Our Mental Health Professionals

Matthieu Kim, MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist.

Matthieu is a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and is also a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW), who practices on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabe Algonquin nation. As a settler of this land, Matthieu is aware of the negative systemic impacts of colonialism, and how these historic and current wrongdoings can hinder a person’s ability to thrive in society.

In his work with children, youth, and their families, Matthieu looks to support individuals through a person centred lens and aims to build a therapeutic relationship by working collaboratively with clients to help guide them as they take the steps necessary to achieve their goals. In his practice, Matthieu draws from multiple modalities, both Western and those rooted in non-Western knowledge. Primarily, Matthieu draws from Dialectic Behaviour Therapy, Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy.

Matthieu has been privileged enough to have honed his practice in a variety of settings including community and healthcare-based children’s mental health organizations, as well as within the education system here in Ottawa. During these experiences, he supported individuals with anxiety, depression, personality disorders, self-harming behaviors, as well as social-emotional difficulties including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and behavioral challenges. Throughout his career Matthieu has worked with individuals who historically have been identified as marginalized and he has found success in taking the stance of informed not knowing and hopes to bring cultural humility to these relationships.

Matthieu completed his MSW at Carleton University in Ottawa. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Honors Psychology from the University of Guelph, where he specialized in Child and Family Studies.

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Nancy Al Kayal, M.A.C. Psych

Certified Psychologist

Nancy is a psychologist registered with both the Ordre des Psychologues du Québec and the College of Psychologists of Ontario.

She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in educational psychology, a master’s degree in clinical psychology, and a diploma in mediation, along with various certifications. Her therapeutic approach is integrative, blending Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cue-Centered Therapy (CCT), Art Therapy, Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), mindfulness techniques, and methods from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Gottman therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.

Fluent in French, Arabic, and English, Nancy offers therapy in all three languages to individuals, couples, and families of all ages. She believes that everyone deserves to feel safe and comfortable, which helps them focus on their well-being, navigate personal challenges, and promote personal growth.

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Quinn Rivier Gatt, MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker

Quinn has worked at Jewish Family Services (JFS) since 2016 starting as a summer student. She has had the advantage of working in many departments learning various positions to better support people within the agency.  She has experience working with seniors with cognitive impairments, vulnerable populations such as low-income Jewish individuals, children, students of all ages, adults, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities and LGBTQ2S+ community members and is passionate about working with these populations again.

Quinn is a very empathetic and energetic person who can connect with others easily. She is a great listener and observer and values diversity, believing she can learn as much from others, as they can from her. Quinn believes a therapeutic and working relationship should be collaborative, understanding, and supportive of one another.

Quinn prioritizes creating a space that is shared, free of judgment, warm, compassionate, and encouraging, where all individuals feel safe and comfortable, with an understanding that each therapeutic relationship will be different and not everything works for everyone.

Quinn works from a strength based, solution focused perspective, utilising techniques from narrative therapy, emotional-focused therapy, trauma informed therapy, and mindfulness. She believes the mind, heart, body, and spirit are all connected and must be respected during the therapeutic process. Quinn also believes societal pressures and systemic issues impact all individuals and must be taken into account when discussing personal journeys.

Quinn holds both a bachelor and a Master of Social Work, as well as bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology. She is a registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, and a member of the Canadian and Ontario Association of Social Workers. She has been working in various non-profit agencies for more than 6 years.

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Sabine Jean, M.Ed. Registered Psychotherapist

Clinical Manager, Refugee and Vulnerable Newcomers

Sabine works in the Refugees and Vulnerable Newcomers program, providing social and insightful emotional support and counselling to address both the immediate and long-term psychological needs of refugees and newcomers. She has experience working with immigrants and has a sensitive awareness about their life experience which fosters a better understanding of their needs and focuses on building a trusting therapeutic relationship. By understanding the complexity of a migration journey, Sabine makes sure she creates a comfortable and safe environment for clients to feel supported and heard. Sabine’s strengths are practicing active listening, her unconditional positive regard and her capacity to always prioritize the client’s well-being.

Sabine uses various therapy models in her practice such as Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, elements of Play Therapy and Client Centered Therapy from a culturally sensitive perspective. Sabine has experience working with individuals and families; providing counselling in areas including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, anger management, relationship distress, migration, those who have gone through traumatic events and other life transitions. She also works with youth and children who experience difficulties in managing their emotions.

Sabine is a graduate from the University of Ottawa who has a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology and previously a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She is a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and offers counselling services in multiple languages such as French, Spanish, English, and Creole.

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Samantha Ledon, MA, RP

Registered Psychotherapist

Samantha believes in creating a caring and non-judgmental space where people can explore their different emotions, sensations, and thoughts that may be causing discomfort. Samantha values preserving that space where people can express their own human experiences as well as journeying together alongside her clients toward a place of meaningful change.

Samantha utilizes an integrative approach that is informed mainly by Emotionally-Focused and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Samantha also integrates an attachment and culturally sensitive perspective while also incorporating self-compassion and somatic techniques into her therapeutic work with clients.

