Michelle V. GibsonB.S.W., M.S.W., RSW

Gibson Counselling & Consulting

Suite 314, 111Waterloo Street, London ON N6B 2M4

(519) 933-6975

Academia

McMaster University, Hamilton ON September 2013 to 2017

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Social Work (Candidate)

McMaster University, Hamilton ON September 2010 to 2011

  • Masters of Social Work degree (Clinical)

Kings University College, London ON 2005 to 2010

  • Honours Bachelors of Social Work degree with distinction.

Professional Experience

Psychotherapist, Gibson Counselling and Consulting

London, ON 2013 to Present

  • Provide individual, couple, family and group psychotherapy with adolescents and adults.
  • Role includes conducting intensive assessments that include focusing on attachment, developmental stages and delays, history of traumatic incidence, history of adjustment and resilience, and family history.
  • Specialize in EMDR-based trauma therapy and talk-based psychotherapy that focuses on health concerns and illness, traumatic brain injury, critical incidence stress and trauma, panic and anxiety, depression, violence, anger, and self-esteem and body image concerns.

Psychotherapy Consultant, Rehab First

London ON 2011 to Present

  • Role included providing case management and clinical social work services to individuals, couples, and families who have experienced injuries from a motor vehicle accident.
  • Role focused on completing intensive assessments that investigate developmental stages and delays, impact of trauma, adjustment to life following traumatic experience, family relationships, and the clinical needs of the client.
  • Specialization in providing trauma-based psychotherapy and facilitating return to work and return to activities of normal life.
  • Work with a diverse population of clients that pediatrics and adults suffering from traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and multiple physical and psychological impairments.
  • Prepare detailed reports for legal counselbased on clinical assessments and recommendations.
  • Practice follows evidenced based models of care including implementation of cognitive behavioural therapies, narrative therapy, dialectal behavioural therapy, crisis intervention, and solutions focused therapy.
  • Regular consultation with legal counsel and regulated health professionals.

Social Worker, St. Joseph’s Health Care

London ON 2011

  • Employed as social worker on multidisciplinary team for practice in a residential, forensic inpatient psychosis program (Axis I & II).
  • Direct practice and psycho-education with individuals and families that focused on depression, anxiety, self-esteem, addictions, anger, and violence.
  • Facilitated individual and family therapy following the recovery model of mental health care and evidenced based therapies.
  • Regular consultation with fellow professionals and community partners.
  • Gained an understanding of the Mental Health Act and inpatient procedures.

Social Worker, John Howard Society of London and District,

London ON2008 to 2011

  • Facilitated intensive counseling with youth and adults involved in, or at risk of being involved in, the criminal justice system.
  • Provided clinical Social Work interventions for adolescents in school-based setting.
  • Conducted individual, couple and family therapy focused on: grief, relationship issues, violence, sexual abuse, trauma, self-harm, and sexuality.
  • Advanced therapy skills with people who engaged in violent activities, sexual offenders, and anger management.
  • Employed evidenced based therapies in practice with clients.
  • Completed bio-psycho-social assessments and records of client meetings
  • Provided referrals and advocacy for clients.
  • Represented the organization at Child and Youth Network and Northeast Working Group meetings.

Summer Counsellor, Youth Opportunities Unlimited,

London ON 2007 to 2008

  • Group facilitation and direct interaction with youth facing housing, drug, pregnancy, family and violence issues
  • Plan and prepare files and findings for statistical purposes

Student Social Worker, Hutton House,

London ON2007 to 2008

  • Directly counseled clients who experience barriers due to the presence of a disability and diagnosis of mental illness
  • Plan and facilitate group activities for Life Coaching for Women support group
  • Write strengths based assessments and case notes

Research Experience

Co-Investigator, McMaster University and Lynwood Charlton Centre,

Hamilton ON 2010 to 2013

  • Employed to assist in development of program evaluation for inpatient children and youth mental health program.
  • Conducted a literature review on residential programs for children and mental health treatment for children, youth and their family.
  • Prepared and presented findings to organization staff and directors.
  • Developed and presented to large groups of people, including teaching staff how to conduct research and education on best practice for individual and family therapy.
  • Analyzed quantitative and qualitative data derived from study of residential program.
  • Wrote the final report to the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health.

Researcher, McMaster University

Hamilton, ON2010 to 2011

  • Conducted a yearlong qualitative study as part of graduate study.
  • Research focused on HIV-positive women’s experience with body image and illness related stigma.
  • Conducted literature reviews on HIV, women, and body image and created a dynamic research project.
  • Interviewed HIV-positive women in Southwestern Ontario using a feminist and postmodern epistemological approach and narrative research methods.
  • Wrote a dissertation and published paper on findings, disseminated findings to not-for-profit community and research participants, and presented findings at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network.

