The Perinatal Mental Health Collective
KATE BORSATO + ASSOCIATE THERAPISTS
Welcome to our online therapy clinic. We’re so glad you landed here! If you’re a mom or parent or expecting a new baby, and you have a feeling you need some support, you’re in the right place. Society tells us that motherhood will come naturally; other moms’ highlight reels depict it as blissful, seamless, and totally enamoring. But in the spaces between the baby showers, birthdays, and adorable Instagrammable moments, reality hits. Motherhood can be turbulent and not anything like you expected. And we get it, we’ve been there too.
We’re an online mental health counselling organization for moms, pregnant people, and families across Canada.
Our team is trained to help you manage the peaks and valleys of the entire journey of becoming a mom. From deciding to have children, to navigating your journey through fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, relationship changes, parenting, career demands and beyond, parenthood can be rife with challenges. Our team is here to support you through it all.
We believe that you deserve to be supported by professionals who truly see and understand your unique situation. Our therapists are trained to identify and treat specific, motherhood-related challenges. The mission of this collective is to bring deep compassion, solid expertise, and lived experiences of motherhood to our counseling sessions so that you feel heard, understood, and truly supported.
Who We Support
You are in the right place
At least one in five moms experience postpartum depression or anxiety, and most moms have a harder time adjusting to motherhood than they expected. So let’s face it: becoming a mom can be incredibly challenging and create so many new layers of stress, anxiety, and interpersonal challenges that you never could have seen coming.
Moms and moms-to-be come to us for support as they adjust to this phase of life and the hurdles that come with it.
Common Challenges We Address In Our Sessions:
- Postpartum and pregnancy anxiety, depression and mood challenges
- Intrusive or scary thoughts
- Relationship changes or difficulties
- Rebuilding intimacy and sex
- Identity transitions, or not feeling like yourself anymore
- Birth trauma or disappointing birth experiences
- Feeling blue, low, or uninspired
- Fertility challenges
- Pregnancy loss and stillbirth
- Making decisions regarding family planning
- Not feeling prepared for how your life would change
- Managing life stress, changing roles, family dynamics
- Returning to work
- Grief and loss
Nice to meet you!
Our Team
We’re a group of therapists who are passionate about perinatal mental health. Because we value informed, evidence-based practice, we ensure that every therapist on our team has specific training and experience supporting moms with the challenges unique to this stage of life. We focused entirely on motherhood because we want you to rest assured knowing that we really truly get it and know how to help.
Message
from Kate >
Kate Borsato, RCC, Founder, Therapist
Brief Bio
Qualifications
- Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with BCACC (British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors)
- Master of Arts In Counselling Psychology (University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C.)
- Maternal Mental Health Certificate (Postpartum Support International)
- Online Counselling Certificate (Therapy Online + University of Toronto)
- Mindful Self-Compassion Core Skills Training (Center for Mindful Self-Compassion)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Whitman College, Walla Walla Washington)
Message
from Jana >
Jana Jesson, RCC, Associate Therapist
Brief Bio
When she isn’t working or taking care of her three young children, she loves doing anything outside, reading a good book, being creative and travelling.
Qualifications
- Certificate in Maternal Mental Health Intensive Online: Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders, Seleni Institute
- Graduate Certificate in Complex Trauma and Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, Justice Institute of British Columbia
- Master of Counselling Psychology, City University of Seattle
- Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of British Columbia
- Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BCACC (British Columbia Association for Clinical Counsellors) #10143
Jana is available to see clients across Canada, excluding ON, QC, NB, NS.
Message
from Gabriela >
Gabriela Gutierrez, RCC, Therapist
Brief Bio
Qualifications
- Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with BCACC (British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors)
- Master of Arts In Counselling Psychology (Adler University, Vancouver B.C.)
