Meet Our Team
Our Therapists
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Registered Psychotherapist- Qualifying
alyssaarmsopencounselling@gmail.com
Alyssa Bracco is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who works with children and teens, providing a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment where young clients can feel safe to express themselves. She is passionate about meeting children where they are at, tailoring her approach to suit each child’s developmental stage and unique needs.
Alyssa incorporates play therapy skills into her work, recognizing that play is a natural and effective way for children to communicate, process emotions, and build coping strategies. She also offers parent sessions, understanding the importance of collaboration and guidance to support children both inside and outside of therapy.
Alyssa is committed to fostering a strong therapeutic alliance built on trust, empathy, and consistency. She strives to create a positive and engaging environment where children and teens feel heard, understood, and empowered as they navigate challenges and build emotional resilience.
Alyssa offers in-person sessions in Smithville & Beamsville as well as virtual
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Registered Psychotherapist - Qualifying
Rebecca sees clients 12 +
rebeccaarmsopencounselling@gmail.com
Do you ever feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from the life you want to live? You’re not alone—and you do not have to navigate this by yourself. Life’s challenges, whether they stem from daily stressors or deeper experiences from the past, can feel heavy. Rebecca's goal is to walk alongside you as you work toward clarity, healing, and a more meaningful life.
Rebecca offers a supportive and non-judgmental space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered. Her approach is rooted in empathy, drawing from a strengths-based perspective while incorporating cognitive-behavioral principles, emotion-focused strategies, and solution-focused techniques that are personalized to fit your unique needs.
With a strong background in teaching, she understands how pressure, expectations, and life transitions can impact your well-being. Whether you're a student trying to find your way, a parent balancing it all, or someone simply trying to reconnect with themselves—Rebecca is here to support you.
Rebecca believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to grow, heal, and thrive. If you're ready to take the first step, we invite you to connect with Rebecca to explore whether she is a good fit for your needs through a free 15-minute consultation.
Rebecca offers in-person sessions in Smithville as well as virtual sessions.
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Registered Psychotherapist, Qualifying
~patrickarmsopencounselling@gmail.com
Patrick offers a small number of pro bono. He will also offer reduced-fee sessions ($60) supported through clinical supervision. His focus will be on couples clients, teens and addictions.
Patrick is a counselling psychology student and Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. He brings a calm, thoughtful, and grounded presence to therapy, supporting clients as they navigate personal challenges, relationship concerns, and key transitions across the lifespan.
Patrick works with adults, couples, post-secondary students, and veterans. He has experience providing harm-reduction–informed care related to substance use and supports clients with concerns such as relationship and attachment difficulties, substance-related and behavioral addictions, loneliness, men’s mental health, and questions of purpose, identity, and meaning.
At the heart of Patrick’s work is a belief in self-awareness, empowerment, and meaningful change. He helps clients explore the patterns, experiences, and relational dynamics that shape how they connect with others and with themselves, while also supporting practical, achievable steps forward. His approach balances deep, process-oriented exploration with clear, goal-focused direction so clients feel both understood and supported in making change.
Patrick draws from the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and psychodynamic approaches, thoughtfully integrating these modalities to meet each client’s unique needs. He offers counselling for individuals, couples, and groups, recognizing the value of working within both personal and relational contexts.
Patrick strives to create a collaborative, respectful, and motivating therapeutic space where clients can build insight, strengthen resilience, and move toward more fulfilling, connected lives.
Patrick is available for in-person sessions in Beamsville and Dunnville, as well as convenient virtual appointments.
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Registered Social Worker
samanthaarmsopencounselling@gmail.com
Now taking new clients in Dunnville
Samantha also sees children and offers play therapy
Whether you're navigating anxiety, the mental load of parenting, burnout, relationship trauma, or the lasting impact of a difficult childhood, therapy can offer you something rare: a space to pause, feel seen, and begin to heal.
I support men, women, and parents through major life transitions—like postpartum changes, hormonal shifts, relationship stress, and identity loss. I also work with people processing complex trauma, including but not limited to: C-PTSD, Domestic violence
High Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Many of my clients come to therapy feeling like they’re “too much” or “not enough.” If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Together, we’ll gently explore and begin to untangle those beliefs with compassion and curiosity.
My work is grounded in trauma-informed, narrative, and emotion-focused therapies. We’ll look at how your past may be shaping your present—and begin to rewrite the patterns that no longer serve you.
Healing isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about coming home to who you are.
Ready to Start?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in survival mode, I want you to know: change is possible. You don’t have to do this alone.
Samantha offers in-person sessions in Dunnville as well as virtual.
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Registered Psychotherapist- Qualifying
melissaarmsopencounselling@gmail.com
Melissa is not taking new clients
Melissa is a registered psychotherapist who has completed her Master’s degree in counseling psychology at Yorkville University.
Melissa brings a warm, compassionate, and client-centered approach to therapy, focusing on creating a safe space where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered. Melissa supports clients who struggle with anxiety, stress, burnout, depression, relationship challenges, and attachment concerns.
