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Joe began working with youth in 1980 after graduating from Mohawk College’s Child and Youth Worker program. This intensive program allowed Joe to develop skills in the areas of youth and parent counselling, programming and activities, and the development of assessment skills and treatment plans designed to reduce acting out behaviours in young persons.  Upon graduation he worked for several treatment agencies such as the Children’s Aid Society of Brantford, Lynwood Hall Treatment Centre, White Oaks Training School, and the Syl Apps Youth Centre.  Joe also spent eight years at ThistleTown Regional Centre and the George Hull Centre working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a treatment program for hard-to-serve adolescents.  As part of the George Hull Centre, Joe was professionally mentored and educated in multiple treatment philosophies and the clinical skills required to work with children, adolescents, and families.  Joe has worked with a large cross section of youth including those with multiple diagnoses such ADHD, bi-polar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, Asperger’s syndrome, autism, and other behavioral disorders.

After working in treatment centres for a number of years, Joe became a police officer in 1989 and joined the Orangeville Police Service.  During his 20 year tour of duty as an officer he was active in developing numerous community initiatives for youth such as implementing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (D.A.R.E.) into the local school system.  In 2000, Joe proposed, developed, and implemented a Youth Bureau at the police service. This involved the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and sexual assault offences against children, and the development of a family intervention program aimed at reducing recidivism rates in young persons.  For this work, Joe received an award in 2002 from the Ontario Crime Commission for Excellence in Fighting Crime.  Joe also worked as an adult probation and parole officer for Halton Region on a part-time basis while planning his departure from the police service. Though this work he has gained a great deal of knowledge and skills regarding motivational counselling, stages of change, and addiction research and intervention techniques required for reducing recidivism.
After 20 years of police service, Joe took advantage of his early retirement option and re-entered the social work service area to operate as a private practitioner.  Through Justice Support Services, he provides counselling services for youth, adults, and families. Two decades of experience in social work and police work provides Joe with an excellent blend of knowledge and skills that make working with people involved in the legal system uniquely effective. Joe’s first hand experience working with victims of crime and his knowledge of the legal process and its effect on victims, makes him specially skilled at equipping victims with the coping mechanisms and resources required to meet their needs. He is able to effectively work with offenders to implement changes in their behaviour and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression using cognitive behavioural therapy techniques. Joe successfully operated Justice Support Services in the Orangeville area with his fellow practitioners from 2009 to 2017. During this time he has supported many young people with various challenges and supported them in finding a new perspective on their lives, equipping them with new skills and teaching them how to find meaning without further involvement in the legal system.

Based on the support needs being presented by clients and the natural expansion into other areas of service it was time to rename the business, giving it a more descriptive focus on what we actually do which is to support many different individuals (youth, adults and families) in navigating their way through a variety of challenges, not just involvement with the court system, but in family mediation, addiction issues, anger management, stress management and specialized services for clients with acquired brain injuries as well as others that require a unique support system such as emergency services personnel.  We have grown as counsellors and through our commitment to continued education and the development of further knowledge and skills, we have over the past several years become very good at assessing people’s needs and finding the resources to meet those needs.

In 2017 we renamed the business to Discovery Support Services and presented the image of the lighthouse to express what our focus truly is, to simply support others in finding their way.


ACCREDITATIONS, AWARDS, AND PROFESSIONAL DECLARATIONS

  • 2001 Chief’s Commendation Award for Exceptional Commitment and Dedication to the Well Being of Youth in our Community
    Member of the Child and Youth Counsellors Association of Ontario
  • Provider of Youth and Family Counselling and delivery of a Justice Intervention strategy designed to assist youth and families in navigation through the legal system
  • 2001 Award for distinguished and dedicated service advocating the respect for law objectives of Optimist International
  • 2002 Award from the Ontario Crime Commission for the development of family intervention plans designed to reduce recidivism
  • Numerous Ontario Police College courses related to the investigation and interviewing of children in child abuse and sexual assault cases
  • Former member of the Dufferin Child and Family Services Child Abuse Review Team
  • Active member in good standing of the Child and Youth Care Association of Ontario
  • Certificate of Completion: Brain Basics (Ontario Brain Injury Association)
  • Brock University Certification: Neurorehabilitation: Assisting Recovery And Function In Everyday Life Following Brain Injury (Ontario Brain Injury Association)
  • B.A. Sociology from McMaster University and 2 year Child and Youth Worker Program diploma from Mohawk College

 


Nicole Miller has over 23 years experience counseling children, youth, women and the elderly. Her experience covers a broad range of real life challenges including: behavioral issues, abuse, high conflict divorce, grief, loss, anxiety, crisis, trauma, and substance abuse. While on the Dean's List, Nicole graduated with honors in 1993 with Social Services Worker certification from Seneca Collage. Early in her career, Nicole worked for the Ministry of Social Services in Peel and the City of Toronto specializing in support for young adults, pregnant teens, families and formerly institutionalized people transitioning back to into the community. She is a mother of three children, two of which are now adults starting their careers in health care and air transport. She is a dedicated professional with a strong compassion to help those in need using empowerment and long term support strategies.

Her focus areas with Discovery Support Services include:

  • Grief counseling
  • Divorce
  • Female adolescents
  • Panic and anxiety
  • Support for parents
  • Victims of abuse (i.e. domestic, physical, sexual, or emotional)
  • Cognitive behavior therapy
  • ADHD
  • Youth at risk

 


Michele initially started her career in business and marketing working in the private sector for many years, however, her empathetic nature and desire to help and make a difference in the lives of others led her to return to school while she was a stay-at-home mother of three so she could become an Early Childhood Educator.  As an E.C.E. she supported students with various learning disabilities in both integrated and segregated classroom models.  Her commitment to helping others steered her towards supporting those touched by an ABI and as a Case Manager, her initiative, positive attitude and supportive style have helped many clients and their families during their recovery.

Michele utilizes her strong organizational and communication skills in supporting clients in all facets of the rehabilitation treatment process, such as, advocating for clients on accessibility, legal, medical and insurance matters, as well as, providing support for housing placement, counselling, community integration, etc.   Michele is currently completing certification in Community Advocacy and has completed numerous workshops and training modules specializing in behaviour management, ODSP/Ontario Works, CBT, assessments/interviewing report writing, Health & Safety, Safe Management, First Aid & CPR, etc.  She would be honoured and privileged to help support you in navigating your life’s journey.

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