Embracing Empowerment

PARUL SHAH, MSP, RSW

Founder And Psychotherapist

I am a Private Practice Services offering Experienced Personalized Counselling for various age groups such as Teens (13 to 17), and Adults (18 to 65). I am a Registered Social Worker and a Psychotherapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers since 2002. I have 3 Undergraduate Degrees in Sociology and Social Work and I have successfully obtained my Masters of Science in Psychology (MSP) from University Of Phoenix. I am currently a part-time PhD psychology student at Walden University.

 

What Got Me Started?

As we all know, we grow as we learn through our experiences, whether it be a positive situation or a negative one. When I was going through the growth of my own trauma and life lessons,  I had wished for one thing: to be understood. When I started a family I had this vision of what it would be like to raise children in our modern world. I was a bit naïve about the process of raising children. I have two beautiful girls who came into this world too early. They were premature and remained in the hospital for several months after birth. After the initial shock of having my first born at only 2 lbs, it dawned on me that my life as a parent would have a few roadblocks along the way. Needless to say, I was still genuinely naïve for what came next. My second daughter was born at 3 lbs. Seventeen months after her birth, I discovered that my life and my family would change forever. At 18 months my daughter was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy, which is a physical disability that affects the right side of the body in combination with cognitive impairment. I was no longer an average parent – I was a parent of a special needs child. As you can imagine, life would be full of bumps, but I chose to believe that challenges will always be there, and it’s how we overcome them that makes us stronger.

 

Now, many years later, my daughter has made numerous strides and she wouldn’t have been able to thrive without services that provide movement and progression. It felt as though the challenges were slowing down. Another naïve moment as a parent. By the time she entered grade school, it was evident that she appeared different from her peers and she began to realize that she is not the same. By the time she hit grade 2, she was bullied so much that she began the journey of anxiety, sadness, questioning her self worth. To any parent this would have shattered their world. It did mine.

In addition to raising two amazing daughters, I am married to a police officer. Being part of the 911 family for the past 19 years, has brought a lot of light into the daily struggles, stigma around mental and moral injuries. Often First Responder families are left out in the dark around the mental health journey for their uniformed loved one.

So I look at life not as hurdles but challenges. I knew my purpose was bigger than what it was.  It was to become an advocate , a strength, a voice not only for my daughters,  our First Responders and their families , but with anyone who has or going through a struggle.  I was able to learn through lived experiences that sometimes we need to voice our hurt, our pain, our frustration in order to feel we were heard and understood.

 

My Experience

I have worked as a Social Worker at Children’s Aid Society /Child Protection Services across Ontario, for over 12 years and I have over 22 years of experience in Mental Health. I am aware of the great lengths of what it takes to become an advocate for a family, for a child, for a woman and anyone in the Frontline. Working in this field I have a vast amount of experiences, knowledge and dealings with Domestic Violence, Addictions, Child abuse, Abandonment, Psychological issues, Anxiety, Bullying, Trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Injuries (PTSI or known as PTSD) and the  psychological impact of the pandemic.


Clinical Supervision

As a college member of OCSWSWW since 2002, I know the importance of supervision in our first years in private practice. As a clinical supervisor for Graduate students in the Masters level, it is pivotal to ensure that students receive ethical and professional guidance when taking on clients during the practicum stage. As a student myself well into my PhD journey, I realized that cost can mount and can add on stressors onto us as students. So I am happy to advise clinical supervision for grad students are at no cost. I believe enriched learning experience is far more attainable and sustainable in the long term for any students during their practicum years.


For any clinician under the OCSWSSW who are wanting supervision, I do provide clinical supervision at a cost that is suitable to all our needs. Supervision is geared towards your needs and level you may require seeking guidance. Supervision is highly encouraged to any clinician 2 years or under of creating their private practice. 


For any clinicians under CRPO, please visit their website as they may have supervision requirements that may be not suitable for anyone under OCSWSSW.

Virtual Clinical Mental Health Consultation

We Offer 60 Minute Virtual Clinical Mental Health Consultation.