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Universidad Anáhuac Mayab, Mexico)
- Diploma in Child Neuropsychology (Instituto de Neuropsicología e Intervención Psicológica del Sureste (INIPS), Mexico)
- Certificate in Trauma Focused CBT (Medical University of South Carolina)
- Certificate in Expressive Play Therapy (Justice Institute of British Columbia)
- Certificate in EMDR (EMDR Consulting)
Certificate in Maternal Mental Health: Bringing Light to Motherhood (Maternal Mental Health Now)
Currently accepting new clients across Canada (excluding QC, ON, NS, NB)
Message
from Melissa >
Melissa Medjuck, RSW, Therapist
Brief Bio
Qualifications
- Registered Social Worker (RSW) with British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW)
- Master of Social Work (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC)
- Maternal Mental Health Certificate (Postpartum Support International)
- Labour and Birth Doula Training (DONA International), Certified Doula with DONA International (CD(DONA))
- Postpartum Doula Training (DONA International)
- Yoga Teacher Training, 200 hour (Lila School of Vinyasa Yoga)
- Bachelor of Social Work (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC)
Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies and English Literature (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC)
Message
from Heather >
Heather Norrie, RSW, Therapist
Brief Bio
Heather (she/her) is a mom of two children and a long time therapist. She has been raising her children in Southwestern Ontario and is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers. She understands how difficult it can be with being a parent and meeting your own needs while doing the best you can to support the needs of a child and family. Heather is really into what the research suggests is useful to improve how life feels, but also exploring the combination of strategies that best fits your specific brand of living. Heather enjoys being outside with her kids and family or going for a walk with her giant Berne doodle, Winston. When inspiration hits, you can find her writing a new children’s book or creating another new jazzy song.
Qualifications
- Perinatal Mental Health Training (Seleini Institute)
- EMDR Training (Niagara Stress and Trauma Clinic, Niagra, Ontario)
- Circle of Security Training (CPRI, London, Ontario)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Certificate (Udemy America)
- Play Therapy Training (CAPT, Toronto, Ontario)
- Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
- Masters of Social Work Degree (Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario)
- Bachelors of Social Work Degree (University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario)
- Bachelors of Arts Degree (Brock University, St. Catharies, Ontario)
As a Registered Social Worker in Ontario, Heather offers counselling to clients in Ontario only.
Our Beliefs and Values
What we stand for
These statements define our values and work as mental health therapists:
- A mother’s mental wellbeing has a direct impact on her family life, relationship, and child’s happiness.
- You are worthy of your own love, compassion, self-care, and acceptance.
- You have permission to write your own rulebook and define your values in motherhood.
- You are more than “just a mom” and deserve to be fulfilled intellectually, socially, creatively, physically, and spiritually.
- Your experience from your fertility journey to birth to the postpartum years has a huge impact on your mental health and identity.
- There’s no wrong way to feel in motherhood and you have permission to feel the way you do without judgment from yourself or others.
- Postpartum depression and anxiety are some of the most prevalent mental health illnesses but yet they’re one of the most misunderstood and undertreated. One in five moms suffers. All of those moms are worthy of treatment and adequate support.
- Historical oppression, racism, and family trauma can contribute to mood disorders for moms. This includes moms who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.
- Moms from marginalized communities are at risk for childbirth trauma, postpartum depression and anxiety, and they’re more likely to have a harder time accessing mental health support.
- Not all clients identify as cisgender women. We work to be inclusive and accommodating for trans clients and all birthing people seeking support.
- Those who have a history with depression, anxiety or any other mental health illnesses are more likely to suffer in motherhood.
- We consciously work towards inclusivity with language, graphics, examples in coursework, business partners, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DOES ONLINE COUNSELING WORK?
You don’t need to download anything. All you need is an up-to-date browser (Chrome works well) and a good internet connection.
CAN I USE MY IPAD OR OTHER DEVICES?
HOW DOES BILLING, PAYMENT AND INSURANCE WORK?
After each session, you’ll have a balance in your “billing area” in your client account. We ask that this is paid immediately. All payment information is kept for you in your online account (which you can access from my website). You can make payments with a credit card.
Many extended health benefit plans cover counseling from either Registered Counsellors and/or Registered Social Workers, however, this varies from province to province in Canada. Make sure you check with your provider directly and understand your coverage before booking. We do not offer direct billing.
WHAT PROVINCES YOU SEE IN CLIENTS?
WHERE IS YOUR OFFICE LOCATED?
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO BE IN COUNSELING FOR?
Contact me for more Questions
