*** NOTE AS OF NOVEMBER 2024:  Michelle is currently on leave until early 2025.  Please see your healthcare provider for a counselling/hospice referral.  Consider searching sites such as Psychology Today for a suitable counsellor.  Thank you.

Michelle Suzanne Scott is a local counsellor in the Durham Region helping people with:

• Grief & Loss
• Mental Health Wellness & Emotional Wellbeing
• Past Trauma, including post traumatic growth
• Life Transitions
• End of Life Care and Support for Families.

Michelle is a Registered Social Service Worker with the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and also has an Organizational Communications Diploma, as well as a Certificate in Thanatology from Centennial College.  Michelle is trained as a Palliative & End of Life Death Doula, having completed the Contemplative End of Life Care program at Toronto’s Institute of Traditional Medicine (ITM).  She is an active member of Bereavement Ontario Network (BON).

COMMUNITY TRAINING & INVOLVEMENT:

Michelle has volunteered locally with VON Durham Hospice and COPE Mental Health.  She is active in Continuing Education (CE):

Sarah Kerr, Ph.D., Death Doula & Ritual Healing Practitioner, Caring, Death and Loss in a Pandemic: Ritual practices for healing & connection Cert.(2020 CE, ongoing)  What Happens After we Die (NDE research) Cert.

The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (2017, CE ongoing)

Richard Schwartz, Ph.D., Internal Family Systems, Seminar (2017 CE)

Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute Inc. (2017 CE ongoing)

Dr. M. Katherine Shear, Understanding Complicated Grief, (2016 CE)

Dr. Alan Wolfelt, Companioning the Mourner, (2015 CE)

Institute of Traditional Medicine, Contemplative End of Life Care Certification, 2014

Traumatology Institute, Toronto, Early Intervention Field Traumatology Certification, 2013

Advanced End of Life, Palliative Care Certification, 2013

CMHA, ASIST Certificate, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills, 2013

Alzheimer’s Society – U-First Certification (based on P.I.E.C.E.S. framework, 2012

Victim’s Crisis and Referral Service (Durham Regional Police) 2003-07

Durham District School Board (Rainbows program), 1998-9

Michelle counsels in a reflective practice, committed to companioning those on their healing journeys.  She endeavours to promote acts of kindness, and most importantly making up silly songs for her young grandchildren.  Living mindfully and with intention are important considerations for her life.

VISION STATEMENT

With my own upbringing and personal losses, I have learned to embrace resiliency, hope, resourcefulness and adaptability.  With my training, experience and understanding, I hope to encourage others while being sensitive and mindful of their life circumstances, losses and successes.  For people at the end of their lives or the bereaved, my wish is to facilitate mourning and memories.