauma-informed care to anyone navigating these challenges.

TCM and acupuncture are known to help improve PCOS, endometriosis, pain (including pelvic pain and postoperative pain), pre-conception wellness, preparation for IUI/IVF, pregnancy and infant loss, and mood and anxiety disorders.

Her private practice is located in her home community of Sherwood Park, and she is excited to be offering specialized group acupuncture with the RPTC.

Nasim Switzer- Certified Canadian Counsellor-

Nasim is currently on maternity leave and will be returning in 2025*

Nasim is a Canadian Certified Counsellor who resides in Alberta, Canada, who works from a culture and trauma-informed perspective. She believes that clients are the experts of their lives, and she works collaboratively to find the approach that fits their values, needs, beliefs, and personalities. Nasim’s priority is first to create a safe, warm and non-judgmental environment and an understanding of what her clients are going through.

Nasim started working in the mental health field in 2016. She has helped many individuals and families navigate the impact of acute or complex trauma such as abuse and neglect. Her interest in supporting parents through the perinatal period and beyond peaked when she had her child and learned about how little support and voice parents get in our society. Nasim offers individual counselling to adults and teens (15+) in Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut. Nasim is trained in Perinatal Mental health, Compassion Focused Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy, and attachment-based approaches. She also incorporates evidence-based practices, including Somatic Experiencing, Narrative Therapy, Family Systems, mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Nasim also offers EMDR therapy as of November 2023. 

Nasim has a special interest in supporting parents and parents-to-be through challenging times in their child’s or their own lives. She also helps youth and adults with acute as well as complex trauma. Nasim believes that trauma is a subjective experience and is determined by the client’s experiences. This can include but is not exclusive to birth trauma, IUD trauma, miscarriage/early pregnancy loss, stillbirth, relationship dynamics, and dysfunctional family systems. Nasim is building a specialty in IUD trauma and Paternal mental health.

Nasim completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at the University of Alberta. She then completed her master's at the Edmonton Branch of City University of Seattle. She is a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and a member in good standing in the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). Nasim’s master’s capstone research focused on cultural influences on parenting practices, namely co-sleeping.

Nasim IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. Check back in later this year!