Kali Hewitt-Blackie, MA

I have over 20 years of clinical experience as a psychotherapist. Initially, I specialized in sexual abuse, women's issues and eating disorders. In the early 90s, I did doctoral course work in feminist psychology and community organizing. I feel I can only be present for others to the extent that I have a commitment to my own learning and development. I have expertise in work with individuals, couples, and families-- focusing on relational issues to help my clients discover balance-in-relationship.

My methods are at once challenging, direct, and supportive.

Education:

• 2004-2007 Gestalt Institute of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • Advanced Training in Gestalt Leadership and Therapy. Graduated from the Gestalt Therapist Training Program
• 1990-1995 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto, ON
  • Community Psychology Department: Feminism and Community Change
  • Doctoral program (Ed.D). Course work complete, dissertation pending
• 1990s Psychodrama Institute of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • Completed intensive week-long trainings in the application of psychodrama to therapeutic interventions throughout the 1990s while doing academic work at O.I.S.E.
• 1986-1988 Antioch University, San Francisco, California
  • Master of Arts, Somatic Psychology and Education
  • Valedictorian address
• 1982-1986 Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec. Bachelor of Arts, Major- Philosophy
  • Graduated with distinction
• 1981 John Abbott College, St. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec. D.E.C., Health Sciences

I continue my academic and experiential learning by on-going continuing education classes throughout the years. In the past three years I have attended the following:

• October 24, 2008 OACCPP Professional Development Conference
  • Non-Traditional Family Support (4 credits)
• October 24, 2008 OACCPP Professional Development Conference
  • Freedom to Engage (4 credits)
• October, 2008 Gestalt Institute of Toronto, Student Clinic
  • Sarah Sheard and I designed and co-led an experiential 2-hr workshop on Pitfalls Encountered by New Therapists
• November 5-7, 2009 OACCPP Annual Conference
  • Process of Regulation: An Update on the New College of Psychotherapy & the Transitional Council (9am-12noon)
• May 22-24, 2009 Gestalt Institute of Toronto, weekend workshop
  • (Friday night, Saturday & Sunday)
  • Sensory Awareness with Lee Lesser
• October, 2009 Gestalt Institute of Toronto, 3hr workshop
  • Designed and led workshop entitled: How I get in my own way. -- An exploration of self-sabotage
• February 8, 2010 Gestalt Institute of Toronto
  • I designed and led a workshop for Gestalt Therapists on Working with Eating Disorders from a Gestalt Perspective. 2hr experiential/didactic workshop
• May 28-30, 2010 Gestalt Institute of Toronto, workshop (Friday night, Saturday and Sunday)
  • Sensory Awareness with Lee Lesser
• June 2-6, 2010 Gestalt AAGT Conference, Philadelphia, USA
  • Continuity and Change: Gestalt Therapy Now (20.5 credits)
• November 4-6, 2010 OACCPP AGM & Conference (11 hrs. continuing education credits (listed below))
  • Comparisons & Contrasts in Alternative Modalities in Treatment. (2 credits)
  • Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning. (1 credit)
  • The Hungry Ghost: A Biopsychosocial Perspective on Addiction. (4 credits)
  • When the Body Says No: Mind/Body Unity and the Stress-Disease Connection. (4 credits)

Presentations:

• 2009 REEL Talk Guest Speaker. Manulife Centre, Toronto
  • Invited to speak about the psychological aspects of the verite-style film from Australia entitled "Men's Room."
• May 1994 Guest TV Ontario's programme UnMasking Mental Illness
  • Invited to speak on the topic of : women & depression from a feminist perspective as compared to the medical model.
• February 1994 Guest Speaker. Anorexia/Bulimia Family Support Group, City Hall, Toronto
  • Spoke to families on the topic of understanding eating disorders from a non-pathologizing perspective.
• 1992-1995 Member National Eating Disorders Information Center (N.E.D.I.C.), Toronto General Hospital, Toronto
  • Steering Committee member for E.D.A.W. (Eating Disorders Awareness Week), held February 1-7, 1993; 1994.
• 1992-present Member Women's Counselling Referral & Education Centre (WCREC), Toronto.
  • Listed with WCREC as feminist therapist specializing in eating disorders, addictions and sexual abuse.
• November 1992 Appeared in two television productions:
  • Cable 10 Maclean Hunter- Beyond the Fridge- a feminist program on eating disorders produced by SHE TV
  • Guest on Focus on the Future (Newton Cable 9) in which I was interviewed on the topic of eating disorders from a feminist perspective.
• February 1993 CUIT Radio, Toronto
  • Appeared on the feminist program to publicize Eating Disorders Awareness Week as well as to sensitize viewers to feminist views on the topic.

Contact Information

Office Location: 104 Sumach Street, Toronto, ON M5A 3J9

Telephone: 416-214-9742

Email: sumach@rogers.com

Hours of Operation: Alternate Saturday and Sunday. Monday - Friday 10:00am-5:00pm. Tuesday/Thursday/ Friday Evenings.