Gentle Path Counsellors
- Judith Urquhart, RSW, MSW
- Harold C. Stevens, RSW, CHT
- Mary Gallagher, B Comm., BSW, RSW
- Paul Leger MSW, RSW Mediator
- Andrea Ospina, BSW, RSW
- Christine Brittain, MSW, RSW
- Robert (Bob) Doiron, RSW
- Barbara Merrithew, BSW, RSW
- Tricia Davidson-Chiasson,MSC.(Counselling), CCC
- Angaila Smith,BA CQSW(Oxford), MSW, RSW
- Justin Stoodley,Masters in Family Counselling
- Andrea Stoodley, BA, MA (Marriage and Family Counselling)
- Belva Joanne Kee,Yoga Instructor
- Karen Simon, BSc., R.D.
- Lorraine Pollock, BT., MEd., PHEc., CCC.
- Angela Seaward, BA, BSW, RSW
Judith Urquhart (Executive Director), RSW, MSW
Judy is the Executive Director of Gentle Path Counselling Services, a non-profit agency, which she founded in 1998. She holds a Masters of Social Work Degree from Dalhousie University and has 19 years of Counselling experience
For seven years, she worked as a Probation and Parole Officer with the Province of New Brunswick and co-facilitated the Community Sex Offender Treatment Program for adult male offenders convicted of domestic violence or sexual assault. While employed with Family Services as a Counsellor, Judy developed numerous Educational Programs including Recapturing a Lost Childhood; The Gentle Path to the Twelve Steps; Parent Works; Women, Anger & Depression; Your Perfect Right; Women and Self-Esteem and Men, Anger and Self-Esteem. Similar programs are offered at Gentle Path as well as Support Group Programs CoDA and Women of Worth — both of which were designed by Judy.
Judy is registered with the Hague Convention to prepare Inter-Country Adoptions; she has completed one hundred or more Home Studies as well as many Home Studies requested by Family Court for custody/access disputes. She is a Supervisor of Field Placement opportunities for Nursing and Social Work students and a Board Member of the John Howard Society. A book she wrote about Anger Management for Women—Cage Your Rage—was recently published and is available for sale through Gentle Path or the American Correctional Association. Currently, she is completing a Certificate in Mediation through the University of Prince Edward Island.
Harold has been involved in the Counselling field for the past 23 years. He is a registered Social Worker and has worked in the capacity of Adult Educator during the past 15 years. He is a Hypnotherapist and is currently completing a Certificate in Adult Education. Harold is also a certified trainer in ASIST, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.
Harold has participated in and co-presented numerous programs and workshops in the area of self-improvement both at the local and national level. His primary Counselling interests are in the area of stress management, anxiety reduction, anger management, family violence and critical incident stress debriefing. He is a member of the provincial Critical Incident Stress Management team.
He has been a part-time Counsellor at Gentle Path since 1998 and presents programs on the above noted topics, as well, he develops workplace specific workshops such as Building a Respectful Workplace, Relaxation, Stress Management, Bullying, and Recognizing the Troubled Employee.
Mary Gallagher - B Comm, BSW, RSW
Mary started her career in finance after receiving a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from St. Mary’s University. She has many years of progressive, supervisory and management experience primarily in the field of healthcare. She understands that workplaces are becoming more stressful each year and is interested in helping individuals achieve a better work—life balance.
Mary graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Social Work. She worked in Montreal in the field of Child Protection, counselling mothers and children who were in abusive situations or who had been victims of family violence. She has experience working with the elderly and is currently employed full-time as a Clinical Social Worker with Ridgewood Addiction Services. She is presently employed part-time at Gentle Path Counselling Services where her primary counselling interests are in the areas of managing workplace stress, family violence, relationship counselling, mental health, and working with adolescents.
Mary also has a history of community involvement with the Canadian Mental Health Association, as a volunteer with the YM-YWCA, and has served on several local Boards in the past. Mary has four years of Counselling experience and has been at Gentle Path for two years.
Paul Leger MSW, RSW Mediator , BA, MEd, CCC
(Gentle Path Associate for Third Party Referrals)
Paul J. Leger, a bilingual native of Saint John, attended St. Joseph’s College in Memramcook before completing his Bachelor of Arts Degree at St. FX in Antigonish Nova Scotia in 1967.
In 1970, he earned a Degree in Theology from Holy Heart Theological Institution and in 1971 graduated from Dalhousie University with a Masters Degree in Social Work.
Paul’s Career in the mental health field began in Chatham, New Brunswick where he served for a term at the Chatham Mental Health Clinic before moving to Fredericton in 1972. It was in Fredericton that he became the founding father of Family Enrichment and Counselling Services, a non-profit family counselling service with branches in Fredericton, Moncton and Bathurst, New Brunswick. As well, it was during his stay in Fredericton that he lectured in the field of Social Development at Saint Thomas University.
