Haven for Hope Counselling Centre
Fredericton Counsellors

Fredericton Counsellors

Donna Phillips, BA, BSW, MSW, RSW, Owner

Donna returned to her hometown of Fredericton after spending 30 years away. Alongside a team of dedicated counsellors, she envisioned establishing a private practice in Fredericton, leading to the creation of Haven for Hope Counselling Centre in 2012, where she serves as the Clinical Director and owner. Prior to her return, Donna served as the Executive Director for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia and worked with the Canadian Mental Health Association Halifax Dartmouth Branch.

Donna adopts a holistic, person-centered approach to counselling, emphasizing empowerment. She employs a range of therapeutic techniques, including Strengths-Based, Solution-Focused, CBT, ACT, Narrative, and Humanistic approaches. Donna works with adults, children, adolescents, and couples to address a wide array of life challenges, including mental health and addiction issues, family violence, trauma (both past and present), grief, employment concerns, marital distress, separation, divorce, and child custody matters.

Don Persaud, BSc., BNRN, M.Ed., CCC, LCT

Don Persaud, a Canadian Certified Counsellor with a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology, brings a robust background in the medical field to his practice. His areas of expertise encompass suicide and crisis intervention, stress management, anger, addictions (sexual, gambling, substances), anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, depression, domestic violence, body image concerns, chronic illness, weight management (including healthy eating), eating disorders, chronic pain, and PTSD. Don also offers support for relationship issues (couples counselling), self-esteem, self-care, grief and loss, elderly issues, burnout, and time management.

Don’s holistic, person-centred approach integrates a variety of therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, strengths-based methods, and mindfulness practices. Having personally experienced numerous traumatic losses, Don draws upon his own life experiences to empathize with and support individuals navigating difficult life challenges. He works with a diverse clientele from various cultural and religious backgrounds and is primarily available for sessions during evenings and weekends.

Katherine Astle, BSW, RSW

Katherine has been a registered social worker since 2012, bringing over a decade of experience to her practice. Before earning her Bachelor of Social Work degree, she completed a specialized certificate in Family Violence Issues from the University of New Brunswick, equipping her with deep insight and expertise in addressing complex family dynamics and trauma.

Katherine’s approach to therapy is rooted in the person-centred philosophy, where she prioritizes creating a supportive and empathetic environment tailored to each client’s unique needs. She integrates several therapeutic techniques into her practice, including strengths-based and solution-focused methods, to empower clients to recognize and build upon their inherent abilities and resources. Katherine is committed to fostering resilience and guiding her clients toward achieving their personal goals and improving their overall well-being.

Glynis S. Gremm, BA, MSW, RSW

Glynis has been a registered social worker for over 15 years, earning her Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2005. In October 2020, she relocated from British Columbia to New Brunswick to be closer to her family.

Throughout her career, Glynis has supported clients facing mental health challenges, addictions, and brain injuries. She is committed to a person-centred approach, working collaboratively with clients to help them achieve their therapy goals. Glynis is comfortable working with diverse populations and uses a range of therapeutic techniques, including narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and solution-focused strategies. She works with adolescents, young adults, adults, military, and senior citizens.

Judy L. McKinney, BSW, RSW

Judy is an Autism Resource Navigator, specializing in supporting families affected by Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and other Autism Spectrum Disorders. She helps individuals access resources tailored to their specific needs.

As a social worker with twenty years of experience, Judy provides counselling for a range of issues including stress, depression, anxiety, anger, trauma, grief, loss, violence and abuse (past or present), life changes, and life rebuilding. Her therapeutic approach focuses on addressing basic needs and self-care, offering client-specific resources and tools to help identify, manage, and process issues and symptoms.

Judy employs a variety of therapeutic techniques, including strengths-based, client-centered, and solution-focused approaches, as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and crisis intervention models.

Shai Ghanem,  BSc, MA, CCC, LCT-C

Shai, originally from an Egyptian Filipino background, moved to Fredericton at the age of eight. She is a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and is a Licensed Counselling Therapist candidate. During her master’s program, Shai gained experience working with youth, focusing on behavioral change and family dynamics.

Shai is dedicated to promoting diversity and enhancing the mental health care system for underrepresented communities. She is particularly interested in providing individual counseling for both youth and adults on issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.

Shai employs a range of therapeutic approaches, including person-centered therapy, narrative therapy, CBT, EMDR, and solution-focused techniques, to work collaboratively with clients to achieve their goals and desired outcomes.

Amanda Cape, BSW, MSW, RSW

Amanda Cape is a bilingual registered social worker who completed her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at McGill University in 2016 and her Master’s degree in Social Work at Ryerson University in 2022. She relocated to Fredericton from Montreal in October 2022. Amanda is deeply committed to advocacy, inclusivity, and supporting others, drawing from her personal experience of lifelong blindness. She specializes in working with individuals with disabilities and is dedicated to addressing issues such as depression and anxiety.

In her practice, Amanda utilizes a strengths-based and empowerment approach to help clients build on their abilities and foster self-confidence. She offers counseling both in person and over the phone, and will collaborate with our Mental Health Support Workers to enhance her sessions.

Outside of her professional work, Amanda enjoys reading, watching television and movies, meeting new people, and engaging in card and word games.

Angela Ramsay, BSW, RSW 

Angela holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Dalhousie University and is currently interning with us while completing her Master of Social Work. She is also certified in NADA Protocol Ear Acupuncture Detoxification and is a registered social worker with the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers.

