Board of Directors
OSRP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE |
MAHSHAD ARYAFAR
RP
President
Chair, Connect Committee
Chair, OSRP-CRPO Committee
I am an integrative psychotherapist and integral professional coach™, in private practice since 2011. I draw from a variety of modalities such as psychodynamic, trauma-informed, developmental theories, complex systems, and cultural identity theories to name a few. Most of all, I am inherently curious about life, exploring this thing called being human and the universal qualities we share. I bring an intentional focus on what connects us, rather than on what creates division. My own immigration experience has brought special attention to what it means to cultivate a cohesive cultural identity and sense of self when the host culture and original culture are at odds. In my practice I support individuals and groups to locate their sense of cohesion and inner compass, honouring the multiplicity that makes them who they are with the unique gifts they bring to the world.
In my personal time I nourish myself by cycling, spending time in nature, drawing, dancing, traveling, reading, and spending quality time with loved ones. I am creative and playful by nature and bring those qualities to everything I engage in, including my work.
My wish is that by joining the OSRP board I can be of service in supporting our members feel part of a larger whole, a place where their beautiful complexity is welcomed and celebrated.
Click here to read Mahshad's full profile.
Contact Mahshad: president@psychotherapyontario.org
Contact Mahshad: connect@psychotherapyontario.org
Contact Mahshad: osrp_crpo@psychotherapyontario.org
NATASHA TULETTA-BOWMAN
RP (Qualifying)
PhDs, SMIM, MBA, BA, NYLC, CCPS
Certified Solution Focused Brief Therapist
Past President
Chair, PRPA Subcommittee
Chair, Wellness Committee
I joined the board because I noticed that it is made up of members who are passionate about the call of duty. Also, I discovered that, from the inception of the organization, there have been positive changes. That said, there is still much to do, which requires the help of everyone, especially psychotherapists. I know that I am motivated and possess diverse skills and global knowledge that can be of great use to this wonderful organization. I greatly admire that the organization is made up of leaders that have the best interest of all psychotherapists in Canada at heart. Additionally, I believe that I can best serve the organization as an active member of the board of directors.
I bring with me over 20 years of professional experience within diverse fields, and I have held senior active leadership positions. I have had the privilege to sit on local and global boards. With that said, I am zealous about the advancement of mental health locally and internationally. I am committed to continuing to work towards eradicating the stigma associated with obtaining professional mental health services. Also, I comprehend the urgency for more to be done globally, especially in Canada, to safeguard the field of psychotherapy. Such urgency also brings greater attention to the fact that psychotherapy, like its counterpart, psychology, has its own unique platform and is not second best to any approach.
Click here to read Natasha's full profile.
KIMBERLY CATO
RP
Vice-President
Chair, EDI Committee
Chair, Nomination Committee
Kimberly Cato is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of True Roots Counselling Services where she provides trauma responsive and asset-based services through an anti-racism, anti-oppression, social justice, and somatic abolitionism lens. As an empathic and intuitive Black woman who navigates the world from a wheelchair, Ms. Cato, with intersectional insight, offers therapy, community building, and corporate consultation for those within her sphere of influence.
Ms. Cato is intentionally engaged in dismantling racism by decolonizing therapy through Afrocentric modalities and culturally adapted therapeutic practices that build multi-racial communities that thrive. She is committed to eradicating racism by facilitating healing circles designed to identify and address racial trauma, thereby empowering people to fully manifest their Ancestral Excellence.
Kimberly Cato is excited about her position as OSRP’s Board of Directors Chair and the process of embedding EDI principles in every aspect of the Society. In June of 2023, the EDI Committee launched the Race-Based Data Collection Initiative to establish a baseline understanding of who makes up the membership and who is missing from decision making tables within the Association. The resulting data aids in creating a space in which race and other forms of marginalization are not barriers to entry into the field of psychotherapy, resulting in an OSRP that can accurately represent the diversity of the community seeking therapy in Ontario.
Click here to read Kimberly's full profile.
Contact Kimberly: vice-chair@psychotherapyontario.org
Contact Kimberly: edi@psychotherapyontario.org
Contact Kimberly: nomination@psychotherapyontario.org
CINDY ELKERTON
RP
Secretary
Co-Chair, Advocacy Committee
Chair, Ethics Committee
Cindy Elkerton has her own private practice in Toronto, Papillon Psychotherapy Services, where she has worked with individuals, couples, and families since 1999 and has been teaching/supervising since 2011. She is an integrative psychotherapist, drawing on a variety of modalities, such as relational psychodynamics, family systems, cognitive and behavioural therapy, personality type, and attachment theories.
Cindy has worked in various settings, including hospitals, rehab, long-term care, and hospice. She is a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO) and holds a Master of Arts from Acadia University. She is also a Certified MBTI Practitioner, a licensed Humanist Celebrant, and has a Trauma Certificate from Wilfred Laurier University.
