Mandy Cunnington
Registered Psychotherapist
Counselling and Psychotherapy in Guelph
ABOUT ME
I’m a Registered Psychotherapist and Counsellor in Guelph, Ontario. I provide counselling and psychotherapy services to individuals and couples 16 and older. I specialize in grief and loss, depression, anxiety, addiction, PTSD and relationship issues. I have special experience with pet loss, sex addiction, childhood neglect and abuse, coping with chronic illness, and care-giver burnout.
MY SERVICES
I provide a range of services including individual one-on-one talk therapy, couples and marriage counselling, group counselling, and telephone counselling.
As your counsellor and psychotherapist, I am here to join you in understanding whatever it is that you’re struggling with no matter what you’re feeling, thinking, or may have done in your life. Whatever you share with me I promise to keep private and confidential. This gives you the freedom to finally say what needs to be said without worrying about burdening others.
You’ll receive support from others who understand the significance of pet loss. Losing your companion can be a life changing experience. Working through this change in a supportive community can help you feel less isolated and misunderstood.
Learn more about my groups by contacting me anytime.
If getting to my office is difficult, for any reason, rest assured that distance counselling has been shown to be as effective as face-to-face counselling.
When booking your session, let me know if you’d prefer to conduct your psychotherapy session by phone or in person.
My Approach
As your counsellor and psychotherapist, I will be fully present and accepting of you no matter what your issues. I draw from a variety of counselling approaches including existential, humanistic, and cognitive behavioural therapy.
We will work together to define how therapy will work best for you and the direction that your journey will take. Above all, I will honour your personal experiences, values, and beliefs throughout the process, so that you feel genuinely seen and understood.
Through this strong therapeutic relationship, I can help you grow in the face of such issues as loss, anxiety, depression, and addiction.
Gain a deeper understanding of your issues.
Discover new choices to improve your life.
Learn helpful skills and ways of coping.
Issues I Can Help You With
I offer counselling services in Guelph for such issues as depression, relationships, and life transitions. I also have specialized knowledge and experience working with pet loss, anxiety disorders, and addiction.
Not all losses are alike. Losing someone suddenly or violently can be especially difficult. Going through multiple losses at once can also be overwhelming. Some losses such as miscarriages and pet loss go unacknowledged leaving you feeling isolated and alone. When you don’t have a chance to say goodbye or prevent the loss, sometimes you can feel guilty and even angry.
I will guide you through the tasks of grieving and support you in taking good care of yourself while you mourn. If you’re feeling lost and don’t know how to go on with your life, I can offer coping strategies and perspectives on how to rebuild a new life without your loved one. Together we will brave the darkness until you find your way back to the light.
Whether you’re turning to drugs, alcohol, shopping, sex/pornography, food, exercise, gaming, workaholism, or some other behavior, I will work with you to create a customized treatment plan.
Your plan will help you reduce use until you’re abstinent, understand the root of your addiction and develop a maintenance support plan to continue your recovery.
I will also work with you to create a relapse prevention plan to address the pitfalls and temptations that you may be confronted with in your recovery journey.
The three main goals of therapy will be to improve your symptoms, teach you skills to deal with them, and restore your self-esteem.
With anxiety you learn to recognize the early warning signs of increasing tension and use techniques to calm your fight, flight, or freeze response.
In dealing with depression, I will help you challenge self-destructive thoughts and behaviours, while increasing activities that will encourage well-being.
With trauma you will learn how to recognize triggers, develop self-soothing techniques, and reduce intrusive memories.
My Background
I was born and raised in Guelph Ontario and moved out to BC to further my education in counselling and psychotherapy. I’ve since returned to Guelph to be closer to family and friends. My love of animals started as a child. Since then, I’ve cared for a range of pets over my lifetime and dealt with the grief and loss that is part of loving them. I’m currently the devoted pet parent of an adorable 9 yr old daschund named Zeus who delights in warming his belly near fireplaces and chewing pillows of any kind.
Education & Professional Designations
- Registered Member of the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario (#7396)
- Diploma of Professional Counselling, Vancouver College of Counsellor Training
- Diploma in Existential Counselling and Logotherapy (ongoing), Existential Society of Canada
- Gestalt Awareness Integration Therapy (60hrs), Maechan Campbell
- Trauma Informed Helping Skills, Canadian Mental Health Association
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Workshop, Executive Links
- Introduction to Polarity Training, American Polarity Therapy Association
- The Concept of Mourning as a Developmental Process in Psychoanalytical Literature, Western Branch of the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society
- Between Chaos and Void: Approaching Transgenerational Trauma in Analysis Workshop, Western Branch of the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society
- Listening to Yourself Listening to Another, Western Branch of the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society
Experience
- Registered Psychotherapist in Private Practice, Guelph, ON
- Compassion Fatigue and Support Group Counsellor for Veterinarians, Private Practice, BC
- Pet Loss Support Group Counsellor, Private Practice, BC
- Addictions Counsellor, Phoenix Society, BC
- Transitional Housing Counsellor, Phoenix Society, BC
- Counselling Student Advisor, VCCT, BC
- Mental Health Patient Attendant, Guelph General Hospital
- Crisis Line Worker, Community Torchlight, ON