Connie Butera, RP
(she/her)
Registered psychotherapT, B.Comm , B.A.s
I believe it's important to know who you are working with when you begin a Psychotherapy journey so please use this section of my website to get my know me better and my practice.
Purpose and Values
At Connie Butera Counselling & Psychotherapy, my mission is to provide compassionate, client-centered support to mothers, families, and children navigating the complexities of maternal mental health and neurodiversity. My inspiration comes from my own experiences as a young mother and raising children with exceptionalities—including Autism, ADHD, and Tourette Syndrome. I am dedicated to creating a safe, empathetic, and inclusive space where you feel understood and empowered.
I hold core values of respect for each client's autonomy and meeting them where they are in their therapeutic journey. I adopt a respectful and gentle parenting approach, utilizing both Public Health Standards, Western medicine and positive parenting techniques while honoring your choices and preferences as a parent. I also appreciate and incorporate holistic and natural wellness approaches to care. My goal is to support your unique path and embrace your individual values. Success in therapy for me means establishing a strong therapeutic relationship, where you actively engage in your own journey, with me as your supportive guide.
Client Population
I work with clients who face challenges such as the transition to parenthood, behavioral issues in children, emotional regulation, and difficulties with feeding and sleeping. In the neurodiverse space, I address concerns including navigating supports and services, mental health and behavioral issues, and exploring medication and therapy options. I support you through these challenges using evidence-based treatment options, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based approaches, while also drawing from other modalities based on your needs. My aim is to provide compassion, understanding, and guidance, and to create a supportive community for parents.
Therapeutic Approach
My therapeutic approach is flexible and client-centered, integrating a variety of evidence-based methods tailored to your individual needs. I frequently use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based practices, and other modalities such as solution-focused therapy, talk therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT). I believe in a collaborative and dynamic process of healing, growth, and change, where you are an active participant in your therapeutic journey. My role is to guide and support you as you explore your own insights and solutions, enhancing your self-awareness and achieving your personal and relational goals.
Long-Term Impact
Through our work together, I hope to help you recognize that you are not alone on your journey. Emphasizing the importance of building and embracing supportive networks, I assist you in tapping into circles of support and normalizing your experiences. By fostering a sense of connection and empowerment, I want you to leave with the reassurance that you are part of a broader community and are equipped with tools to navigate your ongoing journey effectively.
Vision for the Future
I envision a practice that continually evolves to meet your changing needs. Committed to staying at the forefront of evidence-based treatment options, I pursue ongoing education and training, including Gottman training and specialization in Autism and postpartum support. This dedication to my professional growth allows me to offer innovative and effective interventions to diverse populations. Please view my updated resume for my most recent course completions.
Working with LGBTQ+ Families
Inclusivity and respect for all individuals and families are central to my practice. I am committed to creating a welcoming and safe space for LGBTQ+ clients, affirming that "love is love" and celebrating diverse family structures. As an ordained pastoral chaplain and licensed wedding officiant, I marry same sex couples regularly and understand and support the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and families. My approach involves validating and supporting your experiences with gender identity and sexual orientation within the contexts of maternal mental health and family dynamics.
Cultural Sensitivity, Spiritual Care and Saliency
Cultural awareness and sensitivity are integral to my practice. I recognize the significant role that both religion and culture play in shaping your experiences with mental health, parenting, and family dynamics. Although I identify as as a Catholic/Christian, white Italian Canadian female (she/her), I work regularly with clients from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds. I am dedicated to being sensitive to and respectful of all cultural practices and religious beliefs, ensuring that your unique context is acknowledged and integrated into your therapeutic journey. As an Ordained Pastoral Chaplin, for those comfortable and wanting faith-based spiritual care, I am comfortable working with Christian Counselling principals and faith. I am also happy to eliminate the concept of Religion and Faith from your journey and learn more about what you have faith in to support your care.
