Susan Zuidema
Registered Psychotherapist, MDiv, Founder
ICEEFT Certified EFIT Therapist
LOCATIONS: Susan sees clients in Ancaster, Burlington, & online
Why Work with Susan?
Susan brings a grounded, compassionate presence shaped by decades of life experience.
Susan has lived experience in parenting, divorce, remarriage, teaching, and community advocacy for people facing homelessness, addiction, trauma, and mental illness. She understands the impact these can have on her client’s and strives to meet them with genuine respect, safety, and care.
In therapy, Susan creates a space where clients feel heard and supported as they explore their challenges and strengths. Together with her clients, Susan develops a plan that fits their needs and helps them move toward a full and meaningful life.
For clients who desire it, Susan can also integrate Christian faith—incorporating prayer and Scripture in a gentle, respectful way that supports whole-person healing: mind, body, and soul.
Susan's Commitment
I believe that therapy is most effective when you feel safe, heard, and truly understood. I aim to create that kind of space – one where you feel supported as we explore your challenges, strengths, and the resources around you. We’ll build on this to create a plan that fits your needs and helps you move forward.
As a Christian, I believe that healing is meant for the entire person: mind, body, and soul. For those who request it, I am prepared to respectfully integrate prayer and Scripture with other elements of your therapy.
~ Susan
Training & Modalities
Susan is a lifelong learner, seeking to deepen her understanding of her client’s experiences, and enhance her practice and knowledge base.
ICEEFT Certified Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) Therapist
Additional training:
- EFIT & Grief
- Transforming Trauma with EFIT
- EFIT: Attachment-based Interventions to Treat Trauma, Anxiety and Depression
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT)
- EFCT Externship 2026
- EFCT 5-day intensive (Tyndale University)
- Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) certificate (PESI)
EFCT supervision by Herman Chow
Certified Prepare & Enrich Facilitator
Additional training in the following modalities:
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Internal Family Systems
Other trainings
- Genesis Process Relapse Prevention (Addictions)
- ASIST suicide prevention
EFT (EFIT/EFCT and the family model, EFFT) conforms to the very highest level – the gold standard – for its thorough research and effectiveness. It began as a therapy geared to couples work but its value and validity with individuals and families became clear over time. Read more about the research, which spans more than 30 years.
Education
Master’s Degree (M. Div.) in Clinical Counselling, Tyndale University: Susan worked hard to prepare for clients who have experienced trauma, taking electives in:
- The Theoretical and Clinical Perspectives in Trauma
- Therapy Interventions for Trauma, Abuse, and Violence.
- Emotionally Focused Therapy
- Spiritual Care of the Dying and Grieving.
