Most importantly, You.
Healing and growth begins with you. Our job at MindSeed is to help you make that happen.
Second to you, your therapist is key. The relationship you have with your therapist is one of the most important factors leading to success. That’s why, at MindSeed we take great pride in having therapists who are committed to helping people bring about positive change.
Meet the Team
Here are the people from MindSeed that are fully committed to helping you.
Leadership & Trainers
Raha Mirian, M.A., RP
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With 18 years of training and clinical experience, Raha recognized the need for a place like MindSeed—a centre where excellence in training and clinical care come together. Her dedication to continuous learning and advancing mental health care led her to create MindSeed.
A graduate of OISE, University of Toronto, Raha has specialized in complex trauma treatment through extensive training in psychodynamic, somatic, mindfulness, and DBT approaches, under leading experts. She holds an Advanced Certificate in Complex Trauma & Dissociation and Advanced Intensive Training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). She also completed a certificate in Psychoanalysis, with six years of mentorship from a senior psychoanalyst. Raha additionally holds two certificates in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
From 2015 to 2024, Raha was a faculty member at The Centre for Mindfulness Studies, where she facilitated groups and developed training workshops for mental health professionals. Her 20-year personal meditation practice deeply informs her teaching and consulting, enriching her work with both clinicians and clients.
As Director at a major mental health clinic in Toronto, Raha expanded the clinic into a prominent downtown facility, establishing the largest adult and adolescent DBT programs in Ontario. This accomplishment laid the groundwork for creating a thriving therapeutic environment at MindSeed.
At MindSeed, Raha combines her extensive training and compassionate care to foster a culture of excellence. Her mission is to ensure every client receives exceptional mental health care. Raha’s commitment to clinical excellence and continuous learning is the driving force behind MindSeed, making it a place where clients can truly thrive.
Raha has been featured as a mental health expert in The Globe and Mail, CBC, CTV, and the Toronto Star, speaking on topics including trauma, attachment, relationships, and emotional regulation.
Clare Pain, MD, MSc., FRCPC.
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Dr. Clare Pain MD, MSc., FRCPC., D.Sc (Hons) is a Professor of Psychiatry at UofT and staff psychiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Pain has been one of the leaders for the progression in trauma treatment over the past 25 years. At MindSeed, she is a senior trainer and provides consultation. Dr. Pain is also on our advisory board, where she oversees and ensures best practices on our programs. She works at the Canadian Center for Victims of Torture for refugee mental health in Toronto, and at the new Mount Sinai Hospital partnership in indigenous mental health with the Community Mental Health Program and Addictions Program; a Division of Weeneebayko Area Health Authority.
She is founder and senior strategist of the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC), an ongoing educational partnership between Addis Ababa University (AAU) and the University of Toronto initiated in 2003, working to strengthen educational capacity and sustainability in graduate training at AAU. In July 2014 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from AAU for her work to assist the development of psychiatry in Ethiopia.
Her clinical focus is the assessment and treatment of individuals including refugees, who continue to suffer from the complex effects of psychological trauma. She has lectured and taught on various aspects of psychological trauma including trans-cultural issues and increasingly on global mental health. She has published a number of articles and three books.
Leszcz, M., Pain, C., Hunter, J., Maunder, R., & Ravitz, P. (2015) Psychotherapy Essentials to Go: Achieving Psychotherapy Effectiveness. New York, United States: W. W. Norton & Company Inc;
Lanius, R., Vermetten, E., & Pain. (2010)The Impact of Early Life Trauma on Health and Disease: The Hidden Epidemic. Editors, C. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press;
Ogden P, Minton K, & Pain C. (2006) Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. New York, United States: W. W. Norton & Company Inc;
Eva-Marie Stern, M.A., RP
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Eva-Marie Stern earned her Master’s in Art Psychotherapy from Goldsmiths College, University of London. She returned to Toronto to co-found the Women Recovering from Abuse Program (WRAP), and later the Trauma Therapy Program, at Women’s College Hospital, where she led trauma-focused individual and group therapy for over 20 years. At MindSeed, she is a senior trainer.
