Lesley Hartman & Associates will soon be known as East Coast Psychotherapy & Trauma Clinic.
Meet Our Team

Tia DeGiobbi I She/Her
MScOT Reg. (NS) Registered Occupational Therapist (NS)
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Young adults (+14)/ Adults ⋅Anxiety
⋅ PTSD ⋅Trauma ⋅OCD ⋅Phobias ⋅BPD ⋅Stress ⋅CBT ⋅DBT

Corinne Sauve I She/Her
MSW, RSW - Clinical Specialist
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Adults (+18) ⋅Anxiety
⋅ PTSD ⋅Parenting issues ⋅Relationship issues ⋅Stress ⋅Women's Health issues ⋅CBT ⋅DBT

Dammy Emeto | She/Her
Counselling Psychology (MACP) Candidate
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Adults ⋅Anxiety ⋅Depression ⋅Stress

Ellène Comeau | She/Her
Doctoral Clinical Psychology Student
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Bilingual ⋅Children/ Adolescents/ Young Adults ⋅Anxiety & Depression ⋅ADHD ⋅Autism ⋅PTSD/Trauma ⋅Sleep difficulties

Paul Collins I He/Him
Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Candidate)
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Adults ⋅Seniors ⋅Depression & Anxiety ⋅ADHD ⋅Trauma ⋅OCD ⋅Stress management ⋅Interpersonal and communication issues ⋅Assessments

Jean Sloan | She/Her
M.A., LCT-C Registered Counselling
⋅Virtual ⋅Adults (18+)
⋅Complex trauma (C-PTSD) ⋅Childhood and attachment trauma ⋅Depression and anxiety ⋅Life management ⋅Emotion regulation ⋅Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)

Jillian Mercer | She/Her
BScOT Reg. (NS) Registered Occupational Therapist (NS)
⋅Virtual & In-Person ⋅Young adults /Children/Youth/Teenagers/ Parenting
⋅TF-CBT ⋅CBT ⋅ARC ⋅Trauma ⋅ADHD
⋅Depression ⋅Behavioral Issues ⋅Sensory Regulation

Derrick Neubauer | He/Him
M.S., Psychologist
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Daytime & Evenings ⋅Adults & Seniors ⋅Teen Males ⋅2SLGBTQIA+ ⋅Trauma ⋅ADHD ⋅PTSD ⋅ASD ⋅Behavioural Issues ⋅Fears/Phobias ⋅Forensics

Beth Knowles I She/Her
M.A., RCT-C Registered Counselling (Candidate)
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Young Adults (+16) ⋅Adults ⋅Anxiety ⋅C-PTSD/ PTSD ⋅Trauma ⋅OCD ⋅Attachment wounds ⋅Self-concept and self esteem ⋅Identity

Chelsea Smith | She/Her
M.A., Counselling Psych., Psychologist (Candidate Register)
⋅Assessments ⋅Depression ⋅ADHD ⋅Trauma ⋅Bereavement ⋅Relationship Issues ⋅CPT ⋅EFT ⋅ACT

Kelly Byrne | She/Her
M.A., RCT-C Registered Counselling
⋅Virtual & In-Person ⋅Adults/Youth
⋅CBT ⋅DBT ⋅ASD ⋅Trauma ⋅ADHD
⋅ACT ⋅Depression and Anxiety ⋅Mindfulness

Heather MacPhee |She/Her
MScOT Reg. (NS) Registered Occupational Therapist (NS)
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Adult ⋅Youth/Children ⋅ADHD ⋅ASD ⋅PTSD & Trauma ⋅Depression ⋅Anxiety ⋅Developmental Trauma

Alisa Brown | She/Her
BScKIN, MSc(OT), Reg. OT (NS)
⋅Virtual ⋅Children & Youth ⋅Mood Disorders ⋅Anxiety ⋅Borderline Personality Disorder ⋅ADHD ⋅Emotion Regulation ⋅ACT ⋅CBT ⋅TF-CBT

Sarah Mansfield | She/Her
M.A. Applied Psych. Psychologist
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Adults ⋅PTSD ⋅Trauma ⋅EMDR ⋅CBT ⋅EFT ⋅DBT-Informed

Jennifer Volsky Rushton|She/Her
Ph.D., Psychologist
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Grief ⋅Traumatic Brain Injury ⋅Trauma ⋅Interpersonal Relationships ⋅Burnout ⋅Menopause ⋅ACT, EMDR, CBT

Michael Earle |He/Him
MSW, RSW, Clinical Specialist
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Anxiety ⋅Low Mood ⋅Emotional Regulation ⋅Risk Management ⋅Addiction ⋅Complex & Developmental Trauma ⋅CBT ⋅TF-CBT ⋅EMDR

Victoria Mckee | She/Her
MSc, RCT, CCC
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Adults ⋅Trauma ⋅Anxiety ⋅Depression ⋅Complex Trauma ⋅PTSD ⋅Recovery from Abuse ⋅EMDR ⋅Guided Imagery

Laura Mitchell | She/Her
M.A., Psychologist
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Adolescents ⋅Adults ⋅LGBTQIA ⋅Depression ⋅Anxiety ⋅Trauma & PTSD ⋅CBT ⋅ACT ⋅EMDR

Janice Spencer | She/Her
MSW, RSW, Clinical Specialist
⋅Virtual ⋅Stress ⋅Anxiety ⋅Anticipatory Grief and Loss ⋅Adults ⋅Youth (16+) ⋅Family Mediation

