Suzanne Zook-Johnston, PhD MFT, MA Counselling Psychology, BA Sc & Dawn Shickluna, BA, MA, MEd, PhD

Suzanne Zook-Johnston, PhD MFT, MA, holds a doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. During her doctoral studies, Suzanne published an international research outcome study in a global couple therapy approach called Relational Life Therapy (RLT) developed by Terry Real. Suzanne presented her research at the Transnational Education and Learning Society (TELS) annual conference in Wisconsin, and for a group of researchers from the Department of Psychology at the American Institute in Cairo, Egypt. Suzanne is an adjunct professor at Niagara University and teaches Couples and Family Therapy, as well as Group Counselling. Suzanne is the clinical director of the Niagara Relationship Health Centre (NRHC) in St. Catharine’s, Ontario, where she offers clinical supervision and was nominated for the Niagara Impact award in 2021. For over 25 years, Suzanne has treated individuals, couples and families. She is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and works as a psychotherapist at Brock University and at the NRHC. Suzanne takes a systemic, trauma-informed approach to her clinical work and is highly skilled in psychotherapy treatment modalities such as Bowan’s Transgenerational Family Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Post-Induction Therapy (PIT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Brief Solution Focused Therapy (BSFT), Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Narrative Therapy (NT), Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Emotional Focused therapy (EFT) and Gestalt Therapy. Suzanne takes pride and joy in helping people who struggle emotionally, relationally and mentally with life’s challenges, and enjoys working with diverse populations.

Dawn Shickluna, MA, MEd, PhD, is a registered psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and consultant with 25 years of experience in community mental health and social development. She is the owner and clinical director of Human Connections and works with various organizations in the Niagara region. Dawn has focused her training & practice expertise in the areas of trauma, stress & anxiety, gender & sexual diversity, and working with individuals and communities who have been marginalized. Dawn works from an anti-oppression framework and is experienced in many therapeutic modalities and community capacity building. Dawn’s academic research has focused on structural and systemic violence, oppression & trauma.