In addition to her trauma-focused work, she has led art-based workshops for solid-organ transplant recipients, people who have experienced first-episode psychosis, patients in cardiac care, refugees and immigrants, people living in shelters, children in grade schools, government employees and healthcare professionals.
She is a fan of transformative teaching, and has developed several experiential seminars about trauma and its treatment, which she leads locally and internationally. An Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry (University of Toronto), and a Harvard Fellow in Art Museum-Based Medical Education, her recent publications include chapters on “How Trauma Impacts Memory” in Looking at Trauma: a Tool Kit for Clinicians (Pennsylvania U Press), and “The Visible Curriculum” in Health Humanities in Postgraduate Medical Education (with Shelley Wall, Oxford U Press). Finding ways to help students and colleagues grow through their own challenges – while helping their own clients grow – is totally her jam.
She maintains a private practice in psychotherapy, art therapy, and professional consultation at her Toronto studio-office, artandmind.
Andrew Spice, Ph.D., C. Psych.
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Dr. Andrew Spice (He/Him) is a clinical adult and adolescent psychologist registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. He is one of a small number of DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Certified Clinicians (TM), a designation that indicates his expertise in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). For over 13 years, Dr. Spice has provided DBT in hospitals, community mental health clinics, and private practice. He was a founder of the former Toronto DBT Centre from 2016 to 2021, and is currently the founder and clinical director of The DBT Clinic. Dr. Spice provides expert consultation and training on DBT to hospitals, community agencies, and other mental health support resources. His clinical research, which focuses on guilt and shame, has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at international academic conferences. Dr. Spice received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology (Law-Forensic specialization) from Simon Fraser University, and completed his predoctoral residency at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in the Borderline Personality Disorder and Sexual Behaviour Clinics. Dr. Spice provides treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder, self-harm and suicidal behaviours, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, trauma, antisocial behaviours, and sexual behaviour problems. He treats adults and adolescents (aged 14 and older). Dr. Spice is committed to principles of anti-racism and anti-oppression in his clinical practice, and has extensive experience working with 2SLGBTQIA+ clients and a diverse array of racial identities.
Nicole Schroeder BSW, MSW, RSW
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Nicole Schroeder BSW, MSW, RSW is a Certified Sex Therapist with ASTO (Association of Sex Therapists of Ontario, formerly BESTCO) and a Registered Social Worker in Ontario.
Nicole completed her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Victoria and worked as a frontline Social Worker in multiple areas including the shelter system, street-based sex worker support, child protection and substance misuse. She spent several years working in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside at Onsite, providing accessible substance use stabilization services above North America’s first legal supervised injection site.
A child of the 1980’s, she spent her formative years listening to Sue Johanson’s seminal talk-radio program “The Sunday Night Sex Show”, which inspired a interest in sexual health and wellbeing. She volunteered at Planned Parenthood, providing support and education regarding sexual health and healthy relationships. While living in England, Nicole volunteered with the Terrence Higgins Trust Helpline, providing support, advice and information about HIV and AIDS.
In 2013, she completed her Master of Social Work with a specialization in children and families at the University of Toronto. She has over 13 years of experience working in the health care system, including the Emergency Department and Inpatient Psychiatry. While working in healthcare, she completed post-graduate training in Sex Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples and Individuals. Becoming a Certified Sex Therapist with ASTO coincided with working as a Social Worker in an Outpatient Gynaecology Clinic in a Downtown Toronto hospital. In this role, Nicole created, developed, and facilitated sex therapy interventions, webinars, and group therapy for patients experiencing pelvic pain, menopause and low desire/desire discrepancies.
In October, 2021, Nicole completed the 30-hour Practical Clinical Supervision for Psychotherapists: A Self and Relational Approach course. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto, supervising MSW students.
Nicole currently works full time in Private Practice as a Sex Therapist, Clinical Supervisor and Consultant. She facilitates a “Sex and Menopause” seminar as part of BRIA’s Menopause Mental Health Provider Certification (MMHPC) as well as providing clinical clinical services. She is a managing partner at the Wellness Collective Network, a community of mental health and wellness practitioners. Nicole’s consultant and supervisory approach combines her experience in sex therapy with expertise in large system navigation, risk management, pragmatism and a sense of humour. When she isn’t working, you’ll find her reading or thrifting.
