THE TEAM

Meet the team that will “walk the walk” with you!

Our team serves those in the Niagara region suffering from eating disorders/disordered eating, negative body image, and resulting mental health struggles. We are patient and kind, and dedicated to creating the life you deserve. We are here to listen, guide, and hold you through your vulnerability.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Sonya Mandus

Sonya is a compassionate and dedicated Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) committed to helping clients heal their relationship with body and self. Holding a Master’s in Counselling Psychology and additional certifications in trauma and attachment, she brings a nuanced understanding of the emotional and psychological roots of disordered eating. Sonya believes in a collaborative, client-centered approach, working alongside individuals to uncover underlying patterns while fostering resilience and self-compassion. Her practice is rooted in the belief that recovery is not just about changing behaviors but also about healing the whole self—mind, body, and spirit.

Utilizing a holistic and multimodal framework, Sonya integrates evidence-based therapies such as TF-CBT, narrative therapy, psychodynamic theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and solution-focused techniques, and somatic work. She tailors each session to the unique needs of her clients, emphasizing psychoeducation and empowerment as key components of healing. Whether addressing trauma, anxiety, or deep-seated beliefs about self-worth, Sonya creates a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their struggles and cultivate lasting change. Her work is driven by the conviction that every individual has the capacity for growth and that true healing begins with compassion—both from the therapist and within oneself.

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ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Liz Zaranyika

Liz is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a background in Psychology. She supports individuals navigating anxiety, body image concerns, burnout, and the emotional toll of high-performance environments. Liz also works with clients who experience challenges in their relationship with food and their bodies, offering a compassionate space to explore these concerns with sensitivity and care.

Liz’s therapeutic style is collaborative, integrative, and trauma-informed. She draws from a range of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Solution-Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and somatic practices. She works collaboratively with clients to explore patterns that keep them feeling stuck and to gently build toward a life grounded in clarity, choice, and self-trust.

She offers a warm, nonjudgmental environment where clients are invited to show up as their full selves—messy, complex, and still worthy of healing. Liz values authenticity, empathy, and empowerment, and approaches therapy with deep respect for each individual’s lived experience. Her personal and professional goal is to support clients in reconnecting with themselves and cultivating emotional resilience and self-compassion.

She is particularly passionate about the intersection of mental health and performance culture, and helps clients navigate the pressures of perfectionism, chronic stress, and burnout to foster a more sustainable and self-compassionate way of being.

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ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Chelsea Dickson

Chelsea is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology and an Honours Undergraduate Degree in Child and Youth Studies. She is passionate about supporting individuals through a compassionate, empathetic, and non-judgmental lens.

Chelsea has experience working with children, teens, and young adults navigating concerns such as self-esteem, body image, anxiety, and more. Her therapeutic approach is client-centered and integrates evidence-based modalities including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT).

Chelsea strives to create a warm and supportive environment where clients feel seen, heard, and supported. She approaches each session with deep respect for her clients' lived experiences and believes in their capacity for insight, connection, and change. Her goal is to support clients in reconnecting with parts of themselves and developing a more compassionate relationship with themselves.

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ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Victoria Hanson

Victoria is a Registered Dietitian, with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Human Nutrition and a Master of Science in Food and Nutrition.

She is dedicated to supporting individuals and families within the disordered eating/eating disorders field by walking alongside them and honouring their unique life experiences, bodies, needs, and preferences.

Victoria aims to support clients’ motivation and confidence for recovery from a food and nutrition lens. She provides evidenced-based nutrition information, strategies, and skills to support overall nutrition and recovery goals. She provides weight-inclusive services through a Health at Every Size® approach.

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ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Cassandra Mason

Cassandra is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Cassandra is passionate about providing a truly collaborative approach to therapy. She believes that you are the expert of your own life and strives to empower you on your therapeutic journey. Her goal is to provide a safe, welcoming, non-judgmental space to foster self-discovery.

