Shé:kon, skennen'kó:wa ken! My name is Jeanine Susan Kowanonwis Claus and I am a Tkaronto/Toronto-based therapist offering individual virtual counselling services to people 18+ across Ontario.
I thank you for coming to my website and I welcome your strength and courage in seeking support. I am committed to working with people in a good way - with accountability, genuine respect and humility.
Hello and welcome! I welcome all of your identities and relations, whatever and whoever they may be.
I am an Indigiqueer cis-Femme (she/her), turtle clan, from the Lenape and Kanien'keha:ka* nations. I am a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (Tyendinaga), born and raised on the rez and currently living in Tkaronto/Toronto.
I began my supportive counselling career as a peer worker in 2008 before returning back to school, completing my studies and registering as a Social Worker in 2019. Alongside completing my BSW and MSW practicums at community agencies, I’ve been employed as a peer counsellor and facilitator, a community worker in Indigenous palliative care and as a therapist for post-secondary students . My background as a peer has informed my trauma-sensitive, intersectional and strengths-based approach as a therapist. I believe that folks deserve all the respect and dignified support no matter their background, experiences or circumstances.
It’s extremely important that I offer you validating, highly respectful and non-judgmental services. I am committed to being a BIPOC-allied, 2SLGBTQNB+, poly/kink and sex-worker affirming therapist. I invite you to contact me to see if we’re a good fit and I meet your standards of supportive care.
Currently I am offering sessions (in English) via phone and/or PHIPA-compliant video chat. Please contact me if you would like more information on my confidentiality, privacy policy and data retention practices. I also use a PHIPA-compliant database management system.
Below are some examples of concerns that people have brought to me. If you are looking for general support, please know I am here for you as well.
• Identities/Relations: reclaiming, loss of or navigating
• Intergenerational Trauma/Colonial Violence
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Climate change, global or environmental issues
• Suicidality, surviving suicide of others
• Non-judgmental support around coping strategies, substance use
• Experiencing macro and microaggressions
• Wanting to feel more connected
• Shame or feelings of being "wrong"
• Perfectionism and "imposter syndrome"
• Assault and harassment
Education
Masters of Social Work, University of Toronto 2019, specializing in Mental Health
Bachelor of Social Work, Toronto Metropolitan University 2015, minor in Psychology
Bachelor of Arts degree, York University 2006, English major.
Training and Therapy Practices
I know that life can be challenging and we all respond in unique ways to those challenges. In our work together I bring compassion to your many ways of being human. This means I generally check in with how you're doing on a wholistic level, including body, mind, emotions, spirit (or creed or worldviews, atheists are welcome!) and relationships, depending on your comfort level or if you have identified triggers. I consider myself a person-centered practitioner, understanding that what you need for well-being is guided and defined by yourself. My formal training includes:
• Narrative Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Solution-focused Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) from the Institute for Creative Mindfulness
I have also received land-based healing and traditional knowledges from my family and communities and may call upon this when it is appropriate.
If you have any questions about my approach or training please do not hesitate contact me.
As a Registered Social Worker, I am covered by most insurance plans. I am also a NIHB provider for eligible First Nations and Inuit people and I bill NIHB directly, so if you have a status card you are entitled to 20 or 22 sessions per year.
For other folks, my current standard full rate for a 1-hour session is $155, which will increase to $170 as of 2026. If this is not accessible to you at this time, as of Winter 2025, I have a few sliding scale spaces available. Please connect with me for details. At this time as my services are currently virtual, I accept online payments only (e-transfer and credit card).
If you have any questions about my practice or would like to schedule an initial free 20-minute phone consultation for yourself, please use this form. If you do not hear from me within a week, please check your spam folder.
I take extra care to safeguard your information as per the Ontario College of Social Work standards. Please do not disclose confidential personal, health or financial information into this form (i.e. no prescription information, no credit card information). If you have questions regarding my confidentiality policy and data retention practices please contact me.
Please note that I provide virtual/phone therapy sessions with current Ontario residents only. At this time I do not provide constellations/couples or family counselling.
Niá:wen for considering my practice and I look forward to hearing from you!