Louise Gleeson, M.Sc., M.A

Therapy can provide a safe space to seek meaning and begin to plant seeds of hope for yourself; it is a great privilege to watch my clients begin to bloom in these ways.

Hi, my name is Louise and I am one of the associate therapists here at Counseling & Co. Outside of the office, I parent four kids between the ages of 13 and 21 (plus a bonus furball) and have a loving partner who also works in community health. If you are looking for someone who understands parenting, being busy and the delicate balance between work and life, I can wholeheartedly say, I get it. I am incredibly passionate about this work and supporting the community through advocacy and education.

As an Asian-Canadian woman, I also have lived experience as a biracial, bicultural individual, partner and parent. A large part of my clinical practice focuses on working with clients interested in understanding their intersecting identities. With the utmost care, I bring a culturally responsive, non-judgemental, and collaborative approach, as we explore the impact of systems of discrimination, oppression and marginalization on your experience.

In addition, I have lived experience supporting neurodivergent identities and feel passionately about the continual research and education happening to affirm diversity in the human brain. If you are exploring your own neurodivergence or are in a relationship with someone who is neurodivergent, this space is safe and affirming. I support individuals, couples and parents as they navigate receiving a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, parenting a neurodivergent child and the effects of ADHD and other neurodivergent identities on romantic relationships.

Perinatal mental health is another special interest of mine. I thoroughly enjoy working with parents during the perinatal period. Sometimes that means I am facilitating conversations around family planning goals and other times it means I am responding to postpartum distress. Regardless of where you are along your reproductive journey, please know that I am here to hold you in a way that cultivates trust and safety without judgement. Many aspects of this journey are hard, and I will do everything in my power to support your healing and growth.

Why Work With Me

Your story is important to me, and I operate under the belief that you are the expert of your own life. I bring a nurturing and grounded energy to the therapeutic process, which means you can expect to feel tended to, validated, deeply seen and heard when we are working together.

• Navigate each phase of your reproductive journey with more self-compassion

• Discover your strengths and resiliency

• Implement attachment parenting strategies in your day-to-day life

• Explore Neurodivergent identitiessity in relationships

• Understand and improve challenging behaviours & conflict

• Reflect on your journey so far and create a narrative for your journey ahead

• Feel confident in supporting your child's development

• Process feelings around a particular diagnosis

• Explore your sociocultural identity and the impacts of oppression

• Navigate shifts in identity and relationships postpartum

Professional Background

I am a Registered Psychotherapist in good standing with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. I have a graduate degree in Counselling Psychology and also have a strong academic and research-based knowledge of the biosciences.

Board Member

• Board of Directors at Camp Kirk for Neurodivergent Children and Families

• Board of Directors at CanGap Canada (specializing in neurodiversity-affirming Gap Year Programming)

Things I Bet You Didn't Know About Me

• I have a Master of Arts in Journalism and worked as a freelance health and science journalist.

• I also hold a Masters of Science in Reproductive Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science

• I have volunteered with the Breastfeeding Clinic at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and coordinated peer-to-peer support for new mothers with Halton Region Public Health.

• I completed an internship with an affordable therapy program that services BIPOC and marginalized individuals.