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Get to know our
Counsellors

All of our Counselling Therapists are registered and in good standing with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT)

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Barbara Aufgang

Barbara Aufgang

Barbara is a Registered Counselling Therapist with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists and a Career Counsellor (Certified Career Development Practitioner).

 

She believes that everyone has the ability to understand and solve their own problems, but sometimes we get so overwhelmed we forget to draw on our own strengths. While life can sometimes bring us down, we all have it in us not only to survive but to flourish as a result of these obstacles. Barbara is client centered therapist who enjoys collaborating with teens (12 years +) and adults to using a variety of methods tailored to their needs and therapy goals.

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Barbara is based in Halifax NS, and will be seeing clients at our Halifax clinic.

Therapy session

About Barbara

Specialties:

 

 

Support:

  • Abuse survivors

  • Addiction

  • Anxiety

  • Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)

  • Career Guidance

  • Depression

  • Divorce

  • Emotional regulation

  • Grief

  • Relationship Issues

  • Stress

  • School Issues

  • Self Esteem

  • Trauma

  • Workplace burnout

 

Therapies:

  • Solution Focused Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

  • Acceptance and Commitment therapy

  • Existential therapy

  • Exposure Response Prevention

 

Associations & Certifications:

  • Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT)

  • Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP)

  • Certified to administer the Strong Interest Inventory career assessment through the Myer’s Brigg Institute

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Erica Sweett

Erica Sweett 

Erica is a Registered Counselling Therapist candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association. She has a masters in creative art therapy from Concordia University with a focus in child centered play therapy. 

She has many years of experience working with children as a teacher, facilitator, and therapist offering psychoeducation, consultation and therapy in various community, school and clinical settings for children, youth and parents.
 
Erica recently moved back to Nova Scotia from Montreal to be closer to family and is enjoying being back by the ocean again.

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Erica is based in Halifax NS, and will be seeing clients at our Halifax clinic as well as home visits when appropriate.

Therapy session

About Erica

Erica's approach with children is deeply influenced by the principles of child-centred play therapy (CCPT). In this method of therapy, play serves as the main tool to support children in expressing themselves, communicating, processing emotions and healing. The goal of this approach is to cultivate a non-judgmental therapeutic environment where children can progress at their own pace, exploring and expressing even the most challenging emotions. She strives to create a therapeutic space grounded in profound respect for each child’s inner wisdom, trusting their capacity to move towards healing. Erica is committed to fostering a therapeutic relationship that encourages the child’s autonomy, helping them recognize and develop their personal strengths and self-worth.

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Specialties:​

 

Supporting children (Ages 3 - 13 years) who are experiencing:

  • Big emotions (worry, anxiety, sadness, anger, frequent overwhelm)

  • Emotional or behavioural changes

  • Children who have experienced developmental trauma 

    • History of abuse and/or neglect​

    • Disruptions to attachments with caregivers 

  • Low confidence or self-esteem

  • Friendship or social challenges

  • Family transitions (separation, loss, new sibling, move)

  • Neurodiversity-related challenges (Autism, ADHD, sensory needs)

  • Sleep, regulation, or separation struggles

  • School-related stress or refusal

  • Difficulty identifying or communicating feelings

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Associations & Certifications:

  • Registered Counselling Therapist - Candidate (RCT-C) , with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT)​

  • Child Centered Play Therapy – 14 hours of training - Concordia University

  • Centre for Psychodrama & Sociometry – 40 hours of training - Concordia University

  • Child-centered Play Therapy - Maritime Play Therapy - Starting February 2026

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Michèle Chevrier-Venne

Michèle Chevrier-Venne

Michele is a Registered Counselling Therapist – Candidate (RCT-C), member of the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT), a member of the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and a member of the Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT). Michele has a Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Fresno.

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She has experience supporting adults, children, teens, couples and families through a variety of life challenges, including working in both adult and child psychiatric inpatient settings, women’s substance use treatment programs, outpatient family therapy and with children involved in the foster care system. 
 
Michèle believes adults and children thrive when they feel safe, heard, and supported. When working with children, Michele uses a play-based therapy approach. 

Counsellors | ThriveTherapy

About Michele

Specialties:  ​

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Support:

  • Abuse survivors

  • ADHD

  • Adjustment Disorder

  • Adoption or Infertility

  • Aging

  • Alcohol Abuse

  • Anger

  • Anxiety

  • Behavioral issues

  • Bipolar disorder

  • Body image

  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

  • Bullying

  • Codependency 

  • Communication

  • Depression 

  • Dissociative Disorders

  • Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)

  • Career Guidance

  • Depression

  • Divorce

  • Emotional Abuse

  • Emotional regulation

  • Infidelity 

  • Grief

  • Relationship Issues

  • Stress

  • Self Esteem

  • Trauma

  • Workplace stress

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Associations & Certifications:

  • Registered Counselling Therapist - Candidate (RCT-C) , with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT)​​

  • Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association

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Chapa Pinnaduwa

Chapa Pinnaduwa

Chapa is a Registered Counselling Therapist – Candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists. She holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University.  

 

Chapa has over a decade of experience working with children, youth, and adults across justice, education, child welfare and community mental health settings. In her work with young people, Chapa uses a relational, strengths-based, and collaborative approach, with a play therapy informed lens that recognizes play as a child’s natural language and an important form of connection and communication. Chapa draws on developmental and attachment-based understandings to support young people and help families make sense of behaviours within broader family, social, and environmental contexts.  

 

Chapa is based in Halifax and will see clients at our Halifax office.  

Therapy session

About Chapa

Specialities:  

 

Support for children (ages 6 and up) and their caregivers, who are experiencing:

  

  • Oppositional and challenging behaviours at home or school  

  • Impulsivity and risk-taking behaviours 

  • Emotional regulation difficulties 

  • Anxiety and worry  

  • School or peer challenges  

  • Attachment disruptions and relationship concerns  

  • Low self-esteem or confidence  

  • Low mood  

  • Relationship issues 

  • Healthy sexual development  

  • Trauma  

  • Substance misuse  

  • Parenting strategies  

 

Associations & Certifications:  

  • Registered Counselling Therapist – Candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists 

  • Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – Medical University of South Carolina  

  • Certified Play Therapist – Maritime Play Therapy – Training ongoing since September 2025  

Your Rights

As a client, you have rights regarding your care. We encourage you to look at the resources provided here to stay informed on your rights.  

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