About Me

Hello, I’m Hodan. I’m a Registered Social Worker with over 14 years of experience supporting children, teens, and their families. At Growing Minds, I provide individual and family counselling in both English and French, offering a welcoming space where young people can feel safe, supported, and understood.

Alongside my work as a social worker, I provide mental health therapy with a strong focus on supporting Francophone and immigrant communities. My background allows me to provide culturally responsive, compassionate care that respects each family’s values, experiences, and strengths.

At the heart of my work is collaboration. I place great value on building warm, trusting relationships with young people, their caregivers, and the broader support systems in their lives. By working closely with families, schools, and other professionals, I strive to create a safe and supportive environment where children and teens feel understood, valued, and empowered to grow. I provide family counselling focused on strengthening family dynamics and improving parent–child communication and relationships. I also offer parent coaching to support caregivers in developing effective strategies, building confidence, and responding to their child’s emotional and behavioural needs with clarity and consistency.

In my practice, I draw on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to help children and teens understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and to build practical skills for managing anxiety, low mood, and everyday challenges. I also use Motivational Interviewing to enhance engagement and support young people in exploring their goals and strengthening motivation for positive change. I conduct comprehensive risk assessments using validated tools such as AQPS to ensure safety and informed care planning. In addition, I incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help children and teens develop emotional flexibility, cope with difficult thoughts and feelings, and move towards meaningful, values-based lives.

I am passionate about helping young people navigate life’s challenges, build resilience, and discover their strengths. It is a privilege to walk alongside children, teens, and families on their journey toward healing and growth, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to a healthy, resilient community.