Angela employs an eclectic approach with her clients, integrating strengths-based, solution-focused, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques. She is deeply committed to promoting equality, inclusion, and celebrating diversity. Her person-in-environment approach acknowledges the unique experiences and challenges individuals face due to their diverse identities and social contexts.

With 15 years of experience working with adults dealing with addiction, mental health diagnoses, depression, anxiety, disabilities, and survivors of adverse childhood experiences, Angela’s practice is framed by an ecological perspective that emphasizes social determinants of health and the factors contributing to inequality. She advocates for anti-oppressive practices that support self-determination and empowerment.

Angela’s areas of interest include holistic healing modalities, art, and stress management.

Chloe Yeomans, BA, MACP, CCC, LCT-C

Chloe is a recent graduate from Yorkville University with a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Psychology. She specializes in trauma, ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and customizes her approach to meet each client’s unique needs.

Chloe employs Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help clients challenge and transform negative thought patterns, which is particularly effective for addressing trauma and various mental health disorders. Her therapeutic approach is further enriched by Somatic Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy, offering a holistic and personalized healing experience.

Chloe is committed to prioritizing her clients’ needs and fostering a safe, supportive environment for personal growth and exploration. She provides both virtual and in-person sessions, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for her clients.

Ryan Bell, BA, MACP, LCT-C

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of New Brunswick and recently earned a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. He is a Licensed Counselling Therapist Candidate with the College of Licensed Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick.

Ryan is committed to providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment where empathy and respect are foundational. He focuses on building a strong therapeutic alliance and working collaboratively with you to reach your goals or simply to create a space for open discussion about your concerns and fears. His aim is to equip you with practical skills and strategies to navigate challenges and address the issues in your life.

Ryan utilizes a variety of techniques, including Person-Centered, Strength-Based, Solution-Focused, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to help you understand how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors may affect your well-being. He believes that you are the expert on your own life and collaborates with you to identify the approaches that are most effective for you.

His areas of interest include anxiety, depression, self-esteem, stress management, coping skills, and communication techniques.

Danelle Wilson, BSc, BN, MA, CCC, LCT-C

Danelle holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick. She gained international nursing experience as a student nurse in Namibia and has worked as a Registered Nurse in both New Brunswick and Alberta. She recently graduated from Yorkville University with a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology and is a Licensed Counselling Therapist Candidate with the College of Licensed Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick.

Danelle is dedicated to creating a safe, accepting environment where clients feel heard and valued. She employs a collaborative, holistic, client-centered, and strengths-based approach. Her therapeutic techniques include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), Attachment Theory, and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT).

Danelle works with individuals, youth (ages 10 and up), and couples on a broad range of issues such as anxiety, depression, grief, trauma (both past and present), self-esteem, coping challenges, relationship issues, family conflict, postpartum anxiety/depression, stress management, and anger management. She is experienced in working with clients from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds and tailors her approach to meet individual needs. Danelle offers in-person, online, and phone appointments.

Tiffany Saunders, BA, BSW, MSW, SWC (Virtually)

Tiffany adopts a holistic approach to health and wellness, considering the social, economic, and cultural contexts that shape individuals’ lives. She is dedicated to helping clients tap into their inner wisdom while advocating for equal access to the social determinants of health.

Her experience includes supporting families navigating the child protection system, assisting individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, and working with youth experiencing homelessness and survivors of sexual violence. Tiffany also engages with people involved in the justice system and is attuned to the complexities of systemic harms, working collaboratively with clients and community partners to address these issues.

In her counselling practice, Tiffany provides an empathetic, non-judgmental space where clients can be themselves, heal at their own pace, and pursue their aspirations. She has a special focus on supporting self-identifying young women and girls, as well as adult women, in exploring embodiment practices and addressing the unique challenges faced by women. Tiffany is open to working with individuals of all genders, sexual orientations, and cultural and religious affiliations.

In her personal time, Tiffany enjoys yoga, boxing, meditation, cold dipping, hiking, reading, and maintaining close connections with friends and family.

Rob Taylor

Rob recently returned to his hometown of Fredericton after 25 years of counseling experience in British Columbia. Throughout his career, he has provided clinical services to diverse individuals and groups across a variety of settings, including private practice, schools, community programs, addiction treatment centers, Indigenous communities, government mental health services, street outreach, adventure-based therapy, and music therapy.

With a strong belief in the inherent worth and potential of every person, Rob uses a person-centered approach grounded in empathy, active listening, and unconditional positive regard. He is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive environment where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings without judgment.

Rob’s holistic, strength-based approach empowers clients by actively collaborating with them to find interventions that align with their unique needs, preferences, and life circumstances. His counseling style may incorporate a blend of therapeutic techniques, lifestyle changes, and self-care practices that resonate with each person. He is also skilled in integrating diverse cultural and spiritual beliefs into the healing process.

Rob is trained in Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Meaning-Centered Therapy, Trauma-Informed Therapy, and Mindfulness Training. He primarily works with youth (11+), adults, families, Indigenous communities, and military personnel, addressing a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, self-harm, crisis intervention, PTSD, addiction, OCD, eating disorders, self-esteem, grief and loss, stress management, anger management, and family mediation.

In his personal life, Rob enjoys spending time with family, golfing, playing guitar, exercising, and practicing Wim Hof deep breathing techniques.