Dr. Parnian Pajouhandeh, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Dr. Parnian Pajouhandeh is a registered psychologist practicing in the areas of clinical, counselling, and rehabilitation psychology. She has a Ph. D. degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto and is registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario.
Dr. Pajouhandeh has over fifteen years of experience in psychological assessment and treatment as well as mental health research. She has worked or trained in a number of diverse practice settings including community-based mental health agencies, hospitals, university counselling centres, and private practices.
Dr. Pajouhandeh has been the director of North Durham Professional Counsellors for over 10 years, a practice serving the community of Port Perry, Uxbridge and surrounding regions in Durham over the past two decades. She works with several of associates trained to provide psychological and counselling services to adults, couples, children and adolescents, and families.
Dr. Pajouhandeh provides psychological services to individuals with a wide range of emotional and mental health concerns. She has a special interest in rehabilitation psychology and women’s health issues and has worked extensively with individuals facing chronic pain or illnesses, depression and anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, postpartum depression, and health anxiety.
Dr. Parnian Pajouhandeh
Ph.D., C. Psych.
Dr. Pajouhandeh’s approach to therapy draws from several therapeutic modalities including Cognitive-Behavioral, Client-Centered, Interpersonal, and Solution-Focused Therapies. She also incorporates mindfulness techniques particularly in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Her approach is collaborative, empathic, and tailored to individual goals and needs.
Jill Farrow, M.A., C. Psych. Assoc.
Jill Farrow, M.A., is a registered Psychological Associate practicing independently in the areas of counselling and clinical psychology. She has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Waterloo, Ontario and she is registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Ms. Farrow has over 24 years of experience in psychological assessment and treatment. She has been trained and has worked in a University counselling centre, an employee assistance program, hospitals and private practices.
Ms. Farrow has been working independently in private practice for more than eleven years. She has been seeing clients at the North Durham Professional Counsellors for over three years. Ms. Farrow provides Psychological services to adults dealing with a wide range of emotional and mental health concerns. She has a special interest in depression, postpartum depression, anxiety, panic attacks, panic disorder, social anxiety, health anxiety, trauma, sleep issues, stress management, relationship issues and grief.
Ms. Farrow offers approaches to treatment based on the needs of the client as determined by an initial assessment. These approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy, client-centred therapy, psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy.
Jill Farrow
M.A., C. Psych. Assoc.
Katherine Michel, M.A., Registered Psychotherapist
Katherine Michel is a certified member of the OACCPP (Ontario Association of Counselors, Consultants, Psychometrists, and Psychotherapists) and the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario. She has worked in the community through hospital-based services in the areas of clinical and rehabilitation psychology for more than twenty years.
Kathy provides psychotherapy to individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression that are related to relational conflicts, parenting demands, grief and loss, chronic pain, injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents and sexual abuse. She also provides marital and couples therapy with the intent of helping her clients develop more constructive means of conflict management and negotiation skills in a safe environment.
Kathy provides therapy under the supervision of Dr. Parnian Pajouhandeh. She tends to use a cognitive-behavioural approach when appropriate with an appreciation for psychodynamic influences from early life experience. She is available at least two evenings weekly at the office.
Katherine Michel
M.A., Registered Psychotherapist
Sofia Dawoodjee, RN Psychotherapist, M.Ed.
Sofia Dawoodjee is a Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario, specializing in the areas of mental health, counselling, assessment, medication management, and crisis intervention. She also has a Specialized Honours B.A. in Psychology from York University, and a Masters of Education for Counselling in Community Settings obtained from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
Sofia Dawoodjee has over twenty years of nursing experience working in the field of mental health and addictions. She has worked with adults, geriatrics, children, adolescents, and teens in various clinical settings ranging from hospitals, schools, and community settings. She has also practised as a counsellor for a non-for-profit organization.
Sofia has been with North Durham Professional Counsellors since the spring of 2017, and provides services to clients struggling with emotional and various mental health concerns under the direct supervision of Dr. Pajouhandeh. Sofia is also CBT trained, and often derives strategies from this therapy model along with a client-centred approach, and a brief solution focused model. Sofia has a special interest in working with teens and young adults aged 16 years and older to address and support emerging mood disorders and/or addiction concerns. Along with having extensive experience working with a wide spectrum of mental health concerns, Sofia is also a SafeTALK (Suicide Awareness for Everyone) trainer to help develop a suicide-safer community.
Sofia Dawoodjee
RN Psychotherapist, M.Ed.
