Shelagh Keesmaat
(she/Her)
Registered Psychotherapist
Shelagh first met Carly while doing some supervision work in 2021. After meeting in person for our Eating Disorder Sensitive Training for Professionals and helping to facilitate our Caring for Carers groups, Carly approached Shelagh to join our team in September of 2022.
Shelagh has an immense amount of experience in mental health settings. With over 27 years of experience along with her work with client's with Eating Disorders Shelagh brings a tremendous amount of experience to our clients. Shelagh is passionate about her work as and Registered Psychotherapist and Recreation Therapist and has done an incredible amount of work preparing for a shift in career working in private practice.
Shelagh will be joining us virtually for online sessions Monday through Thursdays.
Shelagh is currently accepting clients for her wait list.
About Shelagh
I have worked as a Registered Psychotherapist and Recreation Therapist in adult mental health for over 28 years providing support for clients struggling with various mental health issues. My extensive work in residential treatment settings has given me a wealth of experience helping people cope with the challenges of anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, life transitions, disordered eating, body image issues and substance use. As a registered member of Therapeutic Recreation Ontario, my role as a recreation therapist offers a unique opportunity to bring discussions about meaningful leisure and lifestyle balance into therapy sessions for clients who believe this would be helpful. I strive to help others create the fulfilling life they deserve.
Approach:
Throughout therapy, I aim to collaborate with clients to foster positive change while building on existing strengths. I utilize various clinical interventions including cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy and strengths-based approaches to create a treatment plan that is driven by each client’s needs and goals.
I am passionate about helping people build self-confidence, discover their self-worth and make room for meaning and pleasure in their daily lives. With compassion and respect for each person, I hold an inclusive and non-judgmental space for clients to safely express themselves.
What Made you want to work with CCP?
Ever since I first met Carly in January of 2021, I knew she was a special person. Her extensive knowledge, experience and connection to the mental health community thoroughly impressed me. Carly has brought together a team of warm and caring professionals who are as passionate as I am about helping people improve their mental health. I am honoured to be a part of this wonderful team.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
My job has allowed me to work with hundreds of courageous people who teach me something new everyday. I consider it an honour to walk alongside people on their journey of self-discovery and to witness their transformation from a place of struggle to a place of recovery and hope. Every small success in someone’s journey gives me hope and strength to continue doing my job. I am so grateful to my clients for putting their trust in me.
Most surprising thing about you?
Working as a recreation therapist in adult mental health for most of my career, I decided to pursue psychotherapy and became a registered psychotherapist in 2017. Since I was young, I’ve been intrigued by human behaviour, our innate ability to adapt to our circumstances and how making small changes in the way we think and behave can alter the course of our lives. My ongoing interest in this area has facilitated my passion for lifelong learning. I believe my combination of recreation therapy and psychotherapy offers my clients a holistic approach to therapy. Nonetheless, my original reason for pursuing recreation therapy as a career has not changed - I believe in the healing power of finding joy and meaning in our lives outside of work. I live these values in my own life and I can be described as a nature lover, a doting dog mom, and a movie buff who loves laughing with family and friends.