On Friday the 27th of October 2023, psychologists and psychotherapists and several others on the team of Online Therapy Centre gathered at the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce at 470 Davis Drive in Newmarket where they met with Mayor John Taylor to make official the opening of the mental health clinic.
This heritage building backdrop for the ceremonial ribbon cutting is the current home to the Chamber of Commerce offices, which was once the CPR train station for Newmarket Ontario, and which remains located alongside active railway tracks. This meaningful spot seems perfectly fitting; it blends old with new and showcases the evolution of this community, just as psychotherapy has also been evolving, now into an easily accessible online delivery format. While Online Therapy Centre is proud to call Newmarket, Ontario home, the team is pleased to offer mental health support to all communities across Ontario, filling a much needed gap in service to remote communities where residents may not have access to specialized support.
Online Therapy Centre was formed by experts after many years of collaborative practice. The team is comprised of dedicated psychologists and psychotherapists and is genuinely driven to make a real difference and help every client realize their full potential. Because they’re so experienced and have such diverse skills, these mental health providers are able to offer a broad range of services. They work with children, youth, adults, couples, and families, treating various mental health concerns such as mood disorders, behavioral disorders, trauma / PTSD, addiction, anger management, emotion regulation, relationship issues and much more.
Fariba Touyeh PhD Candidate in Counselling and Psychotherapy, holds a Master of Psychology as well as a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Specialized Honours in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology. Fariba is a registered member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario and the Canadian Psychological Association. Fariba specializes in working with adults, creating a safe and supportive space for their mental health journey. Her therapeutic philosophy revolves around collaboration, embracing change, and fostering inner strengths.
Debbie Waters is a dedicated Psychotherapist, registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), and mental health specialist. With a comprehensive understanding and more than 20 years of experience, Debbie is dedicated to catalyzing positive intrinsic transformations in individuals across various life stages – including children, youth, adults, and older adults.
Julie Anderson is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). She has over thirty years experience working for the Government of Ontario, school boards, family services, and in private practice. Julie believes that everyone has the capacity to create positive change and overcome challenges through respectful understanding, collaboration, and effective goal setting.
Laura Lord is the Director of Operations at OTC as well as the Clinical Intake Specialist at Online Therapy Centre. Laura is the first point of contact at OTC where she greets clients who have reached out for support. She has been active in the mental health field for many years, and her strength is situated in matching individuals to their ideal therapist.
Rob Campbell is a writer, biographer and part of the administrative team at the clinic. You can read about all the therapists at Online Therapy Centre.
Mayor John Taylor was born and raised in Newmarket and attended Maple Leaf Public School and Newmarket High School before becoming a teacher himself and working in education. He served at Queens Park for a few years and then became a town councilor. He ran for public office and was elected Mayor of Newmarket in 2018. As the Mayor of this population centre, he represents the Town of Newmarket on both Town Council and York Region Council. More specifically, Mayor Taylor currently sits on the York Region Rapid Transit Corp (YRRTC) and on the Human Services Planning Board (HSPB) of York Region and was the co-chair of HSPB from 2010 – 2018. He is today the chairperson for Housing York Inc., the seventh largest social housing provider in Ontario, and he referenced his position and experience in his speech at the OTC ribbon cutting ceremony.
Mayor John Taylor held the ceremonial blue scissors with both hands and made ready to sever the ribbon, but paused to speak to the assembled press, dignitaries and the family and friends of OTC.
“Congratulations and best wishes to Online Therapy Centre on your Grand Opening. We are proud to have Online Therapy Centre call Newmarket home. And if can I just add one brief comment, which is that I think, and which is something you all know better than I, but, certainly in my work with the Municipal Housing Board and Region of York we know that the needs of our communities are greater now with some of the post Covid challenges, and the economy, and the cost of living. Affordability issues have been expressed to me, and now we have the overseas attacks, the Ukrainian community and the both the Israeli and Palestinian communities are affected. So, mental health is important, and now more than ever before. And really as a province and as a country we are not delivering all we should be and so this is great to know this is available to our community and other communities, on an online platform which is more accessible to people and so this is great to see this happen here.”
Approximately 7.2 million Canadians will experience mental illness in any given year. They experience various conditions like depression and anxiety (Government of Canada, n.d.). Mental health promotion initiatives play a crucial role in enhancing the well-being of children, youth, individuals, couples, families and communities. Mental health supports empower people to lead rewarding lives, cultivate and maintain meaningful relationships, and actively engage in their communities. Online Therapy Centre provides the expertise of Registered Psychologists and Psychotherapists to support mental health promotion, tackle mental illness, and address the social determinants of health. Read more about the services at Online Therapy Centre . .