In 1978, he entered the Canadian Armed Forces and served with the rank of Captain until 1984. While serving in the Armed Forces, he was instrumental in founding the Addiction Treatment Center at CFB Val Cartier in Quebec.
Shortly after his return to Fredericton, he opened the practice of Paul J. Leger & Associates. This service, established in 1985, has offices in Saint John and Fredericton, specializing in Marriage, Family and Individual Counselling. Other areas of expertise include counselling for victims of sexual abuse, trauma counselling, stress management and he is certified in Mediation.
As well, since 1985, Paul has been a part time Clinician with the Fredericton Mental Health Center Team.
Andrea came to Gentle Path from her home country of Colombia, in South America. While still living there, she completed her Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2000 and her thesis was in the area of youth addictions. Andrea facilitated groups, and provided individual and family counselling in a Youth Addictions Residential Centre.
While working in Colombia, Andrea worked as a Case Manager in the area of child abuse. She has designed and facilitated support groups for teens and young adult women. The emphasis of these groups was to improve life skills necessary for increasing self-esteem and becoming parents. Prior to leaving Colombia, she worked for an oil company as a Human Resource Personnel.
Andrea moved to Canada in 2002 and is happily learning about our culture and social system. She looks forward to her experiences, not only in Canada, but also in working with clients at Gentle Path. Since she has been with us, Andrea has gained a great deal of experience counselling women, men, and teenagers in a wide range of areas. In addition, she has facilitated and co-facilitated support groups and educational programs.
Andrea is a registered member of both the Canadian and New Brunswick Associations of Social Workers and has been employed full-time at Gentle Path since June 2005.
Christine Brittain is a part-time counsellor with Gentle Path. Her counselling focus is primarily with children and families.
Christine graduated in 2003 with her Masters of Social Work from the Maritime School of Social Work- Dalhousie University. Her Masters specialization was in Child and Family welfare and family violence.
Christine works full-time as a Child Protection Supervisor with the Department of Family and Community Services. Christine was a recent recipient of the Dr. David Stephen Foundation Award of Distinction– an award which recognizes an individual’s contribution to the elimination of Child Abuse.
Christine is a Board Member of the Community Camps Association (providing summer camping experiences for low-income, single parent families); Second Stage Safe Haven (long term affordable and safe housing for women and children who have lived in violence); Living Waters Child Development Center; and the Domestic Violence Community Action Group.
Christine works from a solution-focused, strengths-based approach to social work practice. She has a particular interest in Community based solutions to addressing family violence.
Bob is a part-time counsellor at Gentle Path and works primarily with men or youth in the area of anger management, family violence, and interpersonal relationships, and he also does marriage counselling. Bob is well-known to professionals in the Saint John area as a result of his work in the area of family violence, particularly the A.D.A.P.T. program for violent men that he developed several years ago and has continued to facilitate. Bob has nearly 30 years of Counselling experience through his involvement at various non-profit and counselling agencies and government departments. Bob recently became an associate of Gentle Path
Barbara graduated from St. Thomas University with a Bachelor of Social Work in 1988. She began her career working in the field of Child Protection Services and then moved on to work with Support Services to Education as the district social worker primarily in District #6 providing both individual and group counselling to students from grades K – 12 on a wide variety of issues. Barbara also worked with women who experienced violence in their relationships and provided individual and group counselling to female survivors of sexual abuse.
In 1994, Barbara joined the staff at Ridgewood Addiction Services where she primarily worked with adolescents and their families for the next seven years. During this time she was part of the provincial team who developed and implemented the current Youth Treatment Model for Addictions in New Brunswick. In 2001, Barbara transferred to Ridgewood’s Rehab Department where she currently works with both men and women providing group and individual therapy. As part of her responsibilities at Ridgewood, Barbara also provided numerous training sessions locally, provincially and nationally to others working in a variety of capacities in the helping profession.
Over the years, Barbara has been involved with a number of organizations on a volunteer basis including Second Stage Housing, The Animal Rescue League, Girl Guides of Canada and the elementary school in her neighbourhood
Tricia Davidson Chiasson, MSC.(Counselling), CCC
Tricia (Trish) joined the staff of Gentle Path Counselling Services in January 2007 as a Generalist Counsellor and Group Facilitator. Her caseload includes adults and children, and she will be facilitating Gentle Path’s parenting programs. Trish has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Science (Clinical Counselling) from the University of Southern, Maine. She is a member of the Canadian Counselling Association (CCA) and is a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC).
