Our Staff

Andre is a certified trauma therapist, registered clinical social worker, and a post-secondary college educator.  He has extensive experience working in academia, clinical, community, forensic, correctional, and military settings.  In recent years, his practice has focused on working with the military population, as well as, working with individuals in conflict with the law.

Andre values and supports trust, collaboration, and curiosity when working together. The individual’s engagement provides opportunities for them to explore their experiences and elements that influence mental health and well-being, including the way we relate to ourselves, how we relate to each other, and how we perceive our sense of belonging in the communities where we live, work, or coexist.

While implementing an integrative approach, Andre uses various modalities of psychotherapy to meet the individual needs of each person, such as: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing – Certified), Internal Family Systems (IFS Level I), and Prolonged Exposure Therapy, among others.

Andre can be reached at andre@menandhealing.ca

Clinical Lead: Masculine identity & Integrity

Larry has been practicing social work in the Ottawa area for over 30 years. Larry offers individual psychotherapy as well as facilitates one of our Emotional Integrity group therapy programs. He is a co-founder of the Men’s Project – the previous entity that pioneered male-centred therapy in Ottawa. One of Larry’s particular interests is in providing clinical services to youth and their families.

In 2020, Larry was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada for his pioneering work on issues of men’s health and well-being.

Larry can be reached at larry@menandhealing.ca

Krista has devoted her career to working with those living with poverty, addiction and mental health concerns both as a counsellor and a manager of services in shelter-based residential addiction treatment programs. While Krista tailors her approach to meet the needs of clients, her goal as a therapist is to help empower people to become creators in their lives through an existential approach to therapy, which promotes meaning-making, authentic living, and personal responsibility for shaping paths in life.

Having received specialized training in counselling, Krista has earned undergraduate degrees in both psychology and health sciences with a focus on addictions, as well as a Master of Counselling degree from the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. Krista is a professional member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

Krista provides individual psychotherapy.

Krista can be reached at krista@menandhealing.ca

Saeid Kianpour is a registered psychotherapist and a family therapist based in Ottawa, ON. He completed his BA in Education of Children with special needs and a Master’s Degree in Psychology-Family Therapy in Iran. He then moved to the United States to pursue his doctorate in Human Development and Family Science with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy at Virginia Tech. Saeid accomplished an internship at the Indiana University-School of Medicine as a Behavioral Science Doctoral Intern and Visiting Lecturer.

He then moved to Canada in 2018 where he was registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and started working in Ottawa in private clinical practice. Systemic ideology is a thread woven throughout his worldview and work. His clinical practice and experience in Iran, the United States, and Canada have enabled meaningful moments of growth and provided him the opportunity to work with diverse populations who faced various challenges. Cultural diversity and working in a humanitarian context is an innate part of his experience.

Saeid provides individual, couple and family therapy in both English and Farsi.

Saeid can be reached at saeid@menandhealing.ca

Clinical Lead: Emotional Regulation

Originally from England, via Eritrea in the Horn of Africa, Anna now makes her home in the Ottawa area. Her post-graduate studies began with a Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling Practice from England, and has continued in her Post Graduate studies in Gestalt Psychotherapy.

Since moving to Ottawa in 2003, Anna’s professional focus has been predominantly (although not exclusively) on issues of trauma and trauma recovery. The notion of emotional integrity permeates her practice. She invites men to open their minds and hearts to their suffering, compassion and strength to heal.

Anna provides individual psychotherapy, as well as facilitating both our Trauma Recovery and Anger Management programs.

Anna can be reached at anna@menandhealing.ca

Jen is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She has had 15 years experience working in community mental health and primary care settings doing individual and group work with people struggling with a wide range of trauma, mental health and addiction issues. Prior to this, Jen worked in educational and wilderness-based treatment settings supporting young adults and their families struggling with mental health and addictions.

Jen has received a Bachelor of Psychology from McGill University, a Master of Theological Students and Restorative Justice from Queen’s University, a Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Windsor.

Jen is a certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) practitioner and has regular supervision for this work. As well she is trained in DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and addictions counselling.

For several years, Jen has worked and volunteered in the Muskoka Male Survivor program and network which promote and provide support for men and their families.

In her spare time, Jen loves to explore the local water-ways and hiking trails… paddling, swimming and running.

Jen can be reached at jen@menandhealing.ca

Justin Bergamini is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) living in Ottawa. Justin completed his undergraduate degree in Communications at Carleton University and his MA in Counselling and Spirituality at Saint Paul University. He is passionate about helping his clients heal and grow so that they can live rich, meaningful lives. Justin strives to provide care that integrates the cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs of his clients.

