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Ilda Caeiro-Azzam

On Leave
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Registered Social Worker
she/her
Sessions start at
$190.00

Ilda is here to support you with trauma, grief, burnout, and chronic illness.

Headshot of Ilda Caeiro-Azzam from waist up smiling in a business casual top.

Ilda has worked in hospital and community settings for over 20 years. She specializes in supporting caregivers who have experienced vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. Ilda understands that grief and loss occur throughout our lives and can include job loss, divorce, chronic illness, and physical or mental trauma. Ilda can support you to work through historical or current trauma—whether physical trauma that leads to PTSD, or emotional, mental, or generational trauma. She can help you explore the emotional, behavioural, cognitive, and spiritual impacts of your trauma. Ilda normalizes grief and trauma responses, and emphasizes there is no right or wrong way to experience it. She can assist you to navigate difficult decisions and develop self-care practices.

Ilda also specializes in supporting first responders and frontline workers to deal with work-related stress and trauma. Ilda can help you understand common factors that contribute to stress, perfectionism, impostor syndrome, harassment, or bullying. She’ll ensure that you have the right tools to deal with these issues when they arise.

Ilda is compassionate, respectful, and non-judgmental. First and foremost, she believes in making you feel safe as you explore the most fragile and vulnerable aspects of your life. Ilda understands that cultural and faith-based values can influence your stress. She uses a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approach to help you cope with emotional burdens. Ilda tailors her therapeutic approach to meet your needs and help you reach your goals. She is an advocate and ally for all, including 2SLGBTQ+, and works from a social justice and anti-oppressive perspective.

Ilda is a lifelong learner and enjoys challenging herself to learn new skills. She learned to swim in 2020, rollerskate in 2021, and most recently took golf lessons with her partner and learned to play the ukulele. Ilda also enjoys painting, sketching, listening to music, and caring for her many house plants. Ilda loves time with family and caring for her elderly mother-in-law. Ilda believes in self-care and wellness, which she emphasizes when working with you.

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Ilda can provide sessions in English and Portuguese. ‍
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More about

Ilda

Ilda Caeiro Azzam sitting and drawing in a sketchbook.

Q&A

What does good mental health look like to you?
I believe that having good mental health means effectively and efficiently setting and implementing boundaries for yourself and with others. It is about being truly honest and realistic with oneself, without bias or expectations. It is essentially about embracing authenticity of the self.
What would you say to a friend struggling with a mental health issue?
Getting help with mental health is an expression and action of bravery and courage. I am here to listen and help when you are ready.
What do you do to take care of your own mental health?
Garden and care for house plants, paint, read, walk and listen to music.

Master of Social Work, McMaster University (2005)

Bachelor of Social Work, McMaster University (2002)

Trauma Certification – In progress (Laurier University)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Centre for Addictions and Mental Health)

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (Centre for Addictions and Mental Health)

MIndfulness and Motivational Interviewing (McMaster University Continuing Education)

Ontario Association of Social Workers

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers

@theshiftcollab

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