Holly Mathers
SPERVISING REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST & FOUNDER
There are endless ways to live a life.
Working with clients, supporting our Holly Blue team, and supervising developing psychotherapists is a mix I love at this stage in my career.
Areas of Support
Individual, Relationship & Family Psychotherapy
Transgender
Postpartum
Parenting
Trauma & Abuse
Bereavement
Infertility
Working with Clients
The privilege of my work is finding out about so many people's experiences, values, and aspirations. Not only do I hear from you about these important areas, we can team up together to collaborate on helpful options, perspectives, and possible ways forward.
Many topics come up in therapy. A few that I am particularly passionate about include chronic illness, neurodiversity, gender transitions/diversity, and other 2SLGBTQIA+ identities. Sometimes I see individuals themselves, family members, partners, siblings, parents, or others involved. More recently, I've been offering more Brainspotting work which is a neuroexperiential approach to trauma and issues that feel stuck.
Supporting our Team
Building a team with a range of perspectives, skills, and experience is very important to me. We can do our best to find a therapist that fits each client choosing to work with us. We also team up with psychiatrists through the Psychotherapy Matters Virtual Clinic (PMVC), as well as primary care providers and other healthcare professionals in Ontario. I'm thankful for the team we have and excited about our next steps together.
Supervising Developing Psychotherapists
Psychotherapists in training, working on qualifying with the CRPO, or looking for ongoing professional development can do individual, dyadic, and/or group supervision with me. I also provide session observation and feedback. Contributing to the growth of professionals in this field is important to me and something I greatly enjoy. We take a flexible and collaborative approach that leaves room for all topics relevant to you, possibly including:
Client cases
Therapist questions
Psychotherapeutic modalities, dynamics/process, and treatment options
Resources and community supports
Crisis risk assessment, safety planning, and duty to report requirements
Managing scheduling, client communication, and billing
Transference, countertransference, and Safe Effective Use of Self (SEUS)
Ethical decision making
Therapist identity development
Wellness, work/life choices, and fostering personal connections
Burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma
Evaluating training options and continuing education plans
Effective communication and conflict resolution skills
CRPO requirements, policies, and standards of practice
Other topics as they arise
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EDUCATION
MASTER OF COUNSELLING – WATERLOO LUTHERAN SEMINARY AT WILFRED LAURIER UNIVERSITY
BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE WTH HONOURS IN PSYCHOLOGY – YORK UNIVERSITY
TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2026 | BRAINSPOTTING COURSE – DR. DAVID GRAND
2023 | INTEGRATED FOUNDATIONAL AUTISM & MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING - PART 1 & 2 – DR. JONATHAN WEISS
2022 | ACCEPTANCE & COMMITMENT TRAINING (ACT) FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS - LEVEL 2 – DR. KENNETH FUNG
2021 | ACCEPTANCE & COMMITMENT TRAINING (ACT) FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS - LEVEL 1 – DR. KENNETH FUNG
2020 | THE FLASH TECHNIQUE TRAINING BASIC & ADVANCED – DR. PHILIP MANFIELD
2020 | INDIGENOUS CANADA COURSE
2020 | INTENSIVE SEX THERAPY TRAINING PROGRAM
2020 | SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT WORKSHOP
2019 | TRANSFORMATION: CHALLENGING SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO EQUITY WORKSHOP
2018 | THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE TRAINING
2018 | SUPERVISION COURSE – WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY
2018 | ONE DAY CBT FOR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION WORKSHOP – DR. RYAN VAN LIESHOUT
2017 | INTRODUCTION TO CANINE ASSISTED INTERVENTIONS TWO DAY WORKSHOP – WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY
2015 | MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING LEVEL 1 TWO DAY TRAINING – ELIZABETH FABIANO
2015 | MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING LEVEL 2 TWO DAY TRAINING – ELIZABETH FABIANO
2015 | HEALTH & SAFETY FOR SUPERVISORS & MANAGERS TRAINING – PUBLIC SERVICES HEALTH & SAFETY
2014 | WORKING WITH GENDER VARIANT CHILDREN TRAINING – WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY
2013 | COUNSELLING TRANS CLIENTS TRAINING – RAINBOW HEALTH ONTARIO
2013 | COMPLEX TRAUMA WORKSHOP -NATALIE ZLORDRE
2012 | TRAUMA INTERVENTIONS FOR FRONT LINE SERVICE WORKERS WORKSHOP – NATALIE ZLORDRE
2010 | MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY TRAINING – CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
2008 | EXPLORING THE “SHADOWS OF THE GHOSTS OF GRIEF” TRAINING – DR. ALAN WOLFELT
2008 | COMPREHENSIVE BEREAVEMENT SKILLS TRAINING – DR. ALAN WOLFELT
2008 | ASIST APPLIED SUICIDE INTERVENTION SKILLS TRAINING – CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
2005 | CISM CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT: GROUP CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING
2002 | CERTIFIED IN PREPARE/ENRICH ASSESSMENT FOR PREMARITAL & COUPLES THERAPY
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2006 - PRESENT | HOLLY BLUE PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP (FORMERLY HOPE FOR FAMILIES COUNSELLING CENTRE) REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST & FOUNDER
2018 - PRESENT | UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO | ADJUNCT CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR FOR THE SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY & VISION SCIENCE
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023 | ACCEPTANCE & COMMITMENT TRAINING (ACT) FOR SIBLINGS GROUP FACILITATOR – SIBLINGS CANADA
2012-2018 | CHAIRPERSON OF COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE – YOUNG CARERS PROJECT OF WATERLOO REGION
2014-2016 | YOUTH JUSTICE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLOR – CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
2011-2013 | HOME CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM FACILITATOR – ST. JOHN AMBULANCE & ORDER OF ST. LAZARUS
2010-2013 | GROUP FACILITATOR – DIVORCE CONNECTIONS
2010 | PROFESSOR FOR ASSISTING FAMILIES DEALING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS COURSE – CONTESSA COLLEGE
2005, 2006-2008, 2009-2014 | MOBILE CRISIS TEAM WORKER – CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
2008-2010 | SUPPORT SPACE GROUP FACILITATOR FOR TEENS – HOPESPRING CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE
2008-2009 | SPIRITUAL LIFE CLINICIAN – LUTHERWOOD
2007-2008, 2010 | YOUNG ADULT GRIEF GROUP FACILITATOR – COPING CENTRE
2007-2009 | HOPE FOR FAMILIES RADIO SHOW HOST – FAITH FM 94.3
2005-2010| TEMPER TAMING & S.T.E.A.M. GROUP FACILITATOR – K-W COUNSELLING SERVICES INC.
2003-2005 | VARIOUS ROLES INCLUDING INTAKE COORDINATOR – LUTHERWOOD FAMILY COUNSELLING SERVICES
2003-2005 | COUNSELLING PRACTICUM & SUPERVISED COUNSELLING – LUTHERWOOD FAMILY COUNSELLING SERVICES
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Free initial consultation.
$200- 60 minutes
$300- 90 minutes
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Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Family Systems
Narrative Therapy
The Flash Technique
Brainspotting
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Collaborative: working together to develop solutions
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