Samantha works collaboratively with her clients to meet their needs and goals. She has experience working with individuals, couples, and families. Her interests and experiences in providing counselling services include grief, interpersonal relationships, relational conflicts, self-esteem issues, trauma, anxiety, and depression.

Samantha offers psychotherapy in both English and Spanish. She is a Registered Psychotherapist and has completed a Master’s Degree in Counselling and Spirituality with a Concentration in Couple and Family Counselling at Saint Paul University. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and graduated from Universidad de las Américas, A.C., in Mexico City.

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Sarah Alderwick, MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist

Sarah provides counselling to individuals facing a wide variety of emotional and psychological challenges in their lives. With compassion, caring and acceptance, Sarah’s strength lies in building strong therapeutic relationships with her clients.  She strives to support clients to draw from their inner strength and wisdom to help foster positive change in their lives. Sarah creates a safe and open environment to assist with a variety of challenges including anxiety, depression, interpersonal issues, domestic violence, grief/loss, and postpartum difficulties. She welcomes opportunities to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures and is LGBTTIQQ+ positive.

Sarah collaborates with each client, tailoring her approach to meet their therapeutic needs. Her practice draws from Narrative, Attachment, Feminist, and Cognitive-Behavioural Theories, and is Trauma-Informed. She is passionate about social justice and poverty reduction. She has worked in a variety of community settings and has extensive experience assisting clients to navigate the different social services, housing, and welfare systems.

She completed her Master of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University, is a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Worker and Social Service Workers and is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

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Svetlana Kozevnik, MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker

Svetlana has over 15 years of experience as a social worker in various departments within hospital settings in Israel and in Canada, where she has provided support to families, youth at risk, and individuals experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV).

Her goal is to create a warm, safe, and non-judgmental space, fostering self-awareness as a therapist. She offers a supportive environment where clients can share their stories and feelings openly and has experience in helping clients navigate community services suited to their needs.

Trilingual in Russian, English, and Hebrew, Svetlana bridges language gaps effectively. She holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Bar-Ilan University and is a registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, as well as a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

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Yara Nassar

Psychometrist and Coordinator of Psychometric Services

Yara Nassar has a strong academic and professional background in psychology, with specialized training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. She has experience across clinical, educational, and academic settings, including work as a school psychologist, involvement in special education services, and teaching as a university instructor training future educational psychologists.
In her home country, Yara provided psychoanalytic psychotherapy to adolescents and adults.
In her current role, Yara works as a Psychometrist and Department Coordinator. She administers and scores psychoeducational assessments and collaborates with clinical psychologists to support accurate diagnostic and intervention planning.
Fluent in Arabic and English, Yara values cultural sensitivity and is committed to respecting all cultures and beliefs. She strives to deliver ethical, precise, and client-centered psychological services.

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Yara Tanios, M. Psych, RP (Qualifying).

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

As an empathic psychotherapist with a background in humanitarian work, Yara has had the privilege of witnessing the incredible strength of individuals in the face of life’s challenges and adversities. Her approach to counseling is person-centered, collaborative, evidence-based, and rooted in empathy and resilience, guiding individuals towards transformative personal growth. Key skills and qualities that define her practice include cultural competence, empathetic listening, multicultural awareness, and effective communication, along with language proficiency.

Being trilingual (Arabic, English, and French-speaking), she can bridge language gaps, ensuring that therapy is accessible to all. Yara strives to create a safe and inclusive space where individuals can express themselves freely without fear of miscommunication or judgment, allowing them to grow and find their own path to positive change. Yara is committed to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and celebrate their unique strengths and resilience.

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Yasmine Benali, CCH

Registered Psychotherapist

Yasmine is a compassionate and skilled Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). She holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and is a Certified Hypnotherapist, accredited by the National Guild of Hypnotists.

Specializing in trauma-informed and client-centered practices, Yasmine provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and youth, focusing on creating safe and supportive spaces for exploration, healing, and growth. Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, she ensures culturally sensitive and accessible care for clients from diverse backgrounds.

At JFS Ottawa, Yasmine is part of the Refugee and Vulnerable Newcomers (RVN) program, the Counselling Group, and the Counselling Walk-In Clinic (CWIC).

Yasmine integrates a range of evidence-based psychotherapy modalities to create personalized treatment plans, including:

  • Narrative Therapy, to reframe life stories and uncover personal resilience
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), to foster emotional regulation and mindfulness
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to address and shift unhelpful thought patterns
  • Logotherapy and Meaning-Centered Therapy, to explore purpose and meaning in life
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), to embrace life’s challenges and focus on values-driven living

When relevant, she integrates hypnotherapy with these modalities to provide a holistic approach to mental well-being.

With over 10 years of experience in the corporate environment, Yasmine brings a unique perspective to psychotherapy, helping clients navigate organizational stressors and enhance psychological safety at work. By combining her corporate background with therapeutic expertise, she offers practical tools and strategies to support individuals facing workplace challenges, including burnout, conflict, and career transitions.

Passionate about advocacy and social justice, Yasmine is dedicated to empowering her clients as they navigate both personal and societal challenges.

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