Research Assistant, Kings University College,

London ON2007 to 2010

  • Gained extensive academic writing and research skills in the areas ofhate crimes in Canada, environmentalism, eco feminism, disability studies, disability rights, violence, and Canadian law.
  • Translated scholarly literature and research material into user-friendly formats including word documents and presentations.
  • Transcribed audio interviews into written form for research purposes.

Teaching Experience

Workshop Facilitator, John Howard Society of Ontario Conference

Minett, ON 2013

  • Created and facilitated a two-day intensive workshop aimed at advanced training of psychotherapy to trained therapists
  • The workshop focused on teaching participants how to use Narrative Therapy

Teaching Assistant, McMaster University,

Hamilton ON 2010 to 2011

  • Position for the course Social Work 2AO6, a course teaching interviewing skills.
  • Created and facilitated tutorial lesson plans.
  • Graded assignments and inputted final marks.
  • Provided support to students through regular meetings and communication regarding academic and professional queries.

Invited Speaking, McMaster University

Hamilton ON 2011

  • Invited to speak to a professional social work class at McMaster University.
  • Presentation title: Clinical Practice with Women- Body Image and Feminist Narrative Practice.
  • Directed lecture and class discussion.

UWO Violence Prevention Program,

London ON 2007

  • Received training on psycho-education training to adolescents.
  • Taught curriculum to youth aged 14-16 in a secondary school, classroom setting.

Publications

Gibson, M. V. (2011). Body Image and HIV: Exploring the stories of HIV-positive women. Open Access Dissertations and Theses. Paper 6361.

Gibson, M.V. (2012). “Climbing a mountain”: Stories of women living with HIV on body imaging. Women’s Health & Urban Life, 11(2).

Lazure-Valconi, K. & Gibson, M. (2011). Planning Evaluation Grant Final Report: Lynwood Hall Child and Family Centre, The Hamilton Residential Phases Program. Ottawa, ON: Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health.

Lazure-Valconi, K. & Gibson, M. (2012). Doing Evaluation Grant Final Report: Lynwood Hall Child and Family Centre, The Hamilton Residential Phases Program. Ottawa, ON: Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health.

Gibson, M.V. (2012). “Climbing a mountain”: Stories of women living with HIV on body imaging. Women’s Health & Urban Life, 11(2).

Conference Presentations

Gibson, M.V. (2011). Body image and HIV: Exploring the stories of HIV-positive women. Ontario HIV Treatment Network Research Conference: Research at the Front Lines, Toronto ON.

Professional Development

Advanced Traumatic Stress Studies Certificate, ISTSS 2013

STATIC 99R Sex Offender Risk Assessment Training, Justice Institute B.C.

New Westminster, BC 2013

Summer Institute on Men, Trauma and Recovery, The Men’s Project,

Ottawa, ON 2013

EMDR Basic Training,

London, ON 2012 to 2013

  • Participated in specialized trauma therapy training certified by EMDRIA towards certification as an EMDR Therapist.

Certificate in Brief and Narrative Therapy with Individuals, Couples and Families

Toronto, ON2011 to 2012

  • Intensive externship program provided by the Hincks Dellcrest Centre and the University of Toronto.

Brain Research and Pedophilia, Dr. James Cantor (ATSA Conference)

Toronto, ON 2011

Empirically Supported Risk Assessments, Dr. H. Babaree (ATSA Conference)

Toronto, ON 2011

Solutions Focused Therapy for Addictions, St. Joseph’s Health Care

London ON 2011

  • Received a half-day training in solution-focused therapy for addictions as part of an employee training program.

Education Day on Smoking Management, St. Joseph’s Health Care

London ON 2011

  • Attended a full day conference on therapeutic strategies to address tobacco use and education of its psychological effects.

wHealth Conference,

Hamilton ON 2011

  • Participated in a full day conference for HIV positive women and HIV care providers.

Social Work Research Day, Kings University College,

London ON 2009

  • Participated in a full day research conference that focused on innovative social work research and emerging practices.

Memberships

Registered Social Worker, OCSWSSW 2010 to Present

Member, Ontario Association of Social Workers 2012 to Present

Member, EMDRIA 2013

Member, International Society for Traumatic Stress 2013

Member, Association for Treatment of Sex Abusers 2013