Cassandra has recently completed her M.A. in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. She has always enjoyed working with people and after volunteering with Big Brother Big Sisters she discovered a passion of working with mental health and the community. Through this volunteer position, she saw the profound effect healthy relationships can have on an individual’s overall well-being and strives to emphasize the therapeutic relationship in her work with clients.

Cassandra has a passion for helping individuals suffering from relational issues with themselves and others, low self-worth, body image issues, anxiety and depression. She utilizes a holistic lens in order to look at the whole person and the issues arising. She has completed training in breathwork and places emphasis on a mind-body connection within her sessions.

As a new mental health professional, Cassandra is excited to support a diverse population including children, teens, adults and couples. Cassandra acknowledges the strength it takes to reach out for help when you need it. She feels privileged to be alongside you through this journey and witness your growth.

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ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Dillon Mariglia

Dillon is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. With a holistic approach to therapy, Dillon is dedicated to addressing each individual’s unique needs with understanding and compassion.

He has achieved Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) Level I certification and is an IBCCES Certified Cognitive Coach (CCC), specializing in ADHD, Anxiety, Dyslexia, and Autism. Dillon draws upon a range of evidence-based modalities and utilizes them through his trauma informed care lens to create a supportive and safe therapeutic space where clients feel truly heard and valued.

Dillon's practice is rooted in the belief that every person deserves to be met with empathy and respect. He focuses on fostering emotional resilience and personal growth, guiding clients through their challenges with a commitment to their continued well-being and empowerment.

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CURRENTLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE

Deanna Khes-Grabiec

Deanna is a Registered Social Worker with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour and a Master’s degree in Social Work, specializing in eating disorders, disordered eating, body image, anxiety, and perfectionism. Her personal and professional goals are to empower those she works with through self-compassion, food freedom, body acceptance, and self-confidence, and to promote wellness beyond weight by addressing social justice issues related to health. She values compassion, non-judgment, empowerment, and mindfulness.

Deanna uses an integrative/humanistic approach, employing evidence-based practices such as Family-Based Treatment for Anorexia/Bulimia and ARFID (FBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). She works with children, teenagers, and young adults, focusing on those struggling with eating disorders, body image issues, anxiety, and perfectionism. Her care approach is rooted in the Health at Every Size® theoretical framework, promoting wellness beyond weight and addressing related social justice issues. Additionally, her collaborative method helps patients manage intrusive thoughts related to food, weight, and self-image.

OWNER AND CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF LIVE EMPOWERED COUNSELLING
(NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS)

Martina Nazartchyk

Martina is a compassionate and experienced therapist who specializes in helping individuals navigate the emotional complexities of anxiety, trauma, body image concerns, and disordered eating/eating disorders. With a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counselling, and certifications as a Registered Psychotherapist and Canadian Certified Counsellor, Martina brings both professional expertise and personal insight into her work.

Martina believes in creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel seen and heard. Her humanistic, client-centered approach encourages individuals to explore the root causes of their struggles, fostering self-compassion and emotional growth.

With a focus on understanding and addressing these deeper layers, Martina empowers clients to create sustainable change that resonates through all aspects of their lives. Her approach blends emotional insights with practical tools to foster healing and meaningful transformation. She works collaboratively with each client to help them reconnect with their inner truth, reclaim their voice, and build emotional resilience.

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HOW TO GET STARTED

Starting your healing doesn’t have to be hard! We’ve broken it down into three simple steps:

Phone Consultation

Start by booking your initial consultation. We’ll establish if we’re a good fit based on mutual comfort levels and our confidence in our ability to support your holistic therapy journey.

Therapy Sessions

During the initial sessions we will establish a deeper understanding of the fears, worries, and concerns you would like to move away from and the wants, needs, and desires you would like to move toward. Based on that, we will create a comprehensive approach for your treatment.

The Journey Continues

Beginning with weekly or bi-weekly appointments, we focus on your emotional, behavioural, and body-felt sensations. We work toward feelings of validation and visibility, as you move through your personal growth journey.