Alison Bekendam, MSW, RSW – Counselling

Alison Bekendam, MSW RSW — Therapist in London, Ontario

Slow, curious, depth-oriented therapy

Something stopped working. You’re not sure what exactly, but the ways you used to get through the day aren’t cutting it anymore.

You probably have good insight into yourself. You might be able to name what’s happening and you’ve thought about it a lot. What you haven’t been able to figure out is how to actually change it. How to move from understanding something to feeling it differently in your body, relationships, and life.

That gap is where I work.

My approach is slow and quiet. Curious more than directive. I help you explore whatever comes up for you. We may find that different parts of yourself show up in therapy. Parts that protect, parts that are tired, and parts that have been working hard for a long time. We follow those rather than a protocol. Silence is normal here.

I work with a lot of new and expecting parents, as the perinatal period has a way of surfacing everything that’s been quietly building. I also work with anyone who wants to understand themselves more deeply rather than just cope better. If you’re someone who lives a lot in your head and is ready to get curious about what’s underneath that, we’d probably work well together.

Learn More About My Approach

Portrait of Alison Bekendam, trauma-informed therapist specializing in postpartum mental health and burnout

A Therapist with a Midwifery Background

I came to therapy from midwifery. In that career, I spent years supporting people through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. That experience shaped everything about how I practice as a social worker. I understand the body. I understand what the perinatal period actually asks of a person. And I know how to be present when things are hard.

Discover My Professional Credentials

I bring a unique blend of midwifery and social work training. My background contributes to my trauma-informed approach, emphasizing safety, trust, and following your lead.

Social work and midwifery credentials — Alison Bekendam MSW RSW, therapist London Ontario

Education

Master of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University

BHSc in Midwifery, McMaster University

BSc in Biology, McMaster University

OCSWSSW registered social worker and therapist — Alison Bekendam, London Ontario

Professional Credentials

Registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers

Member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers

IFS therapy training, trauma-informed counselling, REWIND, perinatal mental health — London Ontario

Additional Training

Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Trauma Informed Therapy
Somatic Experiencing
Perinatal Mental Health – CPMHT
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
REWIND for trauma processing
FLASH for trauma processing