In-House Consulting Psychiatrist
Dr. Naomi Mudachi, MD, FRCPC
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Dr. Naomi Mudachi, MD, FRCPC, began her career as a registered nurse before completing her medical degree at Western University and her residency in psychiatry at the University of Toronto. At Mindseed, Dr. Mudachi provides psychiatric consultation, as needed.
Dr. Mudachi brings a thoughtful and collaborative approach to care, shaped by her interdisciplinary training and diverse clinical experience. She has worked extensively in both inpatient and outpatient settings, supporting individuals with complex and co-occurring psychiatric conditions with stabilization and recovery.
Dr. Mudachi is passionate about trauma-informed care and has worked with individuals who have complex trauma presentations including dissociative symptoms, substance use and personality disorders. Her clinical practice is informed by a keen interest in psychotherapy, and she has received additional training in both individual and group modalities, including Cognitive Processing Therapy.
(On Maternity Leave)
Dr. Hannah Brown MD, FRCPC
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Dr. Hannah Brown MD, FRCPC, completed medical school and psychiatry residency training at the university of Toronto. At MindSeed, Dr. Brown provides psychiatric consultation, as needed.
Dr. Brown has an integrative approach to treatment and uses elements of various therapy modalities to inform the care that she provides. She is trained in cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, cognitive processing therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy.
Dr. Brown sees a wide variety of patient presentations, and has a strong interest in improving patient care at a systems level . In addition to clinical work, she also completed a master’s degree in Health Systems Leadership and Innovation through the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) at the University of Toronto, where her research focused on identifying barriers to perinatal mental health care across Canada. Her aim is to provide beneficial treatment recommendations and interventions at both a personal and organizational level.
Our Associates
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In the heart of our therapeutic space, Helen is a dedicated psychotherapist specializing in trauma, committed to supporting adults in their journey towards recovery and self-discovery.
Helen has completed two Masters of Counselling Psychology. Throughout her career, Helen has supported clients in various settings including outpatient mental health centres and private practice, both locally and internationally.
With a rich tapestry of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Therapy, and Narrative Therapy, Helen brings a holistic and integrative approach to her practice. These aren't just tools; they're pathways to understanding, transforming, and reclaiming your narrative.
Whether you're navigating the aftermath of trauma, seeking relief from anxiety, or addressing relationship challenges, Helen offers a collaborative journey where you are the expert of your experiences. Together, you’ll explore the terrain of your emotions, thoughts, and behaviours, fostering empowerment and self-understanding.
Helen believes in individual autonomy and the right to live peacefully and optimally. Beyond addressing the psychological aspects, she incorporates somatic approaches to consider the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.
In your sessions, you'll find a safe, non-judgmental space where your experiences are met with compassion and understanding. Helen aims to create an environment where you can explore your thoughts and emotions freely, fostering trust and collaboration on your journey towards healing.
Beyond her professional identity, Helen is passionate about fostering resilience and growth. Her commitment to ongoing learning ensures that her practice is informed by the latest developments in the field of psychotherapy.
Embark on your journey towards healing and self-discovery. Take the first step; contact us to schedule a consultation. Together, you will navigate the path towards a more peaceful and optimal life.
Helen Khaleghi, M.A., RP
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Monica is a Registered Psychotherapist who believes that embarking on the journey of therapy is a courageous act of self-care, seeking deeper insight into one’s life and fostering a meaningful connection with oneself. Monica provides a safe, compassionate, and collaborative space tailored to the unique needs of each individual, facilitating exploration and growth. She believes in the power of connection and the transformative potential of being truly seen and understood.
Monica's foundation in Clinical Psychology, earned in Brazil, speaks to the depth of her training and knowledge in the field. She completed a 5-year psychology program, which enabled her to work as a Psychologist in Brazil. During this time, she gained considerable experience, by addressing a broad spectrum of mental health issues. Throughout her career, she has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including community mental health centers, mental health inpatient facilities, and private practice. This journey has allowed her the opportunity to support clients with a diverse range of needs.
