Catherine Mellinger - OEATA Member Directory

Catherine is a CREATE graduate from 2010, currently living and seeing clients in private practice both virtually and in person in what is colonially named Kitchener-Waterloo, land belonging to the Haldimand Tract and the Anishinaabe people. Catherine is a certified Expressive Arts Therapist and Perinatal Mental Health Therapist through Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings.

“I work in private practice and in community: with individuals and by facilitating therapy groups through various organizations. My practice is based in a framework that is trauma-informed, anti-racist, anti-oppressive and anti-ableist. I also use principles of feminist therapy, including societal impact of self-identity and include resource building and supporting/advocating for clients in community when needed.  Since 2019 I have specialized in working with folx who are struggling in their Perinatal Mental Health journeys, supporting all birthing and non-birthing parents/caregivers. This includes supporting folx undergoing fertility treatments, abortion processing, pregnancy loss, reproductive trauma, birth trauma, past sexual trauma, pregnancy, systemic discrimination, obstetric violence and all stages of the postpartum period. This can also include supporting clients who are caring for children with disabilities or who live with disabilities themselves. I work with gender queer, gender non-conforming, non-binary, trans, inter-sex parents, as well as cis hetero parents – birthing, non-birthing and partners. I continue to engage in learning centred in anti-black racism and cultural sensitivity in order to support IBPGM (Indigenous, Black and People of the Global Majority) clients. I have experience in working with clients who have Family and Children Services involvement. I can offer services in english and french, and can work with language interpreters when needed. I also offer referrals to clients who want to work with someone who shares their lived experience specifically.

I incorporate Interpersonal Family Systems, Intersectionality, Narrative Therapy concepts, and Feminist Therapy principles into her Expressive Arts Therapy practice and practices through a trauma-informed, anti-racist, anti-oppressive and anti-ableist lens.

I have been a guest lectured at the Conrad Grebel Univesity College (University of Waterloo) in the Peace and Conflicts Studies program, at Wilfrid Laurier’s  MSW and BSW programs, and in McMaster’s MSW program. She is a contracted Expressive Arts Therapist and Arts Facilitator at YW Kitchener-Waterloo, the YWCA Hamilton, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG).”