Trauma-Informed Care
While trauma therapy is not my specialization, I am committed to a trauma-informed approach in all my work. Many clients come to counselling with experiences of trauma, and I incorporate evidence-based practices through a trauma-informed lens. I focus on birth trauma and birth story unpacking in my maternal mental health work. Providing a trauma-informed space means ensuring that you feel safe, supported, and validated. I address generational and complex trauma by offering compassionate support and validation, helping you process your experiences while acknowledging the impact of past trauma on your current challenges.
Confidentiality and Trust
Confidentiality and privacy are fundamental to my practice. Governed by my regulatory body, The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), I adhere to best practices and guidelines set out as well as HIPAA compliance. I ensure rigorous adherence to informed consent and confidentiality standards. I use compliant software (Jane App) to manage my practice and clinical notes/ virtual sessions. During the intake process, I provide comprehensive informed consent, and you will sign consent forms to affirm your understanding and agreement. This commitment to confidentiality extends to children, who also have rights to privacy in their sessions. Creating a trusting environment involves actively communicating the importance of confidentiality and building a space where you feel secure sharing personal and sensitive information.
My Bio
Learn more about my journey to psychotherapy
While also professionally working as an award-winning event planner and licensed wedding officiant/Ordained Pastoral Chaplain, I have had the privilege of volunteering over the years for where my heart desired most – helping others in my community. I especially enjoy working with parents. I a mother myself, especially of children who are neurodiverse, I have seen the the impacts that my work has had on my location as an Autism parent in the community.
Since 2019 I have been a Parent Mentor for The Children’s Treatment Network; providing support to parents of children on the Autism Spectrum. I have continued my studies by obtaining a Certificate in Autism via Kerry’s Place Autism Services and have utilized this training to support families in my community as well as my own son with Autism. I volunteer regularly with Project Autism York Region, coordinating programs, workshops and seminars for parents. I have created a YouTube Channel where I openly share my experiences in being an Autism Parent and connect other parents with resources in our community.
I am a graduate of York Universities Atkinson Faulty of Liberal & Professional Studies; having completed a Bachelor of Administrative Studies / Bachelor of Commerce. I have sought additional training with respect to various areas of parenting and perinatal support via various notable bodies including Post Partum Support International and Health Nexus – Best Start. When I became a first-time mother in 2010, I started working as a peer support mentor for new and expecting parents of children in my community.
As a Community Development Manager for The Life With A Baby Foundation (a registered charity); I have been supporting new moms in their journey to parenthood; especially moms experiencing signs and symptoms of Post Partum Mood Disorders. We do this through our peer-to-peer support model and providing information sessions, workshops, fun social events and seminars. I have been able to utilize my additional training to support thousands of mothers in my community by running support groups at a peer level.
I previously completed a 1 year contract with Catholic Community Services of York Region, working in their Counselling Group Services Program as the Program Manager, coordinating programs for clients of various needs. I would design and coordinate programs such as Newcomer Support Groups, Parenting Groups, Divorce & Separation Groups and more! This hands-on experience in Counselling Program Design & Management was a jet setter for me in Social Services. The groups that I coordinated serviced hundreds of families in need in my community. 
With the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality & events industry and my children getting older, I felt it was the perfect time for me to head back to school and career retrain for where my heart truly lays. I feel that all of my volunteer work has lead me to this point of serving others and I would love to continue what I am doing now but on a more hands on and clinical level. The impacts of my work in the various different Autism and Perinatal Mood Disorders community has been vast and I can see the need for additional support.
In January 2023, I became a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and Registered with The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). I completed my practicum with Life With A Baby Inc., supporting families in the vulnerable perinatal period.
In August 2023, I continued to service my local community in both my private practice as well as via a group practice at Oona of Newmarket. I look forward to how my new education can further impact the work I do in my community in helping additional families.
In August 2024, I was proud to officially open my full time private practice in Newmarket where I remain today.