Meet Dana

 

Dana Feniak (Swystun) is a Registered Social Worker with over 10 years of experience working with children, youth and families. Previously as a Child and Youth Counsellor Dana provided mental health and behavioural support to children in an alternative education setting. Dana then moved to a role supporting families with children with special needs, prior to completing her Master of Social Work education. Most recently, Dana has been providing specialized treatment to children who have experienced trauma through her work with a community agency.

Dana brings transparency and authenticity to her work, which helps to put children, youth, or parents she is working with at ease. This is especially helpful for anyone who is feeling apprehensive about meeting with a therapist.

Dana helps to identify strengths and use the power of emotion and relationships to shift patterns that are not working so that children, youth and families can successfully navigate life’s challenges. 

In addition to seeing children and youth individually, Dana has a particular passion for providing parent support and family therapy. She holds hope for families navigating a variety of circumstances and their capacity to heal in relationships with one another to find new ways forward.

Her passion for this work comes in part from her own lived experience as a sibling and caregiver to her brother with a disability.  

The first step is a phone call with our Client Care Coordinator Anne-Marie to ensure that we get you set up with right support for your family’s unique needs.

Areas of treatment

 

  • Emotion Dysregulation

  • Families with Children with a Disability or Special Needs

  • Parenting

  • Parent-Child or Family Relationship Difficulties

  • Attachment and Trauma

  • School Concerns

  • Self-Esteem

  • ADHD

  • Anxiety

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

 

Techniques used

  • Emotion/ally Focused Therapy

  • Creative and Play-based Therapy

  • Polyvagal Theory

  • Neurobiology informed

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Theraplay (in training)

Education

  • Master of Social Work with a Clinical Specialization from the University of Calgary

  • Bachelor of Health Sciences in Health and Society with a Concentration in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies from the University of Calgary

  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Calgary

Certifications

  • Level 1 and 2 Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy

  • Emotion-Focused Family Therapy and Emotion-Focused Skills Training

  • Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy

  • Polyvagal Theory in Therapy

  • Sandtray in Therapy

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy & Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy

  • Dialectical-Behaviour Therapy

  • DIR Floortime Therapy 101 & 201 Certified

  • Theraplay (in training)

Professional organizations

  • Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)

  • Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)