About

Alexandra Dermansky 
MSW, BSW, PSY, RSW

Social Worker, Psychotherapist

Meet Ali!

Meet Alexandra, she goes by Ali (She/Her). She obtained a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at the University of Windsor with a Minor in Psychology (PSY), and a Masters of Social Work (MSW) at Wilfrid Laurier with a specialization in Wholistic Practice and Indigenous Field of Study (IFS). She is a Wholistic Practitioner, Sandplay Therapy Practitioner (qualifying), and Art Therapy Practitioner. Ali is a Registered Social Worker (RSW), she is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW), Canadian Association of Sandplay Therapy (CAST), and the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA). Her experiences range from clinical practice to community development, both with mandated and voluntary clients throughout the life span. She has experience working at a Bail Supervision Program, Youth in Conflict with the Law, Indigenous Support Centre, and a few school boards to name a few.

Ali’s passions have lead her to work with children and youth ages 0-18 years and their families. Ali emphasizes the immense potential that every child has within them, that a child’s possibilities and potential for growth and creativity are boundless. As a helper, Ali strives to nurture development and unleash all of their spirits and full potential. As a mixed-Indigenous woman with Cree, Ojibwe and Mi’kmaq roots, she has a passion for helping indigenous and non-indigenous children and their families heal through Wholism using expressive modalities, connecting to the four parts of self: spirit, emotions, mind, and body. Using Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyes Seeing), Ali integrates an interconnected framework, traditional healing practices, storytelling, ceremony, art, and nature into sessions. Ali recognizes her life-long learning, un-learning, and re-searching. She is a helper with her own bundle walking next to clients on their healing journey. 

ALI’S FREE TIME

On her free time she enjoys being outdoors camping, fishing, hiking, sitting in the park, skiing. She also likes being creative by painting, drawing, art-journaling, and trying new DIYs.

Specializations

SERVING POPULATION

  • Infants & Parents
  • Children and Youth 0-18 years
  • Parents
  • Groups
  • Indigenous Peoples

TREATMENT SPECIALITies

Anger Management, Anxiety, Behaviours, Coping Skills, Depression, Grief, Indigenous specific challenges, Inter-generational/Historical Trauma, Relationships, Self Esteem, Self-Harming, Suicidal Ideation, and general wellbeing to name a few.

Therapeutic modalities

Wholism, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Jungian Psychotherapy, Sandplay Therapy (CAST), Therapeutic Play, Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), Theraplay Foundational Practitioner, Art Therapy (ATP), Indigenous-rooted Social Work (IFS), Verbal and Non-Verbal Modalities.

Ali’s practice is guided by the following approaches: Attachment-based, Anti-oppressive, client-centred, Decolonized, General Wellness & Wellbeing, Strengths-Based, Trauma-informed, Wholism. 

Contact: Alexandra Dermansky

226-739-4004 x700
wholistic.counselling.services@gmail.com

โ€œThe potential possibilities of any child are the most intriguing and stimulating in all creationโ€- Ray L. Wilbur.

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Begin your road to wholism with Wholistic Counselling Services.

Therapy that doesn’t just focus on the mind