Sheila is a registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers. Sheila’s formal education started at the University of Waterloo where she completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Social Development Studies. She continued with an Honours Bachelor of Social Work at Lakehead University and later graduated from Dalhousie University with a Master of Social Work. With each degree earned, part of the education for Sheila was to learn and understand more about the community in which she lived.

With more than 20 years of experience in the field of social work, Sheila Nayak brings her life experience to her work with children, adolescents, individuals, families, parents, and couples.

Sheila has three children which allows for a personal understanding that along with these joys of life, come challenges. Her belief is that with support and determination, there is hope that these challenges can be managed and overcome. As a first generation Canadian, Sheila has a wealth of experience and understanding in navigating a sense of belonging, social identity, marginalization, inclusion, and diversity. 

Areas of Care:

Sheila’s vast experience includes work in children’s mental health, child and adolescent coping strategies, support for individuals in managing feelings of anxiety and symptoms of depression, self-esteem, relationship and communication challenges, exposure to violence and violence against women. Sheila believes that therapy often provides the focused support necessary to understand the path that led to the present, and most importantly the journey to the place desired. Using this holistic approach to striving at betterment, Sheila is passionate in supporting the work to achieve one’s goals.

Care Approaches:

Sheila uses a strengths-based, emotionally focused, trauma informed approach. Her works is grounded in feminist theory and anti-racist/anti-oppressive practice. Sheila follows a psychodynamic and CBT approach, while using Adlerian concepts and theory, embedded in a solution-focused therapy model.