Monica completed a bridging program in Ontario for Internationally Trained Professionals, followed by a clinical practicum. She is consistently enhancing her skills through professional development to ensure her approaches are informed by the most up-to-date advancements in the field.
Monica’s therapeutic approach is relational psychodynamic and attachment-based, trauma-informed, and integrates mindfulness practices. Her training across various therapeutic modalities allows her to customize interventions according to each individual's unique journey, ensuring that every client receives the most effective and compassionate support aligned with their experiences and goals. This dedication extends to fostering genuine, empathetic dialogue, ensuring that every client feels heard and supported throughout their therapeutic experience.
Monica sees life as a rich mosaic of experiences with rooted origins, complemented by personal tales that interconnect through time. She understands that it is entirely natural to confront periods of doubt or solitude, and feeling overwhelmed or questioning one’s choices are common aspects of the human experience, impacting self-perception and life choices. Recognizing these complexities, Monica is committed to providing support tailored to the unique needs of each individual within a deeply personalized approach. She offers tailored psychotherapy to adults at every stage of life, fostering personal growth and emotional well-being in a supportive environment.
Monica provides therapy in English & Portuguese
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change."
– Dr. Carl Rogers
Monica Pinto, B.Sc. (Psych), RP
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Crissie is a registered Social Worker with the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, and brings with her many years of experience providing psychotherapy.
Crissie has experience with a variety of treatment modalities to treat a wide range of presenting concerns for both adults and youth. Crissie's extensive clinical experience extends to working with people with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, substance use concerns and problem gaming/ gambling. She has worked in intensive therapeutic and case management roles, supporting clients struggling with Opiate use concerns, as well as life skills based housing programs. Crissie also has extensive group therapy experience, facilitating process groups, psychoeducational groups and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy skills groups.
Crissie works from a trauma-informed lens, and recognizes the courage it takes to reach out for support. She draws on Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy to support her client’s in meeting their mental health related goals. Crissie also draws on the stages of change and motivational interviewing to meet clients where they are at in that moment and uses mindfulness techniques throughout her practice.
Crissie's calm and welcoming demeanor helps clients feel at ease to express themselves in a safe space.
Crissie Wright, BSW, RSW
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Bita is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and a member of the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals (OAMHP). She holds a master’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Bita is a Certified Clinical Traumatologist (TITC-CT), trained in Advanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Certified Somatic Therapy Foundations Practitioner, and Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional. She takes an integrative approach to psychotherapy, tailoring interventions to each client’s individual needs and goals.
Her practice incorporates techniques and strategies informed by mindfulness, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and somatic approaches. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed, strengths-based, and anti-oppressive perspectives. Bita has worked extensively with diverse populations, cultures, and ethnicities, focusing on adults and young adults. Her areas of expertise include trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, and personal growth. Her aim is to help individuals gain deeper insights into their experiences and connect with the present moment in a joyful and meaningful way.
Beyond her professional life, Bita has been practicing yoga for over 25 years and is a registered yoga teacher, which has profoundly influenced her personal growth and therapeutic perspective. Bita believes that embracing vulnerability is key to growth, and that the dynamic nature of life invites us to learn how to "dance with its rhythm," bringing light from within to illuminate our path.
In her spare time, Bita enjoys long walks, stand-up comedy, and occasionally writing poetry. Here's one she would like to share with you:
“Close your eyes
And be still for a while
Ask yourself, “Who am I?”
By and by
When the calmness is high
In the emptiness of your sky
The inner whisper will reply …
Bita Hedayati, M.A., RP
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Above all else, Sarah aims to help you feel comfortable and supported stepping out of your comfort zone. While working with them, you can expect a warm; non-judgmental; and approachable presence, with occasional doses of humour and irreverence.
Their clinical approach is eclectic, incorporating elements from Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Gestalt, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Solution Focused Therapy (SFT). Sarah’s approach is grounded in attachment theory, and they strive to foster a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive space in their sessions with clients. Sarah’s work is affirming of clients who are queer, transgender, non-monogamous, involved with kink, and/or in sex work. They also have an interest in working with folks who want to reconcile their sexuality with their spirituality.
