Diverse Roots Therapy

103 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 1C6
3790 NS-201, Bridgetown, NS B0S 1C0
admin@diverserootstherapy.com
902-593-0753

Practice Owner, Registered Counselling Therapist & Supervisor

Website picture 1

Erica Baker-Gagnon

Erica (they/them) is a white settler, queer, non-binary, neurodivergent, plus sized, able-bodied therapist working in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq peoples. They are a dynamic and empathic counselling therapist responsive to diverse contexts and clientele. Erica is entirely nonjudgmental and works with many clients with diverse issues, including exploration around mood and/or personality disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD/ASD, gender identity, sexual orientation, relationship configurations and dynamics, systemic issues, social justice and many others. They are comfortable working with individuals from all communities, including BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, kink, consensual non-monogamy, sex work, etc. They see individuals and couples/people in relationship dynamics. Erica is also comfortable with and happy to write the letters of support required for GAC and works under the WPATH 8 SoC.

Erica currently supervises Masters’ level students who work at their practice and who see clients from the practice's waiting list. They also supervise new therapists - RCT-Cs. Erica is passionate about training future and current therapists to do affirmative, informed work with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Erica is a Registered Counselling Therapist with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT), license #RCT-19-004. They got their Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counselling in 2015 and then began seeing clients in Montreal. Erica has been working in private practice in Nova Scotia since 2019. They have also provided many workshops and presentations to various groups on topics related to mental health, 2SLGBTQIA+ issues, relationship issues and more.

Registered Counselling Therapist Candidates (RCT-Cs)

Alexa Morash

Alexa (she, her) has been working in the mental health field for six years through many diverse roles that have grown her understanding of trauma and its impacts on clients. As a social worker, she worked in the fields of homelessness, addiction and child protection which shaped her interest to delve into the counselling field. As a queer therapist herself, Alexa recognizes the potential challenges of coming out and is passionate in providing quality care to the clients she works with. Alexa sees both individuals and couples/people in relationship dynamics.

As a therapist that incorporates various counselling modalities, Alexa utilizes attachment and Psychodynamic Theory in her work with clients. While seeing clients through an attachment lens, Alexa considers LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy to be essential in her work at Diverse Roots to provide a non-judgemental, validating, and safe environment for clients. Alexa considers herself to be integrative as she uses various techniques within Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Narrative, Somatic, Client-centred and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Alexa's license number is #RCT-C22-032.

Chalace Slipp

Chalace (they/them) is a queer, non-binary and poly counselling therapist who approaches therapy from a place of groundedness and play. They are warm, curious and open to finding ways to best support their clients through on-going consent and care for their therapeutic relationships. Chal holds a person-centered, psychodynamic, anti-oppressive lens that encourages their clients to gently unravel parts of themselves through creative interventions, mindfulness and psycho-educational tools.

Chal has a background in drama therapy, a therapy modality that allows them to offer unique techniques to manage and improve stress, personal blocks and interpersonal patterning that no longer serves their clients. While remaining trauma informed and queer-centered, Chal supports clients in connecting with their subconscious through integrative practices. They have been practicing for almost three years and are learning new modalities and ways to decolonize their therapy practice since graduating with their Masters in Creative Arts Therapy from Concordia University in Montreal.

They spend their time living off-grid with their cat, dog and other wild creatures who also live on the gay north mountain. They enjoy hosting ecstatic dance evenings, open-mic nights and are a performance art nerd. They appreciate good food, cozy evenings with loved ones by the fire and long soaks in any body of water. Chal hopes to find the most supportive and consistent way to engage with the therapeutic process and to collaborate with folks who are polyamorous, kink-centered, neurodivergent, LGBTQIA2S+ and within the disability community.

They are available virtually and in-person at their newly renovated office shed (by them!) in the so-called ‘Annapolis Valley’. They are a settler and acknowledge their roots are on Mi’kma’ki territory where they grew up and live today. They are currently seeing clients from their home office near Bridgetown where they practice their newbie carpentry and homesteading skills. Chal looks forward to connecting and seeing if they could be a good fit for your therapeutic needs. Their license NSCCT # is RCT-C23-073.

Gretel Park

Gretel (she/her/hers) is a white, queer, cis-gendered, able-bodied therapist who uses a person centred approach and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (pronounced ACT!). Gretel graduated with her Masters in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and her Bachelors degree from Saint Mary’s University. Gretel offers services for folks who are looking for support with anxiety, stress, depression, sex, sexuality, gender, identity, and relationships. Gretel has over 10 years experience working with youth and children and offers support for youth as they explore their sex, sexuality, gender, and anything in between! Additionally, Gretel has experience supporting women and queer folk navigate emotionally abusive and/or unhappy relationships. Using a feminist lens along with a non-judgmental and psycho-educational approach, Gretel provides therapeutic services with unconditional positive regard, empowerment, and support for her clients.

