Shiri Joshua M.A. (Couns. Psych), OACCPP

Shiri Joshua acquired her educational background at York University in Toronto, and the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Toronto/Chicago. She is the director and founder of Mental Health Resources Canada (MHRC), an online community of mental health professionals; and has been working in private practice and through several agencies as a Child, Adolescent, and Adult psychotherapist. Shiri's work method incorporates the psychodynamic approach, which seeks to understand the underlying processes of a given behaviour or symptom.

Shiri has worked with clients as young as 4 years of age, teens, and adults, around the issues of Abuse-related trauma, suicide (especially teen suicide), relationship, sexual identity, and addiction issues.  She is a member in good standing of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists (OACCPP).

As a long time pet owner herself, Shiri was intrigued by the different qualities of attachment represented through the Human/Animal Bond. After experiencing the loss of one of her rabbits, Zoe, Shiri sought an understanding ear, and was surprised to learn of the severe lack of resources, especially in Canada. Shiri then resolved to combine her clinical training in Counselling Psychology to enhance her expertise in Animal Assisted Therapy, and Pet Loss Bereavement Counselling.  She has attended numerous workshops and seminars on these two intriguing topics both in Toronto, and in California. Among the different mentors Shiri received her training from in this filed of work, are Dr. Aubrey Fine, and Dr. Lorrie Greene (both are renowned psychologists and authors specializing in AAT & P. Loss).

Learning of the importance of allowing the process of bereavement to take its natural course, and the possible risks associated with ignoring these feelings (risks such as a clinical depression, complicated bereavement, or even suicidal feelings), Shiri's training and professional background allowed her to offer her services to the community of Canadian pet owners. She was recently invited to speak on Pet Loss Grief at CTS TV's "On the Line," a daily live show dealing with different relevant topics. The amount of calls and response to the show further reinforced the need for such service.

Shiri's work includes facilitation of Pet Loss Bereavement groups, individual counselling, and house calls, where offers education about the process of grief, and resources for coping.  She is the founder of the S.O.U.L. Academy: School of Compassion.

Mental Health Resources Canada

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