Melissa Lafreniere
Kanata,Ontario
Summary
Seasoned Clinic Director and Registered Psychotherapist with a robust background in family mediation and therapy, notably at Sandbox Family Solutions. Expert in collaborative approaches and mediation techniques, adept at fostering co-parenting relationships and resolving high-conflict divorces. Proven track record in enhancing family dynamics and mental health with innovative solutions and workshops.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinic Director, Child and Family Therapist, Accredited Family Mediator, Collaborative Divorce Family Professional
Sandbox Family Solutions
01.2020 - Current
- Company Overview: www.sandboxfamilysolutions.ca
- Mediation of parenting plans/agreements in divorce/separation
- Separation planning for families, including pre and post divorce support
- Individual and joint divorce coaching
- Individual, child and family therapy
- Reunification support and case consultations for parent-child contact issues
- Parenting Coordination services (without arbitration) for high conflict parents
- Presenter of workshops on divorce for the Ottawa community
- Works collaboratively with legal professionals within the Collaborative Practice of Ottawa as a relationship professional and child specialist role to support separating individuals and to establish co-parenting relationships
- Voice of the Child reports, Parenting Plan Evaluator (private)
- Office of the Children's Lawyer (Clinical Panel)
Registered Psychotherapist- Child and Family Therapist (Lead)
Child in Mind
10.2018 - 01.2021
- Provide therapy to children/youth and families in accordance with professional standards of the Ontario College of Registered Psychotherapists
- Skilled in family therapy as well as child and adolescent interventions from an attachment theory framework
- Lead clinician on high conflict divorce and separation cases for the practice
- Developed resources and workshops on divorce for the Ottawa community
- Works collaboratively with legal professionals within the Collaborative Practice of Ottawa as a relationship professional and child specialist role to support separating individuals and to establish co parenting relationships
Registered Psychotherapist-General Therapy
Capital Psychological
01.2018 - 08.2020
- Maintain standards of private practice as outlined in the code of Ethics of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
- Client Centered/Solution Focused Counselling with children, adolescent and families in the treatment of mood disturbances and anxiety disorders
- Work collaboratively with associates and clinical psychologist to ensure appropriate services and best practice delivery of psychotherapy
Crisis Worker (Integrated Crisis Response Service for Eastern Ontario)
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
01.2010 - 09.2019
- Completed suicide risk assessment in various settings including face to face, phone and online
- Worked collaboratively with CHEO and other community partners to triage imminent risk clients
- Familiar with resources available in Eastern Ontario for families impacted by mental health concerns
Youth Mental Health- Walk in Clinic/Short Term Counselling Program Youth and Family Counsellor
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
01.2012 - 12.2014
- Provided direct psychotherapy to youth and family members ages 12-20
- Single session therapy, brief therapy models; including narrative therapy within a walk-in clinic setting
- Provided short term counselling for identified client, parents and families
- Completed suicide risk assessments and referred to appropriate supports
- Worked collaboratively with community agencies such as CAS, CHEO mental health and urgent care programs
- Maintained documentation as per agency policies
- Offered in agency training sessions on anxiety and depression
- Acted as program coordinator when needed/engage in ongoing supervision and support on new staff and students
Education
Registered Psychotherapist -
College of Registered Psychotherapists
02.2025
Somatic Experiencing -
Somatic Experiencing Institute
02.2025
Master of Arts - Counselling Psychology
Yorkville University
08.2019
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Windsor
01.1999
Skills
- Collaborative approach
- Mediation techniques
- Building rapport
- Conflict resolution skills
- Win-Win Strategy Development
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Mediation ethics
- Written communication
- Problem-solving abilities
Affiliations
- Collaborative Practice of Ottawa, Family Relationship Professional/Child Specialist
- College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, Registered Psychotherapist, in good standing, 01/01/15
- OACCPP, General Member, in good standing, 01/01/15
- Ontario Association of Family Mediators (OAFM), Associate member
- Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO), Associate member
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), General member
Websites
Training
- Foundations of Clinical Supervision, 2025
- Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Certification, 01/01/23, present
- Foundations for Parenting Plan Evaluations, 2023
- New Ways for Families: Counsellor Training, 2022
- Assessment and Treatment of Post Separation Contact Issues, 2021
- Foundations of Parenting Coordination, 2021
- Advanced Parenting Coordination, 2021
- Family Mediation Certificate, 2020
- Arbitration Law, 2020
- DV and Intimate Partner Violence Screening Course, 2020
- Certified Third Party Screening for Family Arbitration, 2020
- Collaborative Family Law Interdisciplinary Training, 2019
- Sand Tray World Play, 2019
- Assessing and Treating Behaviour Disorders in Childhood, 2019
- CBT Play Therapy Techniques for Children/ Children Experiencing Divorce, 2019
- Certified Circle of Security Facilitator, 2018
- SMART Recovery Facilitator, 2018
- Crisis Prevention and Intervention, 2017
- Certified Anger Solutions facilitator, 2016
- Trained in Multisystemic Therapy, 2009
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, 2009, 2018
- Collaborative Problem Solving (Tier 1), 2012
- Motivational Interviewing, 2009
- Brief Solution Focused Therapies including Narrative Therapy, 2014
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy, 2014
- CANS certified, 2011
- ASSIST I, II, 2010, 2012
Credentials
- MA
- RP
- AccFM
- QFAS
Speaking Engagements
- Trauma Informed Practice for Settlement Practitioners, Ottawa, 2021
- Pathways to Resilience IV Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, 2017
- IACP virtual conference, Trauma Informed Practice for Settlement Practitioners, 2022
- OACP Peacemakers Conference, Coercive Control and the Impact on Children, 2022
Certification
- Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM)
- Qualified Family Arbitration Screener (QFAS)
Timeline
Clinic Director, Child and Family Therapist, Accredited Family Mediator, Collaborative Divorce Family Professional
Sandbox Family Solutions
01.2020 - Current
Registered Psychotherapist- Child and Family Therapist (Lead)
Child in Mind
10.2018 - 01.2021
Registered Psychotherapist-General Therapy
Capital Psychological
01.2018 - 08.2020
Youth Mental Health- Walk in Clinic/Short Term Counselling Program Youth and Family Counsellor
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
01.2012 - 12.2014
Crisis Worker (Integrated Crisis Response Service for Eastern Ontario)
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
01.2010 - 09.2019
Registered Psychotherapist -
College of Registered Psychotherapists
Somatic Experiencing -
Somatic Experiencing Institute
Master of Arts - Counselling Psychology
Yorkville University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Windsor
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