Athena Ferraro completed her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at the University of Toronto where she specialized in Mental Health & Health, and completed the Collaborative Program in Addiction Studies (CoPAS). She received her Honour’s Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph, majoring in Psychology: Brain and Cognition. She’s registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and has been working in private practice in the Waterloo Region since 2016.
Deeply passionate about her work, Athena’s counselling approach is practical, down-to-earth, authentic, compassionate, and client-centred. She works with individuals experiencing clinical depression, anxiety, emotion regulation issues, unhealthy coping behaviours, and meaning-making/existential concerns. She particularly enjoys supporting clients through life transitions. Athena uses techniques from various therapeutic modalities, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), existential therapy, and solution-focused therapy.
Athena completed her Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International, and as such, is a certified perinatal mental health professional. Athena may be of support for those (both fathers & mothers) who are experiencing depression and/or anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum, or challenges with the adjustment to parenthood.
Athena completed her clinical training at a mental health hospital in Toronto, where she worked with youth & adults struggling with a range of mental health issues, including clinical depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, early psychosis, and addiction. Prior to completing her MSW, Athena worked in the non-profit sector, volunteered as part of a care-team for Hospice clients & their families, worked in Accessibility Services at a university, and worked as a Research Assistant on various projects (focused on depression & its treatment, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide intervention & prevention, acculturation & mental health, and wellness initiatives for university students).
Aside from work, Athena loves spending time with her partner and their 2 young children, nature & being outdoors, reading, live music, Radiohead, satire, road-tripping, and practicing mindfulness in everyday life.
Many Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and extended health care plans will cover services rendered by a Registered Social Worker.