Sarah is currently a certified member of the Association of Sex Therapy in Ontario (ASTO). Before pursuing psychotherapy, they were a sex educator for 8 years, having worked as a peer health educator; an abortion counsellor; and at a feminist sex store. Their undergraduate education was in comparative world religions, theatre, and sexual diversity studies. This experience informs Sarah’s deep understanding of diversity and intersectionality, personal autonomy and agency, the importance of seeking greater meaning in life, and the value of pleasure.
No concern related to sex is too trivial for sex therapy, and it’d be Sarah’s honour to be someone you trust that part of your life with!
Sarah Siddiqui, M.Ed, RP
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Keri-Ann welcomes you to work in collaboration with her to deepen your understanding of your personal and relationship issues while enhancing your coping and resilience to tackle life's many challenges.
Keri-Ann is a Registered Social Worker with a Bachelor Degree in Social Work, a Bachelor Degree of Psychology and a Masters of Social Work. She has many years of experience providing psychotherapy services in hospital, community and private settings. She believes that meaningful and rewarding outcomes in therapy come from a strong therapeutic alliance between the therapist and the client. Her focus is on building a safe, non-judgmental and compassionate relationship to support this connection.
Keri-Ann uses a trauma informed strengths-based approach to support individuals, couples, and groups. She specializes in treating depression, anxiety, personality disorders, addictions, grief, trauma, PTSD, situational stressors and relationship dynamics. Her methods include Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Solution Focused Therapy.
With an eclectic approach, Keri-Ann tailor's treatment to each client's unique goals and circumstances, drawing from different methods to best support their needs.
Keri-Ann Brunson, MSW, RSW
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Sofia is a therapist with professional experience in clinical, residential and community settings, and holds two degrees in social work, in addition to a bachelor's degree in sociology and psychology.
She aims to help people (re)discover their authentic self, break free from patterns/challenges holding them back, and build a felt sense of stability and satisfaction in their lives and relationships. She believes in supporting clients to not only build insight and make peace with difficult events, but also engage in the deep, action-based work needed to foster key skills and habits, e.g. emotional regulation, communication strategies, parenting guidance, etc.
Areas Sofia commonly helps with: trauma, abuse, grief/loss, stress and anxiety, life changes, issues with relationships/systems/families, ADHD, LGBTQ2IA+, women's issues, and more.
Her approach fluctuates to meet you in real-time, and is as unique as you are. Sofia has specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Motivational Interviewing, trauma counselling (psychodynamic and attachment lens), and often integrates elements of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), ACT, DBT, and various other modalities, depending on the person.
With a warm, down-to-earth style, Sofia brings curiosity, nuanced analysis, practical strategies, and humor to her work (when appropriate), cultivating a safe, collaborative environment where you can feel profoundly understood and truly be yourself.
Sofia Montgomery, MSW, RSW
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Tamara is a highly experienced mental health clinician with almost two decades of diverse nursing and mental health practice across acute care, community, and secure custody settings. She is in good standing with both the College of Nurses and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and has completed a Master of Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. Her clinical background spans Emergency, Surgical Step-Down, Obstetrics, Long-Term Care, Palliative Care, Mental Health & Addictions, Case Management, and Community-Based Nursing.
Tamara's therapeutic approach is integrative, trauma-informed, and client-centered. She draws from evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), while incorporating elements of attachment-based, somatic, and emotionally focused approaches. She tailors each session to the unique needs of the individual, recognizing that healing is not one-size-fits-all.
Tamara is highly driven in supporting individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, burnout, and life transitions. She has a particular interest in men’s mental health, emotional regulation, and the impact of societal expectations on identity and connection. Her work emphasizes building insight, strengthening emotional resilience, and developing practical, actionable tools for everyday life.
Clients often describe her style as grounded, compassionate, and direct. She is known for creating a safe, non-judgmental space where individuals feel seen, heard, and understood, while also being thoughtfully challenged to grow. She is highly skilled in working within high-pressure environments and supporting clients to regulate, stabilize, and reconnect with themselves during times of distress.
