Michelle V. Gibson B.S.W., M.S.W., RSW
Gibson Counselling & Consulting
Suite 314, 111 Waterloo Street, London ON N6B 2M4
(519) 933-6975
mgibsoncounselling@gmail.com
Academia
McMaster University, Hamilton ON
 Doctor of Philosophy, Social Work (Candidate)
September 2013 to 2017
McMaster University, Hamilton ON
 Masters of Social Work degree (Clinical)
September 2010 to 2011
Kings University College, London ON
 Honours Bachelors of Social Work degree with distinction.
2005 to 2010
Professional Experience
Psychotherapist, Gibson Counselling and Consulting
London, ON
2013 to Present
 Provide individual, couple, family and group psychotherapy with adolescents
and adults.
 Role includes conducting intensive assessments that include focusing on
attachment, developmental stages and delays, history of traumatic incidence,
history of adjustment and resilience, and family history.
 Specialize in EMDR-based trauma therapy and talk-based psychotherapy that
focuses on health concerns and illness, traumatic brain injury, critical
incidence stress and trauma, panic and anxiety, depression, violence, anger,
and self-esteem and body image concerns.
Psychotherapy Consultant, Rehab First
London ON
2011 to Present
 Role included providing case management and clinical social work services
to individuals, couples, and families who have experienced injuries from a
motor vehicle accident.
 Role focused on completing intensive assessments that investigate
developmental stages and delays, impact of trauma, adjustment to life
following traumatic experience, family relationships, and the clinical needs of
the client.
 Specialization in providing trauma-based psychotherapy and facilitating
return to work and return to activities of normal life.
 Work with a diverse population of clients that pediatrics and adults suffering
from traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and multiple physical and
psychological impairments.
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Prepare detailed reports for legal counsel based on clinical assessments and
recommendations.
Practice follows evidenced based models of care including implementation of
cognitive behavioural therapies, narrative therapy, dialectal behavioural
therapy, crisis intervention, and solutions focused therapy.
Regular consultation with legal counsel and regulated health professionals.
Social Worker, St. Joseph’s Health Care
London ON
2011
 Employed as social worker on multidisciplinary team for practice in a
residential, forensic inpatient psychosis program (Axis I & II).
 Direct practice and psycho-education with individuals and families that
focused on depression, anxiety, self-esteem, addictions, anger, and violence.
 Facilitated individual and family therapy following the recovery model of
mental health care and evidenced based therapies.
 Regular consultation with fellow professionals and community partners.
 Gained an understanding of the Mental Health Act and inpatient procedures.
Social Worker, John Howard Society of London and District,
London ON
2008 to 2011
 Facilitated intensive counseling with youth and adults involved in, or at risk
of being involved in, the criminal justice system.
 Provided clinical Social Work interventions for adolescents in school-based
setting.
 Conducted individual, couple and family therapy focused on: grief,
relationship issues, violence, sexual abuse, trauma, self-harm, and sexuality.
 Advanced therapy skills with people who engaged in violent activities, sexual
offenders, and anger management.
 Employed evidenced based therapies in practice with clients.
 Completed bio-psycho-social assessments and records of client meetings
 Provided referrals and advocacy for clients.
 Represented the organization at Child and Youth Network and Northeast
Working Group meetings.
Summer Counsellor, Youth Opportunities Unlimited,
London ON
2007 to 2008
 Group facilitation and direct interaction with youth facing housing, drug,
pregnancy, family and violence issues
 Plan and prepare files and findings for statistical purposes
Student Social Worker, Hutton House,
London ON
2007 to 2008
 Directly counseled clients who experience barriers due to the presence of a
disability and diagnosis of mental illness
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Plan and facilitate group activities for Life Coaching for Women support
group
Write strengths based assessments and case notes
Research Experience
Co-Investigator, McMaster University and Lynwood Charlton Centre,
Hamilton ON
2010 to 2013
 Employed to assist in development of program evaluation for inpatient
children and youth mental health program.
 Conducted a literature review on residential programs for children and
mental health treatment for children, youth and their family.
 Prepared and presented findings to organization staff and directors.
 Developed and presented to large groups of people, including teaching staff
how to conduct research and education on best practice for individual and
family therapy.
 Analyzed quantitative and qualitative data derived from study of residential
program.
 Wrote the final report to the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth
Mental Health.
Researcher, McMaster University
Hamilton, ON
2010 to 2011
 Conducted a yearlong qualitative study as part of graduate study.
 Research focused on HIV-positive women’s experience with body image and
illness related stigma.
 Conducted literature reviews on HIV, women, and body image and created a
dynamic research project.