Trish’s work experience includes Clinical Internship at Spring Harbor Hospital in Portland, Maine, EAP Counsellor for L. L. Bean Inc., Freeport, Maine and Counsellor for Elizabeth Fry Society, Saint John.
Angaila Smith,BA CQSW(Oxford), MSW, RSW
Angaila Smith joined the staff of Gentle Path Counselling Services in January 2007 as a Generalist Counsellor working with individuals, couples and families. She has had a wide variety of work experience and training in England, Newfoundland and Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation, Saint John. Angaila’s education includes Bachelor of Arts, University Diploma in Applied Social Studies, Certificate in Qualification of Social Work (CQSW) from Ruskin College, Oxford university, England; Oxford College of Further Education, Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language; Master of Social Work (Advanced Individual and Family Therapy), Memorial University of Newfoundland; Intensive Training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT); Stage Two DBT Exposure Training.
Regarding work experience, Angaila was employed as a Medical Social Worker at Oxford County Council, England; Contractual Social Worker, Justice Department, Supreme Court of Newfoundland; and more recently, Clinical Social Worker at Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation, Saint John.
Justin Stoodley, Masters in Family Counselling
Justin is a part-time counsellor at Gentle Path and works with adolescent males, children, and their families. He has been working for Gentle Path since September 2006. During this time, he has co-developed two anger management programs for kids, which he also co-facilitates.
Justin has a Masters in Family Counselling from Briercrest Graduate School in Sask and he is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Christian Counsellors (PACCC).
Justin works full time at Big Brother Big Sister of Saint John as a Mentoring Coordinator, in which he gets to work with kids, matching them with a Big Brother or Big Sister.
Andrea Stoodley, BA, MA (Marriage and Family Counselling)
Andrea Stoodley started working for Gentle Path in September 2006 and works as a Generalist Counsellor, as well as a group facilitator. Andrea received a Bachelor of Arts (in Family Ministry) from Briercrest Bible College, as well as a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counselling from Briercrest Seminary. Andrea is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Christian Counsellors (PACCC).
Andrea works with women, children, and families. Besides working at Gentle Path Counselling Services, Andrea volunteers through Kennebecasis Baptist Church, facilitating the Alpha Marriage Course with her husband, Justin Stoodley.
Belva Joanne Kee, Yoga Instructor
Belva Joanne Kee is a singer and voice teacher. Yoga was a discipline that she initially tried, hoping it would help her breathing—for her art form—voice. She found it not ony gave her better breathing capacity, but that her body became more flexible, more relaxed and she became more alert and even slept better.
Joanne teaches a form of Hatha Yoga—breath and posture—that increases body awareness and function. For seniors, an increase in flexibility and balance. For people with back problems and other body injuries—a way to work with their limitations and pains. Yoga is “another kind of fitness” that enhances performance in sport and your regular gym activities. Yoga is a discipline for all body types, all fitness levels and all ages.
WELCOME to YOGA!
Karen Simon is a graduate of Acadia University with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition. She then completed her dietetic internship at the Moncton Hospital.She has been working in private practice since 1990.
Karen can provide nutrition counselling in areas of nutrition,such as: wellness,weight loss, diabetes, cholesterol management, healthy eating, menu planning. Karen can provide counselling to both children and adults.
Lorraine Pollock, BT., MEd., PHEc., CCC.
Lorraine has recently become a part-time counsellor at Gentle Path with her office in Sussex. She has been counselling for seven years after a career in Education, as a Teacher, Guidance Counsellor and Vice Principal. Being a professional Home Economist is an asset as Lorraine has been able to assist families and individuals in the areas of parenting, marriage, relationship, finances and communication.
In the Sussex area, Lorraine facilitates various groups experiencing grief, anxiety, and low self-esteem. She has experience providing Stress Management Seminars for the workplace. ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a suicide intervention program for which Lorraine is a Master Trainer. As an ASIST Trainer she travels throughout New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island presenting the workshop which qualifies people as interventionists of suicide in their communities.
Lorraine has a passion to help people through individual counselling, seminars and group work.
Angela Seaward BA, RSW works part-time with Gentle Path Counselling Services in the St. George office as a generalist counselor. Angela received her Bachelor of Arts (Sociology/Legal Studies) from Acadia University in 2002 and a Bachelor of Social Work from St. Thomas University in 2003. Angela will begin her Masters of Social Work from Memorial University of Newfoundland beginning September 2008.
Besides working with Gentle Path, Angela worked for Ridgewood Addiction Services as an Outpatient Counselor for Youth in Charlotte County. Angela currently works full-time with the Extra Mural Program in St. Stephen. Angela is also actively involved with a variety of organizations on a volunteer basis with in Charlotte Country including, John Howard Society – Charlotte Country Inc. and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Angela enjoys counselling both children and adults.