Melissa is deeply committed to helping clients navigate life’s challenges and transitions. She has a strong interest in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gestalt therapy for couples.
Whether working with individuals or couples, Melissa is dedicated to creating a supportive, empathetic space where clients can grow, heal, and build resilience as they navigate life’s challenges.
Melissa offers virtual sessions as well as in-person sessions in Smithville & Beamsville
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Registered Psychotherapist, Intern
deannaarmsopencounselling@gmail.com
Life can feel overwhelming when stress, anxiety, or past experiences begin to take up more space than you’d like. Deanna offers a warm, supportive environment where clients can slow down, feel genuinely heard, and explore what’s been coming up, without judgment.
As a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) student, Deanna works collaboratively with clients, drawing from cognitive-behavioral and emotion-focused approaches. She believes meaningful change happens when people feel safe, understood, and supported in reconnecting with themselves.
With an academic background in human behavior and a strong interest in how early experiences and ongoing stress shape our inner world, Deanna is especially drawn to supporting individuals navigating anxiety, self-doubt, and life transitions.
Deanna views counselling as a powerful space for growth, healing, and self-connection. If you’re considering starting therapy, she welcomes you to reach out and explore whether working together feels like the right fit.
Deanna offers in-person sessions in Smithville as well as virtual.
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Registered Psychotherapist
dawnarmsopencounselling@gmail.com
Dawn is a Registered Psychotherapist with an integrative approach to therapy, one that meets clients where they are and helps them move toward where they want to be. Whether you're navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, low self-esteem, job burnout, or the weight of patterns that no longer serve you, Dawn offers a compassionate space to explore, heal, and grow.
A Strengths-Based Approach to Self-Discovery
At the heart of Dawn's practice is a belief that every client already carries the strengths and resources needed for meaningful change. Her strengths-based approach helps clients identify and build on what's already working, while gently uncovering the root causes of the patterns, responses, and struggles that have held them back.
Dawn creates a warm, collaborative space where clients can explore at their own pace, fostering self-awareness and personal growth on a path toward greater fulfillment.
Therapeutic Modalities
Dawn draws from a rich toolkit of evidence-based and body-centred approaches, including:
Narrative Therapy — helping clients rewrite stories they tell about themselves
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) — building skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) fostering psychological flexibility
Age Regression Hypnotherapy — accessing the deeper roots of present-day challenges
Polyvagal Theory — understanding and regulating the nervous system's role in trauma and stress responses
This integrative model ensures that therapy is never one-size-fits-all — it adapts to the whole person.
Dawn offers counselling services across a range of relationship contexts, recognizing that healing often happens in relationship with others. Whether you're seeking support for yourself, your partnership, or your family system, Dawn brings care and clinical expertise to every dynamic.
Common Areas of Support
Trauma & PTSD
Anxiety & panic
Depression & mood concerns
Chronic pain & somatic symptoms
Low self-esteem & self-worth
Job burnout & life transitions
Relationship challenges
Begin Your Journey
If you're ready to break free from unhelpful patterns and step into a more fulfilling life, Dawn welcomes you. Reach out today to book a consultation and take the first step toward the change you deserve.
Dawn offers in-person sessions in Smithville and Beamsville as well as virtual sessions.
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Family Nurse Practitioner
Nicole is booking Menopause Assessments & Treatment
Nicole Paiva is a Family Nurse Practitioner who brings nearly a decade of women’s health experience to the Arms Open team. Her path to nursing is one she’s proud of. Before healthcare, Nicole earned degrees in both science and education and spent time as a teacher. That background shapes everything about how she practices: she’s a natural educator who takes the time to explain, connect, and empower.
At Arms Open Counselling, Nicole specializes in menopause and midlife health. She helps women understand what’s happening in their bodies, navigate their options, and make informed decisions that feel right for them with warmth and support. Nicole believes every woman deserves to feel heard, supported, and confident in her care. That’s exactly what you’ll find when you work with her. When she’s not with patients, Nicole is soaking up time with her kids or unwinding at the family cottage.
Nicole offers virtual sessions as well as in-person sessions in Smithville & Beamsville
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Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Director
Angela currently accepts couple clients. She welcomes you with a warm, non-judgmental, and accepting space.
Angela's approach to couples therapy combines elements of the Gottman Method and emotion-based techniques to help couples improve their relationships. The Gottman Method is a well-known approach to couples therapy developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, which focuses on enhancing communication, understanding relationship dynamics, and resolving conflicts.
Emotion-based techniques often involve exploring and understanding the emotions underlying these conflicts and helping couples develop more productive ways of expressing and managing their feelings.
By combining emotion-based techniques with solution-focused methods, Angela helps individuals explore and understand their emotions while actively working towards practical and positive solutions. This integrative approach can be beneficial for clients with a variety of concerns, providing a well-rounded and personalized therapeutic experience.
Angela offers in-person sessions in Smithville as well as virtual.
Are you looking to get matched to one of our therapists?
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for assistance!