Christine Cunningham (she/her), Student Therapy Clinic Director at Perinatal Wellbeing Canada. I am a Registered Social Service Worker and a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional.

 

I know what it feels like to suffer with Postpartum Anxiety and Depression because I lived through it after my 3rd child. It totally sidelined me, and I struggled to cope with my symptoms and to parent my 3 little ones. I also didn't even really know that Postpartum Anxiety was a thing because of a lack of information and resources. Luckily, I was able to recover and be well again.

That experience changed my life for the better, because I decided to go back to school and become a counsellor. After working in mental health and addictions I followed my heart to working with clients in the Perinatal period (trying to get pregnant, currently pregnant, or postpartum) in my private practice. And this led me to establishing Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario in order to provide low-cost/free therapy and peer supports to people living with mental health challenges in the Perinatal period. Connect with me by email at info@perinatalwellbeing.ca or on Instagram: @perinatalwellbeing_ontario 

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Yzobela Hyett, M.Ed., R.P., PMH-C (She/Her), Clinical Supervisor at Perinatal Wellbeing Canada. Yzobela is a Registered Psychotherapist with certifications in Perinatal Mental Health and EMDR. She provides clinical supervision to PWC’s RP Qualifying and MSW practicum students, fostering professional growth through a relational, anti-oppressive lens. Yzobela’s supervision style integrates a blend of psychodynamic, IFS/ego state, mindfulness-based, feminist, cognitive/behavioural, and trauma-focused modalities.

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Beyond her role at PWC, Yzobela runs a private practice supporting perinatal clients, focusing on trauma, perinatal anxiety, and OCD. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her family and their mischievous mini-dachshund.

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Anneke van den Berg (she/her), Peer Support Coordinator at Perinatal Wellbeing Canada. Anneke is a mother of 4, who made her home in Canada over 15 years ago. Currently, she lives in Ottawa on the unceded and never surrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. Originally from the Netherlands, adjusting to life in Canada was difficult and lonely, but it has become home, kind of. 

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Mental health has been a struggle for her throughout all her pregnancies and postpartum, partly due to isolation and being an immigrant. Using these experiences to relate to others, parents specifically, has given her a sense of purpose and helped her healing process. 

 

Since arriving in Canada, Anneke has volunteered actively with a wide variety of organizations. About 5 years ago, she started working professionally and now she works as a Public Educator and Facilitator and Parent Coach, in addition to her role at Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario. In her work, Anneke has worked primarily with immigrant populations (especially of Arab descent), young parents and vulnerable families. Anneke is passionate about serving all parents, taking into consideration that the health care system in Ontario remains systemically racist, ableist, and not inclusive. As a cis-gendered white woman, Anneke is aware of her privilege and the unlearning she needs to do in order to help facilitate change.

In her free time, Anneke enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new trails and reading many, MANY books. She dreams of speaking Arabic fluently (on the way!), world peace (like everyone else), 4-day work weeks and owning a cottage in lush woods without bugs. And no climate change.... Definitely, no climate change. 

You can reach Anneke by email at anneke@canadianperinatalmentalhealthtrainings.com. 

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​​​​​​Melissa Lindsay (she/her) Social Media Connector at Perinatal Wellbeing Canada. Melissa is more passionate about connecting with people than technology, but she hopes to  utilize social media platforms for good, aiming to reach more individuals who are looking for support, collaboration, inspiration or to just learn new things about the perinatal and mental health worlds.  

 

Melissa is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) currently practicing in Ontario.  She is a mother of two little humans and has experienced her own pregnancy loss journey and perinatal mental health swings.  Melissa is also familiar with the struggles that shift work families experience and the impacts schedules can have on postpartum and parenting life.  

If you would like to connect with Melissa regarding the PWC's social media accounts or are seeking a virtual therapist in Ontario please email her at: melissa@clear-connections.ca.

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