Cindy and her partner are raising three boys in the Bluffs; she has a 16-year-old and 14-year-old twins. Cindy serves on the Parent Council at her son’s school and she and her partner are active with their kids’ scouting program. As a family, they enjoy camping across Canada and the US. Her personal interests include reading autobiographies and memoirs, writing short stories, supporting local theatre and drinking tea!
Cindy Elkerton has served on several committees, commissions, and Boards outside of the OSRP, including those related to professional practice standards, bereavement, and women’s groups. She is excited about serving the OSRP membership on the Board of Directors.
Click here to read Cindy's full profile.
Contact Cindy: secretary@psychotherapyontario.org
Contact Cindy: advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org
Contact Cindy: ethics@psychotherapyontario.org
HAMMAM FARAHRP
Treasurer
Co-Chair, Advocacy Committee
Chair, Finance Committee
I am a Palestinian Canadian whose life was greatly impacted by the experience of childhood immigration and political developments in the Middle East. In my spare time, I fight injustice and inequality as a human rights activist and community organizer. I have also worked with immigrants and refugees, providing settlement services and group counselling sessions. My passion for psychotherapy stems from my conviction that a better world is possible.
As hard as change was for me in my own life transitions, it would be change that would drive me forward; the desire to understand myself and improve, to do the work that would be necessary to become the person I am today.
I hope to bring my passion for change to the OSRP as we continue to grow and inspire.
Click here to read Hammam's full profile.
Contact Hammam: treasurer@psychotherapyontario.org
Contact Hammam: advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org
OSRP BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ALICE BLACKWELL
ALETHIA CADORE
RP
Co-Chair, EDI Committee
Chair, Protect Subcommittee
Click here to read Alethia's full profile.
Contact Alethia: edi@psychotherapyontario.org
NERISSA HUTCHINSON
Chair, BIPoC Bursary & Scholarship Subcommittee
Click here to read Nerissa's full profile.
YASMIN KOWLESSARRP
Member-at-Large
I offer an approach to therapy that centres anti-oppressive ways of healing. As a queer Trini-Canadian psychotherapist, I combine my training in psychology with my political values and lived experience when supporting my clients. I specialise in working with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC (racialized) clients as well as intersectional identities.
Much of my clinical experience has been focused around providing anti-oppressive therapy for folks who are LGBTQ, BIPOC (racialized), neurdo-divergent, or have multiple intersecting identities. My lived experiences, openness, and warm personality help to create an affirming environment for those who have been historically excluded from mental wellness services.
Click here to read Yasmin's full profile.
Wellness CommitteeChair: Natasha Tuletta-BowmanCo-Chair: Carl DaleyThe objective of the Committee is to support the overall health and well-being of our members, in order to thrive professionally.Click here to read the committee's terms of reference. |
Executive CommitteeThe Executive Committee is the nucleus of the OSRP Board of Directors. Members of the Executive Committee include the President, Vice-President, Past President, Treasurer and Secretary of the OSRP Board, and any Board members and any other members in good standing that the Executive may, from time to time, appoint. The Executive Committee provides a concentrated administrative function for the OSRP Board. Each month, it reviews the past and planned work of the Board. It also receives and discusses any pressing issues that have suddenly emerged from inside or outside the organization. With this information, the Executive Committee sets priorities and plans the agenda for the upcoming Board meeting. It reports to the Board its recommendations concerning any significant action or policy that is not part of another committee’s work to bring forward or to carry out.With the Treasurer, the Executive Committee monitors OSRP financial matters. With the Secretary, the Executive Committee monitors minute keeping and communication among Board members. It is the committee within which the past, current and next OSRP presidents confer to provide joint leadership to the Board and the organization. The Executive Committee as a whole is responsible to maintain, on behalf of the Board, a useful working relationship with the administrative management service provider hired by OSRP, currently Funnel Communications. The Executive Committee is responsible for organizing and executing the Annual General Meeting of the OSRP, which includes a meeting of the Membership Council and a Business Meeting. The Executive Committee meets monthly, usually one week before the monthly Board Meeting. Other meetings may be scheduled as necessary.