Outside of work, Gretel enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors either climbing, camping, canoeing, skiing, or hiking!

Gretel offers online, over the phone, and in-person therapy services at Diverse Roots - whatever feels most comfortable for you! Her NSCCT license # is RCT-C23-055. Gretel is currently taking on new clients.

Heather Baglole

Heather (she/her) is a warm and authentic counselling therapist that identifies as queer, white-settler, cisgender, neurodivergent, and plus size. She welcomes clients who want help authoring new, supportive stories for their lives that challenge restrictive, dominant cultural narratives, including: 2SLGBTQIA+ people, folks in non-traditional relationships and kink communities, neurodiverse and disabled folks, and plus size people of all genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds. She is grateful to live and work on Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw, and strives to continue learning how to decolonize her practice.

Heather works in a collaborative and non-judgmental manner, embracing an integrative approach that combines techniques from person-centred and feminist methods, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, narrative therapy, and existential therapy. She is excited to continue developing her skills in somatic and arts modalities, and she strives for a trauma-informed, harm reduction approach that acknowledges the uniqueness of each person’s lived experience. In addition to counselling, Heather works as an ADHD group coach and local program developer at ADDvocacy.

Heather is available for new and returning clients for sessions in-person, virtually, or by telephone. Her licence number is RCT-C23-056.

Mylène Arseneau

Mylène (she/her/elle) identifies as queer, white, Acadian, able-bodied and cisgender. She lives and works on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Mi'kmaw. Her therapeutic modalities include internal family systems (IFS), narrative therapy, existential therapy and psychodynamic therapy.  Mylène's goal is to support clients in their journey toward growth and healing in any way this may look like for the clients. She also aims to validate how they are being impacted by the current dominant systems in place and support clients in gaining agency over these narratives.

Mylène's journey in sexual and reproductive health, social justice and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has brought her here to support clients in their path toward emotional and mental well-being. Mylène is a warm, empathetic and open-minded counsellor who respects clients as the experts of their own lives. She looks forward to collaboratively creating a safer space where clients can deepen their understanding of themselves.

Mylène is available for sessions with new and returning clients in-person, virtually, or by telephone. Her licence number is RCT-C24-018.

Therapists in Training (Masters Level)

Damian Haddad

Damian Haddad (Yorkville University)

Damian (He/Him) is a dedicated Master's counseling psychology student at Yorkville University, embracing a multifaceted identity as a queer, transgender, and able-bodied individual. His commitment to inclusivity is at the core of his practice, ensuring a safe space for all.

Driven by compassion, Damian provides counselling through an empathetic and trauma-informed lens. Damian places a strong emphasis on unconditional positive regard, fostering a non-judgmental and accepting space, allowing clients to navigate and explore their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. Every individual is unique, and Damian believes in tailoring his therapeutic modalities to meet the specific needs of his clients.

Drawing inspiration from person-centered, mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral, and solution-focused therapies, he creates a customized approach for each individual he works with to support individuals on their unique journeys of self-discovery and growth.

image1

Emily McBride (Yorkville University)

Emily (she/her) is a master’s student in counselling psychology at Yorkville University, and she completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in psychology at Queen’s University. She identifies as a queer, able-bodied, cisgender, white settler living in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq peoples.

Emily approaches her practice from a place of unconditional positive regard, authenticity, and curiosity, helping to ensure a warm, respectful, and non-judgemental therapeutic environment in which her clients are the experts on themselves, their experiences, and their goals. Emily uses an affirmative, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed approach to cultivate a therapeutic relationship that empowers her clients to self-reflect and share comfortably. She employs an intersectional lens and incorporates facets of person-centered, existential, narrative, and internal family systems therapy.

Outside of her practice, Emily is an avid reader, all-season dog walker, and meditator.

Joleen's Bio Photo

Joleen MacInnis (Yorkville University)

Joleen (she/her) is a queer, cisgender, white, able-bodied counselling psychology student at Yorkville University. Her commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ affirmative and trauma-informed therapy drives her dedication to creating a safe and inclusive therapeutic space for diverse clients.

Her demeanour is characterized by warmth, collaboration, and a completely non-judgmental disposition. Joleen integrates multiple theoretical orientations into her approach, drawing from Person-centered, Psychodynamic, Narrative, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, enabling her to tailor her counselling to the distinct needs of each client.

Joleen aims to empower clients through self-exploration, equipping them to navigate challenges, embrace strengths, and pursue aspirations. Embracing diverse lived experiences as foundational, her counselling space embodies validation, transformative potential, and unconditional positive regard.

