Lisa Bonadie had a desire to work with children and youth who had experienced trauma and/or mental health concerns. After graduating from George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario in 1998 with a diploma in Child and Youth Work, she began working in residential treatment homes, school-based programs, a residential treatment program for adolescent sexual offenders, and a treatment foster home. In 2022, Lisa obtained a B.A. in Psychology through York University and shortly after began working in Case Management positions with adult clients and their families who had been exposed to traumatic events.

In 2010, Lisa obtained a Master of Science in Education from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York and spent time working with youth in care within a school program where educational and mental health support was offered. In addition, Lisa participated in an internship with a mental health organization, Cedar Center, where she was trained and supervised to provide counselling to adults who experienced trauma in a co-ed group setting. She continued to work providing group therapy once the internship was complete.

After 24 years in the field of social services, Lisa began working toward a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy which will be completed in 2024. She embarked upon her lifelong dream of being a psychotherapist through Yorkville University. As a final requirement of the program, Lisa is excited to join us to complete a practicum at Marcescence Counselling Inc. Lisa takes a trauma informed, client centered approach in practice and has developed an interest in theoretical approaches of counselling such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Internal Family Systems.