Board of Directors
Catherine Mellinger
Catherine Mellinger (she/they) is a certified Expressive Arts Therapist, Perinatal Mental Health Therapist (PMH - CPMHT, PSI) and mixed media collage artist who’s works have been exhibited across North America and published Internationally. Originally from land belonging to Treaty 6 (Colonially named Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) she currently lives and works in what is colonially named Waterloo, land included in the Haldimand Tract and belonging to the Neutral, Hardenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples.
As a n alumni of Create, Catherine specializes 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, pregnancy loss, reproductive trauma, birth trauma, past sexual trauma, pregnancy, systemic discrimination, obstetric violence, all stages of the postpartum period parents who are caring for children with disability or who live with disability themselves. She has experience in working with clients who have Family and Children Services involvement. She is co-founder of Together: For Perinatal Mental Health Inc., a non-profit organization who's missing is to increase access to Perinatal Mental Health supports for all parents in Waterloo Region.
Catherine believes strongly in building equitable practices in therapy in order to serve clients where they are at financially. Areas of interest also include Somatic Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Relational Cultural Theory.
Catherine continuously engages in both learning and unlearning centered in anti-black racism and cultural humility in order to support clients of the global majority (IBPOC).
As a n alumni of Create, Catherine specializes 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, pregnancy loss, reproductive trauma, birth trauma, past sexual trauma, pregnancy, systemic discrimination, obstetric violence, all stages of the postpartum period parents who are caring for children with disability or who live with disability themselves. She has experience in working with clients who have Family and Children Services involvement. She is co-founder of Together: For Perinatal Mental Health Inc., a non-profit organization who's missing is to increase access to Perinatal Mental Health supports for all parents in Waterloo Region.
Catherine believes strongly in building equitable practices in therapy in order to serve clients where they are at financially. Areas of interest also include Somatic Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Relational Cultural Theory.
Catherine continuously engages in both learning and unlearning centered in anti-black racism and cultural humility in order to support clients of the global majority (IBPOC).
Beth-Ann Litttle
Beth-Ann graduated with a degree in Theatre and a diploma in Early Childhood Education. Her playful spirit and approachable manner are the qualities that have allowed her to remain dedicated in her career as a preschool educator. She has been acquainted with CREATE for many years and has participated in events through her sister who was in The CREATE Institute's first graduating class. Beth-Ann is excited to be involved in helping the CREATE community.
Nadine Rusinek-Bloomfield Double Hons. BA Psych/Communications Theory, EXAT
By the age of 16 Nadine was a member of SOCAN, received a scholarship to Banff Writing program and had achieved early conferral of her high school diploma based on her writing, music and art. In university, she received an invitation to work with bpNichol and Don Cole in their prestigious poetry program (published in in various anthologies, journals etc.) received offers to do two MA research in clinical psychology; however, she left academia to parlay the research of one into a children’s television series she wrote, produced, and developed. She was in the second graduating class of CREATE (ISIS) and worked in private practice in Toronto in a downtown studio with another CREATE grad.
After an absence from the healing field to raise her family and slay some dragons, Nadine returned to the world of EXAT by becoming a member of Create’s board in 2016 (using her past work experience at Penguin Books in marketing, & spreading the tenets of EXAT in social media), and by joining Rowesa Gordon in 2018 as a teaching associate for the first year class. She has continued to be involved in the arts; as a freelance story editor, multimedia artist, writer and musician. 2020 will see the release of a new single by her & long-term writing partner Leslie Stanwyck (Pursuit of Happiness, Universal Honey) in aid of therapy for parent survivors of their children’s suicides.
By the age of 16 Nadine was a member of SOCAN, received a scholarship to Banff Writing program and had achieved early conferral of her high school diploma based on her writing, music and art. In university, she received an invitation to work with bpNichol and Don Cole in their prestigious poetry program (published in in various anthologies, journals etc.) received offers to do two MA research in clinical psychology; however, she left academia to parlay the research of one into a children’s television series she wrote, produced, and developed. She was in the second graduating class of CREATE (ISIS) and worked in private practice in Toronto in a downtown studio with another CREATE grad.
After an absence from the healing field to raise her family and slay some dragons, Nadine returned to the world of EXAT by becoming a member of Create’s board in 2016 (using her past work experience at Penguin Books in marketing, & spreading the tenets of EXAT in social media), and by joining Rowesa Gordon in 2018 as a teaching associate for the first year class. She has continued to be involved in the arts; as a freelance story editor, multimedia artist, writer and musician. 2020 will see the release of a new single by her & long-term writing partner Leslie Stanwyck (Pursuit of Happiness, Universal Honey) in aid of therapy for parent survivors of their children’s suicides.
Ozge Ozgur BA, Psych/ Child, Youth & Adult Psychotherapist
Ozge started her career by obtaining a degree in Psych in 2016. She graduated from Bahcesehir University in Turkey and then decided to move to Canada/Toronto in order to continue her profession as an early childhood educator. She graduated from George Brown College in 2019 and worked in various childcare centers meanwhile continuing on doing online therapy sessions abroad. CREATE and Ozge’s paths have been crossed recently when Ozge actually decided to move back to her home country.
