Southwest Counselling Services

05/29/2026

🎒 Back to school!

We’re excited to share that this fall, Matt will be heading back to the classroom to pursue his PhD in Social Work at the University of Windsor.

Unlike Billy Madison, Matt already passed elementary school… but he’s choosing to do more homework anyway.

As he takes on this next chapter, Matt will be stepping away from clinical counselling work for the academic year to focus on his studies. The good news? He’ll continue working with sports and corporate teams, helping optimize mental health, resilience, leadership, and performance.

We’re incredibly proud of Matt’s commitment to lifelong learning and can’t wait to see what this journey brings. Please join us in wishing him success!

05/21/2026

Award winning journalist Cathy Dobson and photographer Glenn Ogilvie have recently published a series titled ‘Roads to Recovery’ with the Independent of Petrolia and Central Lambton.

The series features powerful stories of addiction and different paths to recovery while giving a hopeful outlook from local advocates and service providers in Sarnia-Lambton.

Here is a glimpse and you can view the whole series via the link in our stories 💛

05/16/2026

A story of hope and optimism from Cathy Dobson and Glen Ogilvie ❤️

ROADS TO RECOVERY: EXPERTS IN LAMBTON HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HOPEFUL

The first of series from The Independent from Journalist Cathy Dobson and Photo Journalist Glenn Ogilvie

https://fb-news-sharer.pebmac.workers.dev/https://petrolialambtonindependent.ca/2026/05/15/roads-to-recovery-experts-have-never-been-so-hopeful/

05/05/2026

That’s a wrap on another successful Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto 🙌

As the largest skilled trades competition in Canada, the event brought together over 2,400 competitors across 70+ contests, with more than 20,000 spectators in attendance—serving as a qualifier for the national stage 🇨🇦

For our Mental Performance team, it was a great reminder that preparation is everything when it comes to competition. Nerves, stress, and performance anxiety thrive on a lack of preparation. Through visualization, mental rehearsal, routines, and intentional practice, competitors can step in feeling calm, confident, and focused.

Whether it’s plating a culinary dish or hitting a free throw, mental skills are your greatest ally. 🧠💪

03/12/2026

🎙️ The latest episode of Social Work Me is now available.

On Episode 48, Matt is joined by an international guest - Yasmine Loupis who is an Australian social worker, rehabilitation case manager, and podcaster. Yasmine specializes in the area of rehabilitation and brings a wealth of experience in supporting people who experience long-term problems with movement, thinking and emotions resulting from an accident or sudden injury or illness, as well as the people who care for them.

🎧 Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3imR1dLAzyJVCCI4Yx4k4T?si=dyOSycDdQm2hrNWlKjoi2w

03/10/2026

Thank you to Hashtag Local for hosting the ‘Business of Wellness’ event and for having Michele- Mindfully Michele share the stage with many great wellness leaders in our community! 🙏

03/03/2026

March 2-8 is Social Work Week. A time to honour the skill, compassion and resilience social workers bring to every corner of community life. From supporting mental health and wellbeing, to advocating for equity and helping people navigate life’s toughest challenges, social workers are there with care, insight and partnership at every step.

At Southwest Counselling Services, we celebrate social workers in all settings — in schools, healthcare, government services, non-profits, private practice and beyond — for the real, lasting impact they make every single day.

Thank you to all the social workers who show up, listen deeply, create connection, and help people find strength and possibility when they need it most. You make communities stronger. You make lives better.

Tag a social worker who has had an impact on your life!

01/21/2026

It is always a pleasure stepping into Social Service Worker class at for a guest lecture on Men’s Mental Health! 💚

Doing these presentations alongside mental health advocate Chris Dobbelaar is an honour and the conversation and connection that develop are a privilege. Thanks for having us Liz and for the amazing work you do in the mental health field!

01/14/2026

🎙️ The latest episode of Social Work Me is now available.

In Episode 47, Michele is joined by Reilly — a former youth she supported during her time in child welfare. Reilly shares his lived experience in foster care, navigating uncertainty, the impact of positive mentors, and his journey from high school to trade school to his current role as a Financial Advisor.

This episode offers a thoughtful and insightful conversation on resilience, mindset, and personal growth.

🎧 Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1wjfYT5VUZ5L0YkNbYuDJS

01/01/2026

As we step into a new year, we want to take a moment to say thank you to our incredible community. 💛
This past year marked 10 years of Southwest Counselling Services, and we’ve truly loved reflecting on the memories, milestones, and stories we’ve shared with you over the past several weeks.

Your trust, openness, and continued support are what make this work so meaningful. As we look ahead, we remain committed to walking alongside individuals, families, and communities with care, compassion, and hope—every step of the way.

Here’s to a year filled with healing, growth, and connection. We wish you a safe, healthy, and happy New Year. 🌱