Student Therapy Clinic

At Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario we offer 50-minute Individual therapy/counselling sessions with students. Our session rate is $100, and you will be provided with a receipt that you can use to submit to insurance or healthcare benefits if applicable. Sliding Scale rates of $75, $50 and $25 are available, as well as fully subsidized spots. Please speak with your student therapist/counsellor to enquire further.

We are very excited to share that we are partnering with Erin Gilmour at Rose Psychotherapy to provide perinatal focused addictions and mental health counselling with a Durham College student for people living in Ontario. Please check out Winsome's bio below.

PWO’s Addiction and Mental Health Program student counsellor is supervised by Erin Gilmour, Registered Psychotherapist, RP, CCAC (She/Her).

PWO’s Master of Arts and Counselling Psychology students, registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying) and Master of Social Work students are supervised by Yzobela Hyett, M.Ed., R.P., PMH-C (She/Her).

Meet Our Student Counsellors and Therapists

Winsome Benn Okine (she/her)

Hello, my name is Winsome, and I’m currently completing my practicum as part of the Addictions and Mental Health graduate certificate program at Durham College. My practicum runs from May to mid-August. I have an academic background in Forensic Psychology and Child and Youth Care, and I bring a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and client-centred approach to my work.

I’ve supported individuals of all ages through crisis lines, community programs, and peer support roles. I also volunteer with Hope + Me: The Mood Disorders Association of Ontario, where I facilitate the BIPOC peer support group. This role allows me to create a safe and welcoming space for individuals to share openly and feel understood.

My passion for mental health support grew from both personal experiences and the stories of people around me. I’ve seen how deeply life transitions and emotional struggles can affect someone’s sense of self, and how powerful it can be to have someone simply listen and hold space. That’s why I’m especially drawn to perinatal mental health and supporting clients navigating change.

I aim to provide a supportive, non-judgmental space where clients feel safe, heard, and empowered. I value collaboration and believe that each person is the expert of their own story. I’m here to walk alongside you as you explore your goals, build coping strategies, and move forward at your own pace.

To book a free consult please email me at rosepsychotherapy.winsome@gmail.com

Paras Geramian (she/her)

Hi, my name is Paras, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), and I am passionate about destigmatizing perinatal mental health and ensuring that those who are struggling during this sensitive time are able to find the care and understanding they deserve. Experiencing firsthand the struggles of perinatal mental health, infertility, pregnancy loss, and birth trauma, and the emotional and psychological toll of early motherhood, gave me a unique and empathetic understanding of this often-overlooked aspect of mental health. This experience not only informed my personal healing journey but also ignited my desire to support others who are navigating similar challenges.

I practice with an inclusive, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed lens to offer personalized support for each person's unique journey. My aim is to create a safe space for individuals to explore their emotions, heal from trauma, rediscover their sense of self to foster healthier and happier relationships, cultivate emotional resilience, and facilitate meaningful shifts toward improved psychological and emotional well-being.

I'm not currently accepting new clients.

Lesley Whiffing (she/her)

Lesley is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) currently completing her MACP through Yorkville University, practicing neurodiversity-affirming therapy in Ontario.

A queer mom of three, she has experienced diverse facets of family building and parenting as both a gestational and non-gestational parent and has a particular interest in supporting 2SLGBTQ+ clients throughout their journeys, inclusive of all genders and family constellations. Taking a socially aware and anti-racist stance, Lesley acknowledges the myriad systemic injustices faced by community members of various intersectional identities. Through her own adventures with neurodiversity, she has developed a passion for supportive care adapted to each client’s needs.

No stranger to anxiety and trauma, both perinatal and otherwise, Lesley strives to create an inclusive, collaborative space where clients are invited to bring their authentic selves and be welcomed.

To book a free meet and greet with Lesley please email her at lesleywhiffing.connect@gmail.com. Lesley is available during the day on Mondays, Wednesdays and early Friday mornings.