Gudrun van Amerom B.A., M.S.W., RSW
Overview
Welcome to Core Connections Counselling and Consultation Services. My name is Gudrun and I earned my Master of Social Work Degree at York University in 2010. I am a registered member of the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Service Workers (#818187) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (#17506).
I provide a range of social work services to the public through professional referral and self-referral. My clinical practice knowledge is primarily in mental health and developmental services and is bolstered by a background in qualitative health research. I have experience providing crisis, brief, and long-term individual and family services to people of all ages recovering from a range of complex emotional, behavioural, social and physical challenges.
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In addition to adhering to the ethical and practice standards set out by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, my policies and procedures are also in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document Act (PIPEDA) and the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).
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Why Social Work?
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My passion for social justice first announced itself in Kindergarten. I remember feeling shy amongst my peers. As a first generation Canadian from a multi-racial and multi-cultural background attending school in a rural Ontario setting, I struggled to make sense of the politics of the playground. That year I discovered the pain of exclusion, the power of speaking up, and the importance of community.
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I formally began to pursue my interest in social justice during my academic career. I completed an honours undergraduate degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2007. I worked closely with a faculty member in the department of Sociology for 6 years during which time I developed a deeper understanding of the social determinants of health and contributed to qualitative health research, resulting in 8 co-authored publications. I chose to complete my Master of Social Work at York University based on their critical perspective which aims to challenge inequalities and power imbalances inherent in society and in the social work profession itself. My graduate thesis focused on mental health recovery and cultural responsiveness .
My Perspective​
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Counselling can bring up a lot of different thoughts, feelings and memories. Selecting a therapist to support your journey towards optimal health and well-being is so much more than picking a name off of a list. In pursuing counselling, it is important that you find a therapist that fits your unique needs.
I have a deep respect for those who have the courage to seek support and I view it as a sign of personal strength. I see the therapeutic relationship as a partnership. I strive to help people see a more helpful path forward so that they can make progress on their own terms and see options and alternatives that empower them to move forward with more purpose and connection. I believe that a therapist can guide their clients only as far as they have developed themselves. It is because of my own deep and deliberate self-work that I am able to connect to others from a grounded place of compassion. I understand both sides of the therapeutic relationship and appreciate how simultaneously vulnerable and valuable counselling can be.