Marie Josette Durup |She/Her
Ph.D., Psychologist
⋅Virtual ⋅Individuals ⋅Families ⋅Couples ⋅Work & Family Stress ⋅Separation & Divorce ⋅Trauma ⋅Depression & Anxiety

Nicole Ali | She/Her
Ph.D., Psychologist
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Assessments ⋅Children ⋅Adolescents ⋅Adults ⋅Anxiety ⋅Low Mood ⋅Low Self-Esteem ⋅Chronic Pain ⋅CBT ⋅DBT ⋅ACT

Jessica Ali | She/Her
MSW, RSW, Clinical Specialist
⋅In-Person & Virtual ⋅Couples ⋅Adults ⋅Emotionally Focused Therapy
Meet Our Administrative Team


Cori Bradley | She/Her
Admin Team | Practice Manager
About Us
Helping People Rise Above
We are a vibrant team of competent, compassionate psychologists and therapists in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We believe in the power of the human spirit to rise above.
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The vision of the psychologists and therapists at Lesley Hartman & Associates Inc. is to provide individuals of all ages, families and community groups a place where they can become empowered by experiencing their own capacity to heal themselves. Through these experiences our psychologists and therapists hope to assist people to be contributors to the wellness and healing of their families, community and world.
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As well as offering Halifax residents best practice mental health treatments for a wide range of general psychological concerns, we offer highly specialized treatment services for people who experience the following struggles: PTSD; sexual problems; Acquired Brain Injuries and Borderline Personality Disorder. We pioneered the first comprehensive DBT program in private practice east of Montreal, the highest concentration of EMDR practitioners under one roof in Nova Scotia.

Who Can Help?
Understanding the difference between: Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists & Counseling Therapists in Nova Scotia
Navigating the world of mental health care can be confusing, especially when trying to understand the roles of different professionals. While psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and counseling therapists all play vital roles in supporting mental health, they each bring unique training, expertise, and approaches to care. This page will guide you through the key differences, helping you understand who might be the best fit for your needs or the needs of someone you care about.

Psychiatrists
The main difference between a psychiatrist and other mental health professionals lies in their medical training and scope of practice. Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs or equivalent) who complete medical school and specialize in psychiatry. As medical doctors, they can prescribe medications. Psychiatrists focus on the medical aspects of mental health, including diagnosing and treating severe psychiatric conditions.
In Nova Scotia, accessing a psychiatrist typically requires a referral from a family doctor or another healthcare professional. They play a critical role in supporting individuals with more complex or medical-based mental health concerns.
We do not have any psychiatrists at Lesley Hartman & Associates.
Psychologists
A psychologists primary focus is to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions through evidence-based psychological methods. Psychologists differ from other mental health professionals through their expertise in psychological assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based therapy. They cannot prescribe medication but focus instead on therapy and understanding behaviors through advanced psychological techniques.
We have psychologists available at Lesley Hartman & Associates.


Social Workers
Social workers stand out in mental health care through their focus on social, environmental and systemic factors affecting well-being. Social workers do not prescribe medication or conduct formal psychological assessments. They provide emotional support, connect clients to resources, and address issues like housing, relationships, or trauma. Social workers consider the client's entire social context while also offering therapeutic interventions.
We have social workers available at Lesley Hartman & Associates.
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapists (OTs) who provide counseling services bring a unique approach to mental health care by focusing on how mental health impacts daily functioning and activities. OTs do not prescribe medication, and do not conduct formal psychological assessments. They help individuals build skills, regain independence, and achieve personal goals.
We have occupational therapists available at Lesley Hartman & Associates


Counseling Therapists
Counseling Therapists specialize in providing talk therapy to help individuals navigate emotional challenges, improve relationships, and foster personal growth. They do not prescribe medication and do not conduct formal psychological testing. Their work focuses on creating supportive, collaborative environment to address concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, or life transitions. Counseling therapists center primarily on therapeutic conversations, using evidence based approaches or mindfulness to support mental health and well-being.
We have counseling therapists available at Lesley Hartman & Associates.
Join Our Team
At Lesley Hartman & Associates, we believe that meaningful change begins with a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship. Our practice is built on collaboration, integrity, and a deep respect for each individual’s journey toward healing and growth.
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We provide evidence-based, client-centered psychological services for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Our team of psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, and registered counsellors brings diverse expertise and a shared commitment to compassionate care — helping clients build resilience, clarity, and well-being.
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As a supportive and dynamic team, we value professional growth, open communication, and a culture of mutual respect. We work together to create a warm environment where both clients and clinicians can thrive.
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We’re always excited to connect with skilled, empathetic, and motivated therapists and mental health professionals who are passionate about making a difference.
Open positions
We are currently hiring for permanent full-time or part-time positions. Multiple positions are available, and we offer flexible start dates with no application deadline.
You are someone who brings clinical skill, knowledge of evidence-based practices, a client-centered approach and warmth to your work with clients, and who values diversity, independence and connection in the workplace.
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Clinical Adult Psychologist & Child/Adolescent Psychologist
On-Site Remote, & Hybrid Options ⋅ Flexible Scheduling ⋅ Competitive Compensation
Mental Health Clinician
(MSW Social Worker—Clinical Specialists; MA Registered Counselling Therapists; or M.O.T.)
On-Site Remote, & Hybrid Options ⋅ Flexible Scheduling ⋅ Competitive Compensation