Amy McGrath, M.A., RP,OPC Dipl. Psych, OSP, CAPT, holds a Masters in Sociology. She is a Clinical Member of The Ontario Society of Psychotherapist (OSP) as well as holding a membership with The Canadian Association of Psychodynamic Therapy (CAPT). Amy is also a Registered Psychotherapist with the CRPO.
Her training began in obtaining her Bachelors of Theology with a concentration in both Pastoral and Theological studies. She then spent 8 years as a counselor and Program Director for a long-term residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. She continued her studies, obtaining a second Bachelor’s of Arts Honours degree in Sociology and then her Masters in Sociology from York University in Toronto. She entered the OPC Program in September 2003 and graduated in May 2008.
Amy began a private practice in psychotherapy in the St. Catharines and Niagara areas in 2004. She continues to conduct individual therapy, couples therapy and group therapy in the region.
Amy joined the OPC Program staff team in 2008 and became Associate Faculty in June 2009. In 2011 she became the Assistant Educational Director and in August 2016, Amy became the Educational Director taking over from Barbara Dewar.
She teaches and facilitates learning groups, residencies and provides clinical supervision to the OPC training therapists and graduates.
Scott Petrie, M.Ts., R.P. Scott is a Registered Psychotherapist, member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and Canadian Association of Psychodynamic Therapy. He is the Assistant Educational Director, Faculty and Clinical Supervisor at OPC. He lectures on Ethics and Professional Practices and the Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Model of Practice. Scott’s interest in Eastern philosophy has led him to explore the many intersections between eastern and western conceptions of the self which continues to inform his clinical work with dissociation and the effects of trauma upon the structure of the personality.
Sonja Scheer, OPC Dipl. Psych., RP, Member CAPT. Sonja is a member with The Canadian Association of Psychodynamic Therapy (CAPT) and is a Registered Psychotherapist.
Sonja has had several careers and it all began with dancing at a young age in Germany where she worked as a performer, and a dance and fitness instructor. Sonja taught Jazz, African Jazz, Modern Dance and fitness classes. She choreographed dance productions and fashion shows and in 1994, Sonja moved to Toronto and studied dance and psychology at York University. Throughout her education and career, Sonja worked in the hospitality industry and held positions as a general manager, event coordinator, auditor, advisor, and trainer in several European countries and Canada.
After many years of her own personal individual, couple, and group therapy, Sonja began her training in psychotherapy at OPC. She started her private practice in 2014 and conducts psychotherapy with individuals, couples and families.
Sonja joined the OPC Program staff team in 2014 as a teaching assistant. She became Registrar of the OPC Program in 2017 and she teaches and facilitates learning groups and seminars.
Eva Moran, BA, MA, OPC Dipl. Psych, RP. Eva is a Registered Psychotherapist and a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and Canadian Association of Psychodynamic Therapy. She joined the OPC Program staff team in 2014 and became Faculty in 2018. Eva teaches and facilitates seminars and learning groups.
Paula Ruiz, RP, CCTP, OPC Dip. Psych. Paula is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). She is a member of the Canadian Association of Psychodynamic Therapy (CAPT) and the Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists (OSRP).
Prior to training as a psychotherapist, Paula earned a PhD in Anthropology from McGill University with a focus on political violence and war, collective trauma, and women’s mental health. Paula also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Social Aetiology of Mental Illness program (SAMI) at the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH). She has held various teaching, research and administrative roles within the post secondary educational sector.
Paula joined the OPC staff as a teaching assistant in 2020 and faculty member in 2021.
Heather Lee Kilty holds a Ph.D. in Health Services. Her original training began with a diploma in Social Services, from which point she went on to get her B.A. and then her MEd. from Harvard University.
Heather is a published author and the co-founder of Stress & Wellness Enterprises. She works as a consultant, motivational speaker and is currently on Faculty at Brock University.
Heather has had a counseling practice since 1980 in stress management, grief work, career counseling, addictions and positive conscious living.
Heather joined the OPC Program as an Adjunct Faculty member in January 2007.
Tala El-Achkar, MEd, RP, OPC Dipl. Psych, CRPO and CAPT Member.
Tala’s interest in healing work comes from an inherently multidisciplinary place. She completed a Bachelors of Sociology at the University of Guelph and a Masters of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education at OISE, University of Toronto (now known as an MEd in Social Justice Education). She joined the OPC Program in 2012, while simultaneously working on her Masters. This cross-pollinated an exploration of trauma and avenues for healing from an equity perspective. Her final concentration– Race & Racial Identity: Understanding the Impact in the PPMP–was the culmination of these experiences.
Her psychodynamic psychotherapeutic approach and private practice are deeply rooted in an intersectional lens that centers varied ways of knowing. She emphasizes working with the presence of collective, intergenerational, and relational threads, and sees the breath and the body as vehicles for integrating memory and accessing movement.
Tala rejoined OPC in 2019 as a Teaching Assistant, and in 2020 as lecturer and facilitator of Critical Diversity Workshops.
Carolyn Leu, MBA, RP. Carolyn is a Registered Psychotherapist, a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and Canadian Association of Psychodynamic Therapy. Carolyn has studied Art History, Arts and Media Administration, and completed the OPC Program. Her psychotherapy practice is informed by her interest in considering the body and the unique and diverse experiences of the whole self.
Carolyn Caesar OPC Dipl. Psych, RP. Carolyn is a Registered Psychotherapist and a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, Canadian Association of Psychodynamic Therapy, and the Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists (OSRP). Carolyn has a private practice focused on treating adolescents, adults, and couples. Her orientation is psychodynamic, attachment, and trauma informed. She competed her training at the Ontario Psychotherapy and Counselling Program and then completed further training in Couples Therapy (EFT, RLT), Trauma Therapy (CTTP), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as well as completing the University of Guelphs Sex Therapy program.
