Melissa Penner, RCC
Areas of focus: Perinatal counselling, Grief counselling
I believe therapy should be a soft place to land. A warm space where you can slow down, feel seen, and find your way back to yourself. As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with a Master of Counselling from City University I blend my professional training with my own lived experience as a mom and a highly sensitive person. My goal is to ensure you feel understood and welcomed exactly as you are.
I work with adults (18+) who are navigating anxiety, stress, burnout, grief, trauma, relationship challenges and life transitions. I am especially passionate about supporting new and expectant parents through the perinatal and postpartum chapters. Having walked the path of motherhood myself, I know firsthand just how beautiful, and completely disorienting, these seasons can be. You deserve support that holds space for all the nuances of that experience.
My approach is grounded in attachment and humanistic principles, meaning the way I work focuses heavily on the relationship we build together. I blend emotional insight with practical tools, drawing from CBT, DBT, IFS, and somatic (body-based) approaches. Together, we’ll look at your inner world with gentle curiosity, make sense of the patterns arising, and build everyday skills to help you feel more grounded. Whether you’re trying to find your footing in parenthood, grieving a loss, or just longing to feel like yourself again, please know you don’t have to carry it all alone. I’m here for you.