She is a licensed psychotherapist in Turkey and her specialties within psychotherapy focus on children, teens, families, adults, and couples. She utilizes a range of modalities including Psychodynamic Therapy, Experiential Play Therapy, EMDR Therapy, Gottman’s Couple Therapy, and Mindfulness.
Nowadays Ozge is accepting clients in a clinic (Izmir/Turkey) and is happy to be (STILL) a part of CREATE community as she thinks the Create Institute not only provides clients a variety of coping mechanisms but also helps clients reclaim control of their lives and while doing that it embraces the idea of companionship which eliminates any power struggles between the client and the therapist since clients always know what is best for them.
Ozge started her career by obtaining a degree in Psych in 2016. She graduated from Bahcesehir University in Turkey and then decided to move to Canada/Toronto in order to continue her profession as an early childhood educator. She graduated from George Brown College in 2019 and worked in various childcare centers meanwhile continuing on doing online therapy sessions abroad. CREATE and Ozge’s paths have been crossed recently when Ozge actually decided to move back to her home country.
She is a licensed psychotherapist in Turkey and her specialties within psychotherapy focus on children, teens, families, adults, and couples. She utilizes a range of modalities including Psychodynamic Therapy, Experiential Play Therapy, EMDR Therapy, Gottman’s Couple Therapy, and Mindfulness.
Nowadays Ozge is accepting clients in a clinic (Izmir/Turkey) and is happy to be (STILL) a part of CREATE community as she thinks the Create Institute not only provides clients a variety of coping mechanisms but also helps clients reclaim control of their lives and while doing that it embraces the idea of companionship which eliminates any power struggles between the client and the therapist since clients always know what is best for them.
Marjorie Richards
Marjorie Richards has worked in the field of Disability for over 26 years. She is a Developmental Services Worker (DSW) who has worked in the community, private homes, nursery schools, as an attendant and with many other organizations supporting those who have physical and/or developmental disabilities. Marjorie has always believed in a creating space in the world. She owned a business for 11 years supporting people in their homes, communities, running camps and activities. All this, while providing respite to parents and caregivers.
Marjorie has known other graduates who have taken programming with CREATE and has seen the wonderful therapists that come out of this program. She believes in community, therapeutic approaches, and everyone and anyone having the ability to belong. Marjorie’s experience of leadership, technology and therapy make her a Jill of all trades that Create Board will benefit from.
Marjorie Richards has worked in the field of Disability for over 26 years. She is a Developmental Services Worker (DSW) who has worked in the community, private homes, nursery schools, as an attendant and with many other organizations supporting those who have physical and/or developmental disabilities. Marjorie has always believed in a creating space in the world. She owned a business for 11 years supporting people in their homes, communities, running camps and activities. All this, while providing respite to parents and caregivers.
Marjorie has known other graduates who have taken programming with CREATE and has seen the wonderful therapists that come out of this program. She believes in community, therapeutic approaches, and everyone and anyone having the ability to belong. Marjorie’s experience of leadership, technology and therapy make her a Jill of all trades that Create Board will benefit from.
Shambhvi Sharma
Shambhvi Sharma (she/her) is Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and Registered Social Service Worker (RSSW), certified Expressive Arts Therapist and a dancer by profession. As an international student alumni from India, she currently lives and work in Kitchener which is the land situated on Haldimand Tract, which belongs to the Haudenosaunee of the Six Nations of the Grand River, home to the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples.
With an intensive experience working with community agencies and as EAP counsellor, her commitment revolves around providing empathetic support to a diverse client population facing a range of personal and work-related challenges, including but not limited to trauma, stress, anxiety, life transitions and building the identity along with crisis intervention, tailored to the unique needs of each individual. In her private practice at Anand Therapy, Shambhvi is focused on providing client-centred support to the client and meeting where they are at while bringing her understanding of immigrant trauma and cultural barriers as a part of the working system while being an open learner to support clients.
With an intensive experience working with community agencies and as EAP counsellor, her commitment revolves around providing empathetic support to a diverse client population facing a range of personal and work-related challenges, including but not limited to trauma, stress, anxiety, life transitions and building the identity along with crisis intervention, tailored to the unique needs of each individual. In her private practice at Anand Therapy, Shambhvi is focused on providing client-centred support to the client and meeting where they are at while bringing her understanding of immigrant trauma and cultural barriers as a part of the working system while being an open learner to support clients.
The Create Institute is looking to add new Board members.
Meetings are held one Tuesday evening per month, September to May.
If you are interested, or if you know someone who might be, please get in touch with our administrator, Pamela Rosales, at 416 539-9728.
Bring your enthusiasm, curiosity and your humour! Help us to shape CREATE's future!
Meetings are held one Tuesday evening per month, September to May.
If you are interested, or if you know someone who might be, please get in touch with our administrator, Pamela Rosales, at 416 539-9728.
Bring your enthusiasm, curiosity and your humour! Help us to shape CREATE's future!