Dr. Debbie Reixach, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Dr. Debbie Reixach obtained her Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto in 2003 and became registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario in 2005. Since 1991 she has practiced in the fields of counselling and psychology, treating and assessing a diverse range of issues presented by adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Dr. Reixach particularly enjoys working with adolescents and this interest is reflected in her doctoral thesis work that investigated treatability concerns for Young Offenders. Dr. Reixach’s treatment approach is integrative in nature and largely draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Systems-based Therapies. She is experienced in addressing various mental health concerns that include: mood and anxiety disorders, attachment issues, relational difficulties, situational and developmental life transitions, trauma, stress management, and skill development in the areas of assertiveness, communication and problem-solving.
Dr. Reixach’s work experience is varied and includes: providing general psychological services to students at York University and the University of Toronto; clinically assessing patients at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Forensic division) and Whitby Mental Health Centre (Adolescent Services); and counselling individuals, couples and families at Family Services York Region. Dr. Reixach has also worked in community-based organizations that provide personal and vocational counselling/assessment to socially disadvantaged clients. A genuine lifelong learner, she thrives on continually updating her knowledge and passing along new resources to her clients.
Dr. Debbie Reixach
Ph.D., C. Psych.
Dr. Greg Sweitzer, MSW, MA, Psy.D., C.Psych.
Dr. Sweitzer has trained in a variety of psychotherapeutic modalities including family therapy, psychodynamic therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, emotion-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and supportive therapy. His principal mode of treatment is cognitive-behavioural therapy; however, other therapeutic approaches are often integrated according to the patient’s needs. He has 40 years of professional experience, having trained, and worked first as a masters-level clinical social worker for 17 years before returning to school in 2003 to earn masters and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology. Doctor Sweitzer is registered as a clinical, counseling, and rehabilitation psychologist in the province of Ontario.
Dr. Greg Sweitzer
MSW, MA, Psy.D., C.Psych.
Karyn Dowdall MACP, RP (Qualifying)
Karyn is a graduate of Yorkville University’s Master of Counselling Psychology Program and bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Social Anthropology as well as Business Communications.
With post-graduate certificates in Addiction Studies from Mount Royal University as well as professional recovery coaching and addictions counselling certifications, Karyn specializes in working with clients with concurrent substance-use and mood disorders.
Karyn also incorporates her various wellness trainings into her therapeutic practice including Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and Mindfulness Teacher (Mindful Awareness Stabilization Training).
These interests fuel her appreciation for mindfulness-based approaches to mental health and wellness, as well as her passion for ongoing training in trauma-informed practices, third-wave Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy interventions.
In her spare time, Karyn enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts, long-distance running, yoga, and outdoor activities with her family and furry friends.
Karyn provides online, telephone and in-person psychotherapy
Karyn Dowdall MACP
RP (Qualifying)
Elizabeth Anne (Annalisa) Danowski, BA, DTATI, RP
Art Therapist
Registered Psychotherapist
Annalisa Danowski is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and a Professional Member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA). She offers a blend of art therapy and talk therapy that is individually tailored to the needs and interests of her clients. Developed over a decade of practice, this approach integrates cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, and mindfulness with art therapy theory and techniques.
A graduate of the Toronto Art Therapy Institute and lifelong artist and writer, Annalisa enjoys encouraging her clients to explore their personal creative process as part of their journey of healing and growth — especially for those who feel that they have lost touch with their creative self, or not yet discovered it. Specializing in working with adults in recovery from abuse and trauma, she is experienced in supporting clients with a range of mental health concerns such as: depression, anxiety, chronic pain, body image issues, life transitions, and addictions.
In 2013, Annalisa received an Ontario Victim Services Award of Distinction for art therapy projects with survivors of domestic violence in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Elizabeth Anne (Annalisa) Danowski
BA, DTATI, RP
Dr. Jean Saint-Cyr
Dr. Saint-Cyr has been in the mental health field since 1968 and is dually trained in Psychology (Clinical and Neuropsychology) as well as in Brain Research. After his academic career (Professor Emeritus in the Division of Neurosurgery at University of Toronto since 2009), he continues in his private practice doing assessments (diagnostic, medical-legal and insurance) as well as psychotherapy (solution-focussed, humanistic and psychodynamic) with adults. His mother tongue is French and he can provide services (assessments from school-age to adulthood) as well as therapy in that language as well. He has an office in Toronto as well as Port Perry.
Dr. Jean Saint-Cyr
Clinical and Neuropsychology