Tina Hardman, MA, RP, MSW, RSW, CPT

Registered Psychotherapist, Registered Social Worker

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Evenings. Children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.

I received my Master of Arts in Psychology from Brock University, Master of Social Work from the University of Windsor, and Play Therapy Certification from the Canadian Association of Play Therapy. I have held psychotherapist and social worker positions for 11 years, providing therapeutic services in a variety of clinical settings. These include the Family Counselling Centre, Brookside Psychologists, Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre of Niagara, Canadian Mental Health Association of Niagara, Brock University, Psychiatric Emergency Response Team at Marotta Family Hospital Niagara Health and the Niagara Detention Centre.

Through the application of evidence-based clinical approaches and a collaborative therapeutic working relationship, we will work towards emotional, behavioural, cognitive and relational goals. One of my primary focus areas is restructuring relationship bonds and fostering secure attachments through Emotion Focused Family and Couples Therapy or Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. In addition, I guide the processing of traumatic and adverse experiences using Cognitive Processing Therapy, and utilize Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioural approaches for anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive behaviours, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills.

As a trained and certified play therapist, I strategically apply play techniques to encourage children’s expression and processing, and to teach healing principles. Play is a natural medium of communication for children as this is their primary language. Children have the safety to express their adversity, thoughts and feelings through child-oriented activities that offer a safe degree of distance. Specifically, children communicate their inner world experiences and struggle through bibliotherapy, metaphors, arts, and symbols such as sand trays and figurines, doll houses and story boards.