Rooted in her identity as a white individual, she maintains a deep awareness of her privilege, propelling her dedication to fostering cultural sensitivity within her practice. Working and residing within Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw people, amplifies her gratitude and understanding, while her unwavering commitment to lifelong learning drives her continuous growth and active efforts to decolonize her practice.

Kartik Saini (Yorkville University)

Kartik (he/him) identifies as a queer immigrant, able-bodied, person of colour, and neurodivergent, who is dedicated to fostering a safer and inclusive therapeutic space for diverse clients through a queer affirmative, trauma-informed care and culturally sensitive lens.

He is a warm, empathetic counsellor who works with clients through a person-centered approach ensuring the client is heard, creating an open and nonjudgmental environment for his clients to thrive and provide unconditional positive regard. Kartik combines different therapeutic modalities tailored to the client’s needs, including Person-centered, Narrative, Existential Therapy, and Mindfulness.

Kartik immigrated to Canada in 2016 and followed his passion for mental health both in academic and professional life. Currently, he is pursuing his Master's in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University and completing his training under the supervision of Erica.

Madeline Rae (Dalhousie University)

Madeline Rae (she/her/hers) is a queer, able-bodied, white settler, cisgender woman living and learning in Kjipuktuk, Mi'kma'ki. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours with a minor in Women & Gender Studies, a Bachelor of Psychology, and is completing her Masters of Social Work at Dalhousie University. Madeline is trained in WPATH (8) gender-affirming care, trauma-informed and inclusive sex education, and reproductive and sexual health counselling.

Madeline welcomes clients who are seeking a safe and supportive space to explore topics around sexuality, gender, relationships, and beyond. Some examples might include, but are not limited to, queer identity, healing from purity culture, gender identity, sex work, sexual trauma, consensual non-monogamy, and BDSM/kinky sex. Modalities used in session will vary depending on a collaborative exploration of the client's therapeutic goals and needs, but may include combined elements of trauma safety and stabilization, Narrative Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and Internal Family Systems Therapy.

Madeline approaches all clients with unconditional positive regard, gentle curiosity, and acceptance. She seeks to explore personal healing and growth while also acknowledging the impacts of systems of oppression and social dominant discourse. In this way, therapy becomes political. Madeline's political positionality and therapeutic approach are informed by intersectional feminism, anti-racism, anti-oppressive practice, sex-positivity, BDSM/kink-positivity, queer & gender theory, critical trans politics, harm reduction, polyvagal theory, pleasure activism, and cultural sensitivity.

Please feel free to reach out to Madeline for clarification on any of the terminology used above, or to see if you'd like to work with her.

Affiliate Therapists (Not Currently Working at DRT)

Bio pic - Seth

Seth Wahlin-Stern

Seth (he/him) offers individual counseling to children and youth around gender identity especially as it relates to school functioning. Seth uses his unique blend of expertise related to learning, childhood development, and gender to help clients understand and embrace their identities, and to cope with challenges that can arise from minority stress. As a School Psychologist, Seth brings ten years’ experience navigating the space between systemic structures and the needs of diverse learners including African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students. He finds creative solutions to help clients reach their goals using skills from a variety of therapeutic approaches.

Seth is a Registered Counseling Therapy Candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counseling Therapists, license #RCT-C22-013. He is supervised by Erica Baker-Gagnon, RCT, and is an affiliate member of Diverse Roots Therapy; he does not work for the practice. He is also licensed as a Registered Psychologist with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology. He provides services through Smith-Burke Psychology (https://smithburkepsychology.ca/). To request an appointment, please contact Seth directly by email at:  seth@smithburkepsychology.ca

Admin Team

Reagan Kuzyk

Reagan (She/Her) is the administrative assistant in the mornings at Diverse Roots Therapy, located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq peoples. She identifies as a queer, white, cisgendered, plus-size individual who really values and understands the meaning of "come as you are, whoever you are". . For years, she's worked with individuals living with physical and intellectual disabilities both in residential and in school settings, and has extensive training on ASD, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Fragile X, and more. She is happy to make new connections and learn other people's stories as part of the human experience.

Reagan also works as a vocal coach and piano instructor, and is an accomplished local singer-songwriter. Her goal through her music is to be relatable and to let people know that they aren't alone in their struggles or in their trauma. Having been trained in mindfulness, she strives to create a safe space for people to explore and learn more about music, and ultimately themselves, in an inclusive and stress-free environment. She works with folks as young as 4 and as old as 69, and while classically trained, she works with a variety of genres including but not limited to metal, punk, pop, jazz, blues, folk and classical.

Fun Fact: Reagan reaaaaaallllyyyy loves Pineapples!