Get to Know Us
A passionate team of licensed therapists and psychotherapists, here to support and counsel you.
The Lotus flower is a beautiful symbol of the growth and healing process our team has the privilege to be a part of with our clients every day.
We draw our inspiration from the Lotus flower and its very unique growth process. The Lotus starts rooted deep in the mud, but unlike other flowers, it must make its way through the murky water until it finally breaks the surface and blooms in the sun, beautiful and whole.
Our female led team of therapists provides evidence-based therapy in Hamilton and surrounding areas.
Why we exist
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to deliver evidence-based psychotherapy aligned with what is offered at leading healthcare organizations, while ensuring that the service structure supports our clients' unique needs.
Through decades of collective experience in both private and public health care settings, our team offers unique expertise that guides our practice. Our founder's blend of clinical and organizational management translates to an ability to truly deliver client-centred care without any undue restraints on our operation.
Unfortunately, public mental health and addictions services are underfunded and facing overwhelming pressure to do more with less. This translates into long waitlists, narrow program inclusion criteria, and pressure on these services to manage the volume of people accessing them. We are fortunate to have the ability to offer mental health and addictions services both publicly and privately in Canada.
Where we started
Our Foundation
Lotus Counselling Services was founded in 2014 by Elisha Schafer and began by operating out of the Burlington Public Library's room rental service. We began with a primary focus on addictions and offered support to both clients and their families. In 2015, we moved into our first office and planted our roots in Waterdown. Elisha is a Registered Psychotherapist with a passion for working with people, delivering psychotherapy based on evidence and research, and supervising clinicians in developing their own practice.
Over the years, Elisha has had the privilege of working with hundreds of individuals, both at Lotus and within Ontario's leading Mental Health and Addictions Clinics and Research programs.
Although we have diversified over the years, our primary areas of focus are addictions and anxiety treatment.
Elisha was a proud member of the founding group of individuals who pioneered the Concurrent Disorders programs at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. Elisha has also worked with Homewood Health Care, designing and implementing a co-morbid treatment for patients of the Assessment, Stabilization and Comprehensive Psychiatric Care unit. The experience gained through working with healthcare industry leaders has laid the foundation our practice is built upon.
Check Out Our Blog
Insights from our team
Evidence-informed perspectives on mental health, self-care, and wellness from our registered therapists.
Read the BlogReady to begin?
Book a free 15-minute consultation and we will help you find the right fit on our team.
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