Carol Openshaw
MSW, RSW
Carol Openshaw has enjoyed a diverse career in Social Work for over 25 years, working with children, adolescents and adults. Carol’s interest in clinical social work practice is to support persons who are experiencing difficult transitions, including but not limited to:
grief and loss,
parenting children with neurodiversities,
depression and anxiety,
workplace dissatisfaction,
managing the challenges that face blended families,
caring for aging parents.
Carol offers a safe, confidential and non-judgmental approach for all clients, and provides a supportive and compassionate space to explore worries, fears, and her clients’ goals to achieve a balanced, happy life. Carol has provided therapeutic care at several well recognized Ottawa area programs including the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre, Roger Neilson House, and the Youth Services Bureau.
Grief and Bereavement
Carol has provided therapeutic interventions to families all along the trajectory of their loved one’s illness, and she has an understanding of the complexities of emotions faced by all family members coping with new diagnosis and treatment. Carol has significant experience supporting adolescents and adults as they cope with the loss of loved ones.
Carol’s area of specialty in bereavement is therapeutic care for those grieving perinatal loss, and program development and advocacy for these families. She understands the depth of grief and trauma experienced by families, and believes in the importance of accompanying them as they adjust to their new normal. Carol is well versed in supporting all presenting types of perinatal loss, including neonatal death, stillborn loss, infertility issues, medical termination for medical reasons, and miscarriage loss. Carol believes that with patience, support, understanding, and perseverance, families will begin to live hope and happiness again! Carol has enjoyed offering mental health training and presentations over the course of her career and has significantly contributed to online bereavement education, including to Canadian Virtual Hospice, and is recognized as a grief expert.
Parenting Children with Neurodiversities and Differences
Carol has extensive experience providing parents compassionate therapy, education, and support as they navigate the journey of parenting children with both physical differences (ex: cerebral palsy, genetic diagnosis, etc) and neurodiversities (ex: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, etc). Carol’s experience includes offering treatment to families as a part of specialized teams at CHEO and the Children’s Treatment Centre.
Carol uses well recognized evidence-based approaches in her treatment, including Grief Therapy, CBT, Narrative therapy, and Solution Focused therapy.
At this time, Carol offers care by video.
