Meet Our Team

 

Jennifer Clarke

Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW)

I have been a social work practitioner for over 20 years.  I have experience working in public schools, hospitals/palliative care, community health centres, higher education, not-for-profit community organizations and private practices. Throughout my career, I have trained hundreds of social workers, social services workers, and teacher candidates across Ontario. My teaching, coaching and clinical practice are guided by trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, anti-Black racism and liberation approaches to mental health and healing.

I take an eclectic approach that is tailored to the unique needs of each client to help them effectively address personal life challenges and transitions.

I integrate complementary decolonizing and liberation methodologies such as Africentric social work and Africentric Psychology with traditional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and approaches to psychoanalysis to help clients see their issues in a broader social and political context and find ways to understand and challenge systemic injustices and the psychological impacts of oppression and trauma, including racial trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in their lives.

I understand the complexity of juggling academic and professional responsibilities with family and mental health concerns.

My area of specialization is relationships: couples, families, friends, and colleagues.

I will work with you to sort through deep-seated questions and issues related to communication, conflict resolution, trust, intimacy, safety, emotional regulation and re-connection. I will help you navigate systems of oppression from childhood experiences, dysfunctional family of origin dynamics, racial trauma and other workplace oppressions (e.g. anti-Black racism, bullying, psychological safety), negative thoughts and limiting beliefs that impact self-worth and self-esteem so that you can show up confidently in your romantic relationships, families, friendships and the workplace.

I am a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers. I hold undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work and education, including a master’s in social work. I also completed advanced training in Africentric couples and family therapy, racial trauma, grief and bereavement, and palliative care. My education and professional training have prepared me to provide evidence-based therapeutic approaches in counselling and psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, families, groups and social justice efforts.

I look forward to collaborating with you to address the challenges in your relationships so that you can heal and thrive in your family, friendship, business, and career.