Riverway Therapy
Individual, Child and Family Counselling Services
Riverway has moved to North Bay!!!
You will now find us @ 236 Worthington St. West, Suite 100
705-492-4416
Accepting new clients, limited spots available for June.
New clients please contact to book your first session.
Adult Individual Therapy
Individual therapy sessions are offered to children, teens and adults. A play room is available for Riverway’s younger clients, and adult clients can enjoy the comfort of a more traditional therapeutic space. Canine therapy assistants are also available for support upon request.
Family Therapy and/or Parent Support
Every child, teen and family unit is unique and all sessions are individualized. Consultation sessions can be scheduled to customize a plan that works for you and your family.
Child and Adolescent Therapy
A safe environment for children to express feelings, work through big emotions, and process difficult experiences is important. Riverway strives to ensure that all clients, young and old, feel accepted for exactly who they are and want to be.
Play Therapy
Play therapy interventions allow children to express themselves and work through emotions and challenges in a developmentally appropriate way. Sue McDermid BEd, MSW, RSW is currently in the process of completing an additional specialization in play therapy and accreditation as a play therapist. Sue is happy to explain this process to you and answer any questions you may have.
Canine-Assisted Therapy
Sue McDermid BEd, MSW, RSW had the opportunity to conduct award winning research on canine-assisted therapy in the London Catholic District School Board during her studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. Riverway continues this work and offers canine-assisted therapy sessions to select clients. These sessions are highly individualized and are in high demand. Please note that this may mean that they are not available to all clients.
Hello! I’m Sue
Licensed Therapist and Secondary School Teacher
Hello! My name is Sue McDermid. I am registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. I am also a registered secondary school teacher with the Ontario College of Teachers. I have been working with children, teens and their families for close to three decades. Although saying that out loud makes me feel old!
My Story and Values
Riverway Therapy has been a dream of mine since high school. I knew even then that it was important to me that everyone, particularly students and individuals with a disability, know that they are brilliant and do not need to change to fit in or to belong. And even more, I believe that students will learn best when this feeling is a part of their day to day and they feel like they are a part of a community and that they belong. Imagine what would happen if we all walked into a room and the faces of our family or peers or teachers lit up with joy that we are there?
My clinical practice at Riverway Therapy is built upon these beliefs, as well as a combination of clinical and educational experience. Professionally I have worked as a lifeguard, swimming instructor, child and youth worker, rehabilitation support worker, teacher and social worker. Personally, I was a treatment foster parent for over 30 children (all in their twenties now) and this lived experience taught me even more than all my years in education ever did. I learned what it feels like to parent a child that lives with or has experienced a variety of challenges or traumas. I learned humility when I did my best and knew that it wasn’t enough. I learned that no matter what, the ties to family are strong and cannot be broken, and that instead of separating families we need to support them. And it also opened my eyes to what it must feel like for parents that are doing their best and live with the fear that it isn’t ‘good enough’ or that someone may take their child away. I no longer foster children but what I learned from my ‘kids’ and their families informs what I hope to build with Riverway every day.
Neurodiversity, Autism and Mental Health Supports
Riverway Therapy offers mental health supports to children, teens and adults. These services include offering children’s therapy and play therapy interventions to individuals with ADHD and autism. Since the official opening of Riverway Therapy in the spring of 2022 a growing number of individuals with ADHD, anxiety and autism have reached out to Riverway for support. These individuals now make up approximately half of the clients currently being supported and families are reporting positive outcomes. But more importantly, clients report feelings of connection, belonging and acceptance. And they can be themselves!