Our Group

Deena Ginsberg BSW, MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. She also earned an Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree from York University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario. She has worked in the field of medical social work and rehabilitation since 1993, specifically working with individuals, families and groups who have sustained significant and traumatic injuries such as brain injury, spinal cord injuries and orthopedic injuries. She has had the opportunity to offer her services and support in a variety of settings, working with people in acute care, community-based programs and private practice, in addition to facilitating a community-based social skills group for young adults with mild traumatic brain injury since 2002.

Deena began her career in community-based rehabilitation programs and hospital settings where she developed a strong commitment to client-centered practice and advocacy to ensure the individuals and families she worked with had the support, skills, education and resources they required. Deena later established a private practice with the goal of providing timely and specialized psychotherapeutic support throughout the neuro-rehabilitation process. Deena began to envision the creation of an expanded social work service that could be accessed by a greater number of clients and would join together therapists with a shared determination to provide the highest quality of client care to individuals in their own environments. This vision was transformed into reality with the development of The Social Work Consulting Group in 2006.

Tracy Martin BSW, MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from McGill University. She also has a Bachelor of Social Work degree from McGill University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queen’s University. Currently, Tracy is completing a certification in psychotherapy through the Ontario Psychotherapy and Counselling Program. She began working in the field of rehabilitation in 1997, helping individuals, families and groups adjust to life altering injuries including acquired brain, spinal cord and orthopedic injuries. She has offered her services across the continuum of care assisting individuals in hospital rehabilitation programs, community support programs and private practice counselling.

Tracy’s expertise combines counselling and psychotherapy skills with advocacy training in order to help individuals enhance their personal well-being while navigating the broader social service systems that impact their lives. She fosters a competency based approach that promotes one’s personal strengths and coping skills, education and awareness. Tracy’s passion for her work has also enabled her to be involved in a number of public sector program development initiatives and political advocacy in addition to her desire to educate others as a guest lecturer at George Brown College and a presenter at both the Interurban ABI Conference and the Toronto ABI Network Conference.

Lynne Harford MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from York University. Prior to her university studies, Lynne pursued a career in business and received a Marketing Administration Diploma from Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Lynne has had an extensive work history in both the private and public sectors. Prior to joining The Social Work Consulting Group, she was employed at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) where she spent five years providing clinical social work services to children and their families in the Trauma Program. During her career at SickKids, Lynne was an active member in the larger community participating in various committees as well as presenting at a number of insurance and legal conferences. Other areas of specialization in which Lynne has focused and devoted her practice to include acute and chronic illness, domestic violence, separation/divorce and issues related to grief and loss. Lynne is both a therapist and advocate who is committed to enriching the lives of children and adults in the aftermath of physical and emotional trauma.

Eden Dales MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from The Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University in New York City and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from The University of Western Ontario. Eden has also received additional certification in Brief and Narrative therapy from The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre.

Eden has extensive experience in medical social work as well as in the area of trauma. After graduating from her Master’s program, Eden worked with patients who had sustained brain injuries and experienced trauma at Beth Israel Medical Centre in New York. She also provided crisis intervention to families during 9/11. From there, Eden returned to Toronto where she worked at Toronto Western Hospital, supporting patients with acquired brain injuries that resulted from accidents and strokes. Prior to joining The Social Work Consulting Group, Eden spent five years at The Hospital for Sick Children providing counselling services to the families of children in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

In addition to her hospital work, Eden has been a frequent lecturer at several speaking engagements on a broad range of issues affecting families and children including grief and bereavement, complex acute and chronic illnesses, depression and anxiety. Her therapeutic practice is eclectic, utilizing a number of social work modalities, but most importantly, Eden is a strong advocate for families and practices a family centered model. She provides in-depth counselling to adults, adolescents and children coping with the psycho-emotional effects of trauma.

Becky Loucks MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Psychology from Queen’s University and is in the process of gaining certification in Trauma counselling.

Becky’s passion for working with individuals who have sustained acquired brain injuries and their families developed while working in the neuro-rehabilitation program at Bridgepoint Health. While at Bridgepoint, she focused extensively on a research initiative that examined the barriers associated with the expression of psychosocial issues for individuals with communicative disorders in order to generate improved quality of life. She also contributed to the research and expansion of an innovative and comprehensive directory of community resources for individuals and families living with the effects of brain injury and stroke.

Prior to joining The Social Work Consulting Group, Becky provided counselling to adults and adolescents facing a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, medical crises, brain injury and grief through a well-known Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Becky’s eclectic counselling model utilizes cognitive-behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, solution-focused therapy and client-centered principles to promote client empowerment, self-advocacy and improved quality of life.

Claire Montgomery BSW, MSW, RSW is a registered social worker with a Bachelor of Social Work from Ryerson University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto. She has extensive training related to the experience and impact of trauma.

Claire has focused her career upon working with individuals and families who are living with the aftermath of trauma. She worked at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s Lyndhurst Centre providing counselling to individuals who sustained spinal cord injuries. While at Lyndhurst, Claire was active in the Patient Education and Community Integration Programs. Claire has also worked in the Chronic Pain and Functional Restoration Programs at Toronto Western Hospital. Other areas of specialization Claire has focused and devoted her practice to include working with survivors of childhood abuse and women and their children who have experienced domestic violence. Through her passion for and work in the field of trauma, Claire has developed an expertise in working with people experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and anxiety. Her focus is to be a support, resource and an advocate for people who are in the process of rebuilding their lives.