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Advocacy CommitteeCo-Chairs: Hammam Farah and Cindy ElkertonThis committee advocates on issues that benefit and impact Registered Psychotherapists as a whole. The Advocacy Committee aims to stay aware of policies and issues affecting RPs coming from the College, provincial and federal levels of government, the media, membership requests, and related sectors especially mental health, professional training and insurance. The Advocacy Committee determines (“triages”) which issues to pursue based on urgency, relevance, impact on RPs and available committee resources and engages with the respective stakeholders to influence policies for the benefit of the practice of psychotherapy. Advocacy is a huge portfolio and requires many volunteers to cover it fully. That is why the OSRP joined forces with the 12 other psychotherapy associations in Ontario since the early 2000s in order to include our voice with others when we couldn’t possibly cover every issue ourselves. OSRP is both a leader and a joiner in advocating for RPs. Click here to read the committee’s terms of reference. Click here to watch a video about this committee PRPA Sub-CommitteeChair: Natasha Tuletta-Bowman This is a subcommittee of the Advocacy Committee. The purpose of this task force is to liaise with the Partnership of Registered Psychotherapist Associations (PRPA) and the Government Engagement Working Group (GEWG). Its responsibilities are to liaise with PRPA (Partnership of Registered Psychotherapist Associations) and the GEWG (Government Engagement Working Group). Committee members attend PRPA & GEWG meetings to represent the interests of the OSRP and its members, and inform/advise the Executive and Advocacy Committees about potential areas of focus. PRPA is a collective of Ontario associations joined in discussion regarding advocacy issues as they emerge for Ontario Registered Psychotherapists. The goal of the PRPA is to strengthen the profession of Registered Psychotherapists in Ontario by responding to and advocating for issues pertaining to the practice of psychotherapy. Click here to read the committee's terms of reference.
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Connect CommitteeChair: Mahshad AryafarThe Connect Committee is the communication arm of the OSRP Board. It ensures that our members are kept up to date on all things that benefit them and their practices, including: professional development opportunities and supports, important CRPO updates, relevant events and more. We connect our members directly to each other and foster community through a variety of channels including our listserv, blog and social media, to assist prospective clients in finding a therapist and to help therapists find a warm, safe and professional home. Click here to read the committee's terms of reference. Click here to watch a video about this committee.
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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion CommitteeChair: Kimberly CatoCo-Chair: Alethia CadoreThe Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee understands that multiple approaches and points of view make up the core values of the practice of psychotherapy. It also understands that exclusion and racism are systemic in our culture and have affected our practices in deeply embedded, often unconscious ways. The committee, therefore, aims to ensure that residents of Ontario, including our most marginalized, vulnerable populations, are able to confidently and safely access the highest standards of therapeutic care available. And we intend to make sure that our practitioners receive as much insight and support as they need in order to bring their empowered, full and authentic selves to the conversation. This pioneering initiative of the OSRP holds anti-racism, anti-oppression and social responsibility as its defining ideals. Click here to read the committee's terms of reference. Click here to watch a video about this committee. Click here to watch the recording of our race-based data lunch and learn seminar. BIPoC Bursary & Scholarship Committee Sub-CommitteeChair: Nerissa Hutchinson This committee reviews applications for OSRP’s BIPoC membership bursaries and CRPO Exam Prep Course scholarships and makes recommendations to the OSRP board based on those reviews. Click here to read the committee's terms of reference. |
Ethics CommitteeChair: Cindy ElkertonThe goal of the Ethics committee is to revise/improve By-laws including conflict of interest, the Policy Manual and the Code of Ethics. It is also responsible for developing Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Bullying, Anti-Harassment and Pro-Accessibility Policies for the OSRP.Click here to read the committee's terms of reference. Protect Sub-CommitteeChair: Alethia Cadore This sub-committee help RPs, RP(Q)s and Students to protect themselves by identifying common ethical challenges and self-education around practising safely and ethically. It initiates programs including webinars, newsletter articles, etc., that help protect members before an ethical breach happens, from which complaints to the CRPO may arise, and drives discussions in Community groups for RPs. Click here to watch a short video about this sub-committee.
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Finance CommitteeChair: Hammam FarahThis committee prepares the annual budget to present to the OSRP Board for approval, reviews and makes recommendations on the financial policies and procedures of OSRP. |
Nomination CommitteeChair: Kimberly CatoThe Nomination Committee is responsible for filling positions on the OSRP Board. The committee is responsible for carrying out all the details concerning elections and, at the request of the Board of Directors, for submitting names to the Board in the event that an office becomes vacant before completion of the term. As a welcoming contact, the Nomination Committee would inform new members of the existing committees and task forces and solicit some input on the new member’s interests and skills. Included in the process would be recording a Member Profile form to be used for follow-up calls when positions are being filled. The committee orients new members and provides them with information, guidance and leadership, especially during the Interim Period between AGM and first Board meeting. It also provides oversight and leadership of the AGM.Click here to read the committee's terms of reference. |
OSRP/CRPO CommitteeChair: Mahshad AryafarThe purpose of the committee is to create open dialogue and communication between the OSRP and CRPO in regards to member questions, areas of concern or clarification, and so forth. As the governing body for psychotherapists, it is important that we maintain a co-operative relationship with the CRPO through ongoing, open communication, while also ensuring that the needs/concerns of our members are addressed. Click here to read the committee's terms of reference. |