 Interviewed HIV-positive women in Southwestern Ontario using a feminist
and postmodern epistemological approach and narrative research methods.
 Wrote a dissertation and published paper on findings, disseminated findings
to not-for-profit community and research participants, and presented
findings at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network.
Research Assistant, Kings University College,
London ON
2007 to 2010
 Gained extensive academic writing and research skills in the areas of hate
crimes in Canada, environmentalism, eco feminism, disability studies,
disability rights, violence, and Canadian law.
 Translated scholarly literature and research material into user-friendly
formats including word documents and presentations.
 Transcribed audio interviews into written form for research purposes.
Teaching Experience
Workshop Facilitator, John Howard Society of Ontario Conference
Minett, ON
2013
 Created and facilitated a two-day intensive workshop aimed at advanced
training of psychotherapy to trained therapists
 The workshop focused on teaching participants how to use Narrative
Therapy
Teaching Assistant, McMaster University,
Hamilton ON
2010 to 2011
 Position for the course Social Work 2AO6, a course teaching interviewing
skills.
 Created and facilitated tutorial lesson plans.
 Graded assignments and inputted final marks.
 Provided support to students through regular meetings and communication
regarding academic and professional queries.
Invited Speaking, McMaster University
Hamilton ON
2011
 Invited to speak to a professional social work class at McMaster University.
 Presentation title: Clinical Practice with Women- Body Image and Feminist
Narrative Practice.
 Directed lecture and class discussion.
UWO Violence Prevention Program,
London ON
2007
 Received training on psycho-education training to adolescents.
 Taught curriculum to youth aged 14-16 in a secondary school, classroom
setting.
Publications
Gibson, M. V. (2011). Body Image and HIV: Exploring the stories of HIV-positive
women.
Open
Access
Dissertations
and
Theses.
Paper
6361.
http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/opendissertations/6361
Gibson, M.V. (2012). “Climbing a mountain”: Stories of women living with HIV on
body imaging. Women’s Health & Urban Life, 11(2).
Lazure-Valconi, K. & Gibson, M. (2011). Planning Evaluation Grant Final Report:
Lynwood Hall Child and Family Centre, The Hamilton Residential Phases Program.
Ottawa, ON: Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health.
Lazure-Valconi, K. & Gibson, M. (2012). Doing Evaluation Grant Final Report:
Lynwood Hall Child and Family Centre, The Hamilton Residential Phases Program.
Ottawa, ON: Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health.
Gibson, M.V. (2012). “Climbing a mountain”: Stories of women living with HIV on
body imaging. Women’s Health & Urban Life, 11(2).
Conference Presentations
Gibson, M.V. (2011). Body image and HIV: Exploring the stories of HIV-positive
women. Ontario HIV Treatment Network Research Conference: Research at the Front
Lines, Toronto ON.
Professional Development
Advanced Traumatic Stress Studies Certificate, ISTSS
2013
STATIC 99R Sex Offender Risk Assessment Training, Justice Institute B.C.
New Westminster, BC
2013
Summer Institute on Men, Trauma and Recovery, The Men’s Project,
Ottawa, ON
2013
EMDR Basic Training,
London, ON
2012 to 2013
 Participated in specialized trauma therapy training certified by EMDRIA
towards certification as an EMDR Therapist.
Certificate in Brief and Narrative Therapy with Individuals, Couples and
Families
Toronto, ON
2011 to 2012
 Intensive externship program provided by the Hincks Dellcrest Centre and
the University of Toronto.
Brain Research and Pedophilia, Dr. James Cantor (ATSA Conference)
Toronto, ON
2011
Empirically Supported Risk Assessments, Dr. H. Babaree (ATSA Conference)
Toronto, ON
2011
Solutions Focused Therapy for Addictions, St. Joseph’s Health Care
London ON
2011
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Received a half-day training in solution-focused therapy for addictions as
part of an employee training program.
Education Day on Smoking Management, St. Joseph’s Health Care
London ON
2011
 Attended a full day conference on therapeutic strategies to address tobacco
use and education of its psychological effects.
wHealth Conference,
Hamilton ON
2011
 Participated in a full day conference for HIV positive women and HIV care
providers.
Social Work Research Day, Kings University College,
London ON
2009
 Participated in a full day research conference that focused on innovative
social work research and emerging practices.
Memberships
Registered Social Worker, OCSWSSW
Member, Ontario Association of Social Workers
Member, EMDRIA
Member, International Society for Traumatic Stress
Member, Association for Treatment of Sex Abusers
2010 to Present
2012 to Present
2013
2013
2013