Ania Telfer
Certified Canadian Counsellor
She/Her
MC, CCC
Ania enjoys working with ages 5+, teens, adults, parents, couples and families.
Availability: In Person:
Mondays 3:15pm-8:15pm
Thursdays 9:00am-3:30pm
Online:
Tuesdays 9:00am-12:00pm
Wednesday 12:00-3:00
Specializations:
ADHD
Expressive Arts
Somatic Interventions
Bottom Up Approaches
Emotional Regulation
Nervous System Regulation
Mindfulness
Relationship Issues
Life Transitions
Grief and Loss
Anxiety
Depression
Women’s Issues
Parenting Support
Substance Use
Service Dogs for Neurodivergence
Neurodiversity-Affirming Statement:
I see neurodivergence as a different way of experiencing and navigating the world, not something that needs to be fixed. I offer a compassionate, flexible space where clients can explore what works for their unique brain and nervous system, build self-understanding, and recognize their strengths. I adapt my approach to the individual, incorporating creative and somatic approaches when helpful.
Experience with Neurodivergence, Parenting, Experience:
I have over 20 years experience working with children and families in arts based learning capacities and over 4 years experience working through integrating arts to support mental wellness with neurodivergent children, families and communities.
My practice incorporates a neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and strengths-based perspective informed by both clinical and lived experience. As a late-diagnosed ADHDer and parent of four, including children with ADHD, I have a personal understanding of neurodivergent experiences and family systems.
My clinical experience includes supporting children and youth presenting with ADHD, OCD, trichotillomania, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self-harm, suicidality, and emerging psychosis symptoms. I also bring relevant lived experience related to parenting, complex family dynamics, divorce, and supporting children through significant loss.
Approach & Modalities:
My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and strengths-based. I draw from Narrative Therapy, somatic and attachment-based approaches, mindfulness, and experiential therapy, adapting the work to each client’s needs, goals, and way of engaging. I believe therapy should be a space where clients have choice and where we can find approaches that genuinely work for them.
My Equusoma® training has further developed my use of somatic integration, including tracking the nervous system, supporting regulation, and working with the felt sense. I find these approaches naturally complement mindfulness, narrative work, and creative expression, offering clients different ways to notice, understand, and make sense of their experiences.
As an Expressive Arts practitioner and multidisciplinary professional artist, I integrate creative interventions where clinically appropriate and aligned with the client’s goals. Sometimes it is easier to show, make, or create something than to find the right words. I offer creative approaches as another way to explore what is going on. Art, imagery, metaphor, writing, and other expressive modalities can support emotional processing, meaning-making, communication, and self-exploration. No artistic experience required!
Communication Style:
I am warm, empathetic, compassionate, and insightful. I look at the full context of what is happening in your life, and consider how I can support you in ways that extend beyond counselling. I often may suggest community resources and practical supports when they may be helpful. At times I can hold space in listening deeply, and I can also provide more direction and structure when appropriate. I like to use humour and draw upon the real “here and now” of our relationship as well as clinical approaches.
Therapy is for the client, not for the therapist. I have some tools in my toolbox, but I don’t believe therapy is about fitting you to a particular approach. My role is to bring my knowledge, skills, and perspective in service to you, your growth, and your well-being. And if something isn’t working for you, we can skip it!
Fun Facts and Interests:
I’m a lifelong artist and love making things, especially when I can experiment with materials and get a little messy. I love water and horses and the feeling of paint on my hands makes me feel alive. As a newcomer to the Island, I am thrilled to be discovering this beautiful land, creating community and settling in.
Specialized Trainings & Certifications:
Suicide Risk Assessment Training – Alberta Health Services
Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training
Equusoma® Level 1 Student Practitioner
Graduate Certificate in Spiritually Focused Expressive Arts
Capstone Research: Moral Injury in Veteran Populations and How Artistic Interventions Can Support Healing
Languages & Cultural Background:
Fluent: English, Polish, French
Conversational: Italian and Hebrew
I am a third-culture kid, second-generation Canadian of Polish descent. I was born in Tkaronto (Toronto) and currently grateful to be residing in the unceeded lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ People.
