Julie McKenna

Julie is originally from Sydney, Australia and moved to Thunder Bay in 1989 to marry her husband Peter. Julie taught high school science and family studies in Thunder Bay with a focus on food and nutrition sciences for 25 years. She retired from teaching in 2015 which allowed her to join with Ishaawin, and then NorthWind to work as a counsellor. She has been working in the counselling field for over 2 ½ years.

Julie has a M.A. in Counselling from Providence Seminary, a B.Sc. in Food Science and a Graduate Diploma of Education. Her areas of focus as a counsellor include recovery from trauma, abuse and neglect, depression and anxiety, disordered eating habits, body image issues, relationship struggles, and ADHD. She is also completing studies at Prairie Institute of Expressive Arts Therapies and hopes to expand the modalities of healing she can offer to clients.

Julie has always been and continues to be passionate about providing a safe place that allows people of every age and ability to grow and heal; to shift from surviving to thriving. Past experience related to counselling includes organizing and facilitating the Celebrate Recovery program in Thunder Bay, as well as assisting in establishing and facilitating the Natural Helpers student peer counsellor program in high schools across the city for seven years. Julie was also a board member of New Life Ministries for 5 years and worked as program staff for 2 years in the women’s program at Hope House providing emotional, mental, physical and spiritual support for residents.

Julie enjoys art of all kinds, reading, and playing pickleball. She also enjoys spending time with family, both near and far. She relies on a favourite quote: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: In all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6.