Merna's Experience
Merna is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Family and Child Studies, as well as a Diploma in Communication Studies from the University of Guelph.
Over the past years, Merna has worked across therapeutic, developmental, healthcare, educational, and assessment settings, supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families through a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and developmental challenges. Her diverse clinical experience has allowed her to work with individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, mood-related concerns, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and major life transitions.
In her role as a psychometrist, Merna administers and scores psychoeducational and psychological assessments under the supervision of psychologists to evaluate cognitive, academic, attention, memory, executive functioning, and social-emotional functioning to better understand each client's unique strengths and areas of need. This experience has strengthened her ability to recognize complex learning and mental health presentations while informing individualized, evidence-based treatment planning.
Merna has also provided play-based therapeutic support to children living with chronic illnesses in hospital settings, helping them prepare for medical procedures, reduce anxiety, and build coping skills during challenging healthcare experiences. These experiences have deepened her understanding of the emotional impact of illness on both children and families and reinforced her commitment to compassionate, client-centred care.
Alongside her clinical work, Merna has contributed to psychological research. She co-authored the published article, Record, Recall, Reflect: A Qualitative Examination of Compassion Fatigue in Toronto Zoo Staff. Her undergraduate honours thesis explored the emotional impact of childhood cancer on caregivers, further strengthening her understanding of trauma, grief, caregiver well-being, and family dynamics.
Merna believes that meaningful therapy begins with a strong therapeutic relationship built on trust, empathy, and collaboration. She strives to create a safe, inclusive, and non-judgmental space where clients feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported as they work toward healing, resilience, and lasting personal growth.
Life's Motivational Motto
“By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.” – Edwin Elliot
