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Hi, I'm Tory.
Hello and welcome to the Thrive Centre! My name is Tory Baker-Reed and I am a Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW). As a social worker/psychotherapist, parent and partner, I strive to continuously unlearn the many systems of oppression in society and apply an anti-oppression lens to my life and work. My professional background includes working for 21 years in the Child Welfare system. During that time, I supported children, youth and their families through their difficult life paths. While the ‘child welfare system has its significant challenges, I worked consciously to help children, youth and families access services, become empowered with skills to self-advocate and navigate systems, always with a focus on rights and self-efficacy.
In 2015, I began both a personal and professional journey with Psychodramatic BodyWork™,which is a modality that uses “dramatic action methods to free and integrate spontaneity blocked by earlier trauma. Bodywork uses Safe Touch to help individuals connect with the messages that are held in the body as pain, numbness and/or illness.
In 2017, I began studying Psychodrama at the Hudson Valley Psychodrama Institute (HVPI) in Highland, New York. I attended three full years with the Core program at HVPI, which teaches the principles of Psychodrama, Sociometry, Sociodrama and Experiential Therapy. Due to Covid-19, my studies are on hold until further notice. However, I look forward to many more years at HVPI to continue to learn these highly creative and healing methods.
In 2020, I trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). EMDR is a phased focused approach to therapy that helps clients reconnect to a past and unresolved trauma. This is done safely by exploring the images, self-thoughts, emotions and sensations in the body that surface when bilateral stimulation (e.g. eye movements, bilateral sound or tapping etc.),is used to address trauma. It is an internationally recognized and accepted form of therapy. It has been researched extensively and has been shown to be highly effective with survivors of complex trauma, war veterans, survivors of violence, accident victims, people with phobias, etc. In 2021, I became certified as a hypnotherapist and EFT practitioner (i.e. Tapping). These modalities provide additional skills to support my work with clients. I look forward to meeting you!
Hi, I'm Kathryn.
Hello and welcome! My name is Kathryn Baker-Reed and I am a counsellor and Life Skills Coach (registered with the International Coaching Federation). In addition, I am a parent, life partner, and deeply committed to life-long personal and professional development. My professional background includes working for 25+ years in the anti-violence movement. For 20 years I was a sexual assault counsellor in Southern Ontario and ultimately an Executive Director at SAVIS of Halton (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services).
My passion for working with community and advocating for survivors runs very deep. I have worked for both large and small non-profits as a manager, grant writer and program developer for communities experiencing barriers to service. My work focused on programming for survivors of violence, survivors of human trafficking, youth, seniors, education, employment and entrepreneurship.
In 2003, I also began a personal and professional journey with Psychodramatic BodyWork™ and trained for 13 years, with eight of those years at the Advanced level. I am deeply connected to this healing modality and am impressed with the level of positive change it provides. In 2019 I began studying Psychodrama at the Hudson Valley Psychodrama Institute (HVPI) in Highland, New York. This modality supports healing through “experiential methods, enactment and re-enactment, sociometry, role theory, and group dynamics” (hvpi.net). I completed the Intensive training and joined Core training in March 2020. This study was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, however I will return to train further once travel is safe again. For more information about Psychodrama, feel free to speak with me and/or go to www.hvpi.net
Hypnosis and EFT Tapping round out my skills and I specialize in non-directive support that empowers people to find their voice and express their authentic selves. I am honoured to do this work, to learn about peoples' stories, and assist with goal and boundary setting. I encourage the development of self-care strategies, distill struggles to their core issues, help identify triggers and support folks to develop options for new growth. I look forward to meeting you!