Amanda Varnish, M.Ed, MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. She also holds a Master of Education degree and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Psychology from Brock University.

Amanda comes to The Social Work Consulting Group with over eight years of counselling experience. In particular she has worked in the mental health field providing crisis intervention for individuals living with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues assisting them with stabilization by maximizing their own internal coping strategies. Her other main focus has been in the provision of grief counselling, support and advocacy to family members whose loved ones have been diagnosed with a mental health issue. More recently she has specialized in counselling individuals who have sustained acquired brain injuries and their families through her work at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s inpatient Neuro-Rehabilitation Program. She is also in the process of updating a comprehensive resource of community services for individuals and families living with the effects of acquired brain injury or stroke.

Drawing from cognitive-behavioural, narrative, mindfulness and solution-focused approaches, Amanda seeks to draw on each individual’s strengths to achieve equilibrium and improve their quality of life.

Lesley Rosenthal Burnett BSW, MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. She also earned an Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree from York University and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Science from Concordia University.

Lesley has worked in the field of medical and clinical social work since 1994. She began her career providing psycho-educational, resource, grief and adjustment counselling to persons living with HIV/AIDS. She then expanded her scope of practice to include the geriatric population, working as both a community and hospital social worker at the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care where she spent 10 years. Lesley focused on enriching the lives of aging people and fostering a sense of independence and well-being by providing individual and group psychotherapy to clients with anxiety and depression as well as other mental health issues. Lesley was also an active member of a multidisciplinary team on the rehabilitation unit. In this capacity, she provided services to individuals post-stroke, with chronic pain, post-fractures and following other traumatic injuries and accidents. Lesley was admired for developing strong, supportive relationships with families, referral sources and community partners.

Laura Shugar MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto, with a specialization in children and families. She also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree with a major in Child Studies from the University of Guelph.

Laura’s passion for working with children, adolescents and families stems from her experience in the medical and mental health fields. She has worked at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in both the orthopedic and acquired brain injury units as well as The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre where she focused on play therapy, family therapy and group work. Upon completing her graduate studies, Laura embarked on a seven month CIDA-funded internship to Zambia, where she provided counselling to girls and young women who had experienced sexual abuse and were living in a shelter as a result. This experience provided her with a unique perspective on the role of the clinical social worker. Utilizing techniques based on cognitive-behavioural, narrative and solution-focused theories, Laura is dedicated to empowering children and families whose lives have been altered by traumatic experiences and events.

Lesley Suchter, MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario.

Lesley has had a variety of clinical and medical social work experience working with children, adults and families both in individual counselling and group settings. Lesley spent one year at The Hospital for Sick Children where she provided counselling, education and discharge planning support for a variety of children and their families. Lesley shares the group’s passion for working with individuals who have sustained acquired brain injury and spent one year at The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute in the Neuro-Cognitive Stream providing therapeutic interventions in relation to adaptation to injury, loss and grief and helping individuals develop tools and skills required to face the challenges living with a brain injury. Prior to joining The Social Work Consulting Group, Lesley worked for a Non Profit Organization that assisted individuals and families access resources related to health, finances and community integration. In addition, Lesley provides personal training combined with strengths-based therapy to individuals with obesity and weight management issues.

Laura Shugar MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto, with a specialization in children and families. She also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree with a major in Child Studies from the University of Guelph.

Laura’s passion for working with children, adolescents and families stems from her experience in the medical and mental health fields. She has worked at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in both the orthopedic and acquired brain injury units as well as The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre where she focused on play therapy, family therapy and group work. Upon completing her graduate studies, Laura embarked on a seven month CIDA-funded internship to Zambia, where she provided counselling to girls and young women who had experienced sexual abuse and were living in a shelter as a result. This experience provided her with a unique perspective on the role of the clinical social worker. Utilizing techniques based on cognitive-behavioural, narrative and solution-focused theories, Laura is dedicated to empowering children and families whose lives have been altered by traumatic experiences and events.

Melissa Tafler MSW, RSW is a registered therapist with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degreed from the University of Western Ontario.

Since 1998 Melissa has worked in both hospital and community settings. As a community-based social worker, Melissa worked extensively with individuals, families and groups. Melissa takes a strengths-based approach to her practice, helping people identify their coping mechanisms and personal resilience. For the past 11 years, Melissa has worked at Baycrest Centre in Toronto. Her clinical work there has focused on older adults and families coping with cognitive change, neurodegenerative disease and chronic disease management. Melissa has piloted an innovative online model of psychotherapy that has been successful and adapted to several populations. She is the co-author of a published paper entitled “Negotiating Relationship Contexts in Gerontological Social Work Practice.” She has presented locally, nationally and internationally on health related topics focusing on aging and life transitions. Through her work at Baycrest, Melissa has become passionate about the role of creativity on individual health and well-being. She is currently a Co-Principle Investigator of a 3 year study looking at the impact of the Professional Arts in healthcare settings, and on the cognitive and psychosocial functioning of older adults.

Elaine Lowe M.Ed, RRP, RSW is a registered therapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and a Registered Rehabilitation Specialist with the Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals. Elaine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University and a Master of Education degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto.

For over fifteen years, Elaine has worked as an advocate, educator and professional in both the profit and nonprofit areas of neuro-rehabilitation. Her work has involved providing individual, family and group therapy as well as designing and developing programming for outpatient and community groups. She is a frequent presenter at conferences and seminars and is qualified to provide evidence at personal injury trials. She has served on a number of committees dedicated to improving the well-being of individuals with brain, spinal cord and orthopedic injuries.