SUMMIT COUNSELLING & WELLNESS
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  • Counselling & Psychotherapy
  • Meet the Team
    • Melissa Schafer: Ages birth to 6
    • Tara Van Halteren: Ages 6 to 18
    • Robyn Godber: Ages 11 to 22
    • Kayla Ortese: Ages 12 to 25
    • Charissa Yavtucovich: Ages 16 to 25
    • Founder's Message
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Melissa Schafer
M Sc. OT, OT Reg. (Ont.)


Counselling for families with infants, toddlers, and young children, ages birth to 6 years
Over the past decade I have devoted my career to supporting infants, toddlers, young children, and their parents through the various joys and challenges that arise in the early years. This work includes:
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  • working with parents in the immediate postpartum period who are not feeling connected to their infants, or are feeling overwhelmed or anxious managing the new tasks of parenting
  • supporting parents in navigating toddler behaviours and the big feelings that arise in these instrumental years of development
  • supporting young children who are experiencing anxiety or emotion regulation challenges
  • working with families and their children who have witnessed domestic violence
  • supporting children who are in foster care and supporting families through the adoption process

Through this work I have supported numerous parents whose own experience of being parented is impacting their parenting, parents who want to offer their children a different experience of being parented than they received, and parents who struggle in knowing how to respond to their children’s big emotions and behaviours.

I hold a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University. I then went on to obtain additional training in various play therapy approaches and attachment-based interventions (including Theraplay, Circle of Security, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, and Infant-Parent Psychotherapy). I am a registered Occupational Therapist, Psychotherapist and a member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.
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With an extensive background in play therapy, and an attachment and neurobiology grounded approach, I look forward to supporting you and your children through navigating the ups and downs of the early years and the parenting journey. 

Fee for regular 50 minute session: $140 (No HST required)

  • Home
  • Counselling & Psychotherapy
  • Meet the Team
    • Melissa Schafer: Ages birth to 6
    • Tara Van Halteren: Ages 6 to 18
    • Robyn Godber: Ages 11 to 22
    • Kayla Ortese: Ages 12 to 25
    • Charissa Yavtucovich: Ages 16 to 25
    • Founder's Message
  • Resources
  • Contact