Tamara Morton, RN, BScN, MA, RP (Q)
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Melissa is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She holds both a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work from the University of Windsor.
Melissa believes that healing happens through connection. Some of our deepest wounds occur in relationships, and the therapeutic relationship offers a unique opportunity for growth, healing, and change. She strives to create a warm, collaborative space where clients feel seen, understood, and supported as they work toward lives aligned with their values and goals.
Melissa provides psychotherapy from a holistic biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective, recognizing that relationships, environments, identities, and lived experiences shape how individuals understand themselves and navigate the world. Her work is guided by recovery-oriented and person-centred principles that emphasize hope, resilience, empowerment, and meaningful living despite personal challenges.
Melissa has completed specialized training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) through the Behavioral Tech Institute and holds a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) from Wilfrid Laurier University. She integrates evidence-based approaches into her practice, balancing acceptance and compassion with practical skills that help clients regulate emotions, tolerate distress, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful change.
Melissa has experience working in community and outpatient hospital mental health settings with youth and adults. She previously worked in the Borderline Personality Disorder Self-Regulation Clinic at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, providing comprehensive DBT to adults experiencing emotion dysregulation, borderline personality disorder, and co-occurring mental health concerns. She also completed a specialized clinical internship with the Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA) and provided crisis intervention and stabilization services through the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County.
Melissa’s areas of focus include emotion dysregulation, borderline personality disorder, trauma and post-traumatic stress, substance use concerns, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. She is committed to providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive, neurodiversity-affirming, and 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming care.
Through validation, compassion, collaboration, and skill development, Melissa supports clients in strengthening emotional resilience, navigating life’s challenges, and fostering greater self-understanding, connection, and well-being.
Melissa Trickey , MSW, RSW
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Debbie Randazzo, MSW. RSW, LCSW, is a dedicated and compassionate Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist with more than 25 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, children, adolescents, and families through life’s most difficult challenges. Her practice is grounded in compassion, integrity, and a deep commitment to helping clients build emotional resilience, restore healthy relationships, and create meaningful personal growth.
Debbie specializes in family integration, co-parenting support, reunification therapy, and work within high-conflict and court-involved family systems. She has extensive experience helping children, adolescents, and parents navigate separation, attachment disruptions, communication challenges, and post-divorce family adjustment. Through a child-centered, trauma-informed approach, she supports families in rebuilding trust, strengthening emotional connection, and fostering healthier relational dynamics.
Known for creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment, Debbie helps clients explore difficult emotions, heal from trauma, and develop healthier coping strategies and patterns of connection. She conducts comprehensive clinical assessments and develops individualized treatment plans tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals.
Debbie utilizes a broad range of evidence-based and experiential therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT/DBT-A), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, somatic-based therapies, Sand Tray Therapy, trauma-informed play therapy interventions, and SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions). She also incorporates Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy to support emotional regulation, attachment repair, and relational healing.
Her advanced training includes reunification therapy, co-parenting counseling, mediation, complex PTSD treatment, narcissistic abuse treatment, trauma-informed care, and somatic therapy foundations. Additionally Debbie is skilled in crisis management, clinical assessment, treatment planning, and helping families navigate emotionally complex transitions with empathy, accountability, and therapeutic structure.
Debbie welcomes clients of all ages, backgrounds, and identities and is committed to providing inclusive, culturally sensitive care. She believes that authentic therapeutic relationships create the foundation for lasting healing and meaningful change.
Debbie Randazzo , MSW, RSW, LCSW
Our Support Staff
Madiha Master
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Madiha Master is the Administrative Coordinator at MindSeed Health, bringing over four years of experience in the mental health field. With a background in psychology from the University of Toronto Scarborough, Madiha is passionate about supporting individuals in finding care that truly fits their needs.
Calm, organized, and empathetic, Madiha approaches each interaction with care and attention to detail. She is deeply committed to creating a welcoming and supportive experience for both clients and clinicians. Her approachable nature and dedication to helping others make her an essential part of the MindSeed team and a trusted first point of contact for many.