Justin can be reached at justin@menandhealing.ca

Ray is a registered social worker and certified sex therapist in private practice. As a clinical member of the Board of Examiners in Sex Therapy and Counselling in Ontario, he brings an eclectic approach to his practice, drawing particularly on object relations and self psychology. He provides counselling on sexual issues, relationship issues, sleep and fatigue, sexual abuse, depression, anxiety, and the challenges of parenting. He is the developer of the Sexual Integrity Program, a group approach to treating dysregulated sexual behaviour.

In addition to his counselling practice, Ray is also a board approved clinical supervisor, an external clinical supervisor for the Master’s of Counselling & Spirituality program at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, president of Mental Health Professionals Ottawa, an educator, workshop presenter, volunteer, husband, father, and grandfather.

Ray is the lead facilitator of our Sexual Integrity program. He does not currently provide individual clinical services at Men & Healing.

Clinical Lead: Sexual Identity & Expression

Annika is a registered MSW and an Associate Member of BESTCO (Board of Examiners in Sex Therapy and Counselling Ontario).

She believes healing and growth are uniquely individual processes, and strives to create a collaborative relationship that places you as the expert of your experiences and empowers change. Her therapeutic presence is warm, non-judgmental, and genuine.

As a trauma therapist, she is passionate about helping individuals process and reclaim meaning in their past and present experiences, tap into their resiliencies and strengthen connections to expand their world.  From an eclectic social work approach, she draws from evidence-based therapies that will help you to mindfully explore and understand your thoughts, emotions, and somatic (body) experiences from a place of self-compassion.

Annika believes relationships are sites of powerful healing and feels honored to work alongside individuals, couples and poly constellations as their connections to themselves and each other transform. Annika is a sex-positive, LGBTQ+, CNM, and kink/BDSM knowledgeable therapist that can assist you in strengthening your relationships and authentic sexual expression.

Annika provides individual, relational and sex therapy. She also facilitates one of our trauma recovery group programs and our Sexual Integrity group program at Men & Healing.

Annika can be reached at annika@menandhealing.ca

Brittani comes to Men & Healing with years of experience in the psychotherapy field. She excels at matching administrative need with creative and compassionate solutions. She cares deeply about the men and families we serve and seeks to provide as much organizational assistance as possible throughout their healing process. Brittani also works as an Education Coordinator for our regional palliative care program, interacting with healthcare professionals to ensure quality care to a vulnerable patient base. She also volunteers weekly with a refugee community in the Ottawa area, even learning Nepali to assist those she meets. Do not hesitate to contact Brittani with any administrative need you may have; she will be more than happy to assist you.

Brittani can be reached at brittani@menandhealing.ca

Kate has a strong interest in counselling and mental health. She completed her Master’s degree in Counselling & Spirituality at Saint Paul University in Ottawa and is a Qualifying Registered Psychotherapist. Kate also has a strong passion for cross-cultural exchanges and social justice. The latter led her to obtain a Master’s degree in International Affairs at Carleton University. Prior to joining Men & Healing in 2016, Kate worked on an global project to facilitate the integration of newcomers into Canadian society.

Kate facilitates and moderates some of our online support group services.

Originally from England, via Eritrea in the Horn of Africa, Anna now makes her home in the Ottawa area. Her post-graduate studies began with a Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling Practice from England, and has continued in her Post Graduate studies in Gestalt Psychotherapy.

Since moving to Ottawa in 2003, Anna’s professional focus has been predominantly (although not exclusively) on issues of trauma and trauma recovery. The notion of emotional integrity permeates her practice. She invites men to open their minds and hearts to their suffering, compassion and strength to heal.

Anna provides individual psychotherapy, as well as facilitating both our Trauma Recovery and Anger Management programs.

Anna can be reached at anna@menandhealing.ca

Rick is the founder of Men & Healing. For nearly 20 years, he was the Executive Director of The Men’s Project in Ottawa, which he co-founded. Rick also served as National Manager to 1in6 Canada from 2012-2015. Rick has won a variety of awards for service excellence over his career and was named a CAMH National Recipient in 2017.

Rick received his Master’s of Social Work in 1985. Since then, he has trained clinically in a variety of models, focusing primarily on engagement in trauma recovery, ending men’s violence, and men’s mental health. He has provided training throughout the U.S. as well as the U.K., Jamaica, India, Cambodia, Japan, Korea and Guam. Rick is internationally recognized for his work on male-centred approaches to therapy.

See his background under Training for a full biography, including his publications and awards.

Apart from overseeing the clinic, Rick manages its training services, as well as maintains a limited clinical practice and Phase 1 trauma recovery group facilitation. He also provides consultation services on issues of men’s mental health and well-being.

He can reach be reached at rick@menandhealing.ca