Gvantsa Sharikadze
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Gvantsa is the Administrative and Executive Assistant at MindSeed Health, where she plays a key role in ensuring that clients and clinicians feel supported every step of the way. With 5 years of experience in customer service, healthcare and operations, she brings a thoughtful and organized approach to her work.
Driven by a genuine desire to help people and contribute to positive change in their lives, Gvantsa is deeply committed to making each interaction feel safe, respectful, and efficient. Her ability to manage details with warmth and professionalism makes her an integral part of the MindSeed team and a reassuring presence for those reaching out for support.
Our Advisory Board
Experts in their fields that we’re continuously learning from.
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Dr. Clare Pain MD, MSc., FRCPC., D.Sc (Hons) is a Professor of Psychiatry at UofT and staff psychiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Pain has been one of the leaders for the progression in trauma treatment over the past 25 years. At MindSeed, she is a senior trainer and provides consultation. Dr. Pain is also on our advisory board, where she oversees and ensures best practices on our programs. She works at the Canadian Center for Victims of Torture for refugee mental health in Toronto, and at the new Mount Sinai Hospital partnership in indigenous mental health with the Community Mental Health Program and Addictions Program; a Division of Weeneebayko Area Health Authority.
She is founder and senior strategist of the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC), an ongoing educational partnership between Addis Ababa University (AAU) and the University of Toronto initiated in 2003, working to strengthen educational capacity and sustainability in graduate training at AAU. In July 2014 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from AAU for her work to assist the development of psychiatry in Ethiopia.
Her clinical focus is the assessment and treatment of individuals including refugees, who continue to suffer from the complex effects of psychological trauma. She has lectured and taught on various aspects of psychological trauma including trans-cultural issues and increasingly on global mental health. She has published a number of articles and three books.
Leszcz, M., Pain, C., Hunter, J., Maunder, R., & Ravitz, P. (2015) Psychotherapy Essentials to Go: Achieving Psychotherapy Effectiveness. New York, United States: W. W. Norton & Company Inc;
Lanius, R., Vermetten, E., & Pain. (2010)The Impact of Early Life Trauma on Health and Disease: The Hidden Epidemic. Editors, C. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press;
Ogden P, Minton K, & Pain C. (2006) Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. New York, United States: W. W. Norton & Company Inc;
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Dr. Rebeca Gonzalez-Scherman is a New York City based clinical psychologist. She has been in private practice since 2001. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Trauma Disorders Service Line at Sheppard Pratt Hospital in Baltimore, MD. In addition to her current practice, Dr. Gonzalez-Scherman consults for La Clinica Hispana at Yale Medical School in New Haven, CT. She addresses issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and identity through the lens of trauma. She holds a faculty position at the Center for Advanced Studies in Trauma and Dissociation (for the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation). She teaches mental health professionals nationally and internationally on the subject of complex trauma and dissociative disorders. Dr. Gonzalez-Scherman supervises both licensed psychologists and graduate-level interns on issues of complex trauma and on relational trauma, complexities of transference-countertransference configurations, enactments, and the use of psychoanalytic concepts to deepen the work of psychotherapy. Dr. Gonzalez-Scherman believes strongly in the integration of skills-based training/symptoms management with the profound work within the interpersonal field. Following relational psychoanalytic concepts, she adheres to a two-person psychology in understanding and utilizing what happens in the treatment relationship to further the work and create meaningful change for patients (and often for the clinician as well). Most recently, her area of interest is in the use of what she calls therapeutic courage in the consulting room.
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In 2007, Melody co-founded Plastic Mobile, a company that has built over 250 apps garnering over 2 billions dollars of revenue for clients like Cineplex, CIBC and Realtor. In 2015, the company was acquired by the sixth largest global communications company, Havas, and she was CEO of the Canadian division for 4 years. Melody is now also the CEO of a leading health-tech company.
As an influential leader in tech, and a recognized voice in the industry, Melody is passionate about bringing more women into senior leadership roles. In both 2018 and 2019, she was recognized as one of Canada’s top 100 most powerful women in the Tech and Trailblazer categories, and in 2017 she was awarded Canada’s top 40 under 40.
