Yearly Recap: 2025 at Simply Social Work
I don’t know about you, but I’m finding it hard to believe that we’re now in 2026?! As I’ve said before, I find that the new year is a great opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and decide how you want to continue. So today’s blog is a look back at 2025 at Simply Social Work. It was a busy year filled with learning, growth, and connection — for both our clients and me! These are just some of the highlights and noteworthy events.
Practice Updates
Funding & Insurance
A major change in 2025 was offering direct billing for eligible Green Shield and BlueCross insurance plans. 2025 was a difficult time for many financially, and our goal is to do what we can to reduce barriers to accessible therapy as much as possible. We also continue to be a registered provider with the Non-Insured Health Benefit (NIHB) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)’s Trauma-Informed Health & Cultural Support Program (TIHCSP) — a lot of acronyms, I know — which provide 20 hours of free mental health support.
Services
2025 was also the year that I reflected on Simply Social Work, reviewed the services that I offer, and really think about how I want this practice to grow. This meant deciding on some changes. While I loved providing a diversity of services, I ultimately decided to wind down my work as a couples/relationship therapist, and also no longer accept new clients for case management. I also decided to retire as a SDA capacity assessor. My goal was to really focus on Simply Social Work’s primary mission, which is to provide accessible, neurodiversity-affirming therapy and counseling.
Research
Last year was a big year in my work at the University of Waterloo as a research assistant. I was part of 2 papers that were accepted for publication! One was in the Families in Society journal (forthcoming), and the other has been published in the Canadian Journal of Disability Studies. You can access the article here.
Community Outreach
Connecting with other practitioners, organizations, and communities continues to be an integral pillar of Simply Social Work. That’s why I collaborated with other creators online and attended as many events across the province as I could! I hosted an Instagram Live with David Savant from Pursuit Counselling & Therapy to talk about ADHD therapy. I collaborated with Statera Therapy and Wellness to raise awareness about living with chronic illness or disability. I created the Social Work Sit-Down on my YouTube channel, a series where Michelle Marshman (RSW) and I talk about all things therapy and wellness. Our first episode was all about navigating neurodiversity in romantic relationships.
In September, I was honoured to visit the Clubhouse at the Hamilton Brain Injury Association (HBIA) to talk about wellness and relationships after a brain injury.
I’ve also continued to volunteer on the Board of Directors at the Brain Injury Association of Niagara (BIAN), where I sit on the Advocacy & Education Committee (AEC) and the Grant Committee.
Personal Life
Unfortunately, 2025 was also a year filled with new symptoms and trying to find answers. I’m still on that journey now, but it did mean I had to start taking my own health more seriously. I expanded my healthcare team and started to change my approach to pacing. It’s been hard, but there have been some positive changes, too.
Part of that pacing was learning how to slow down, actually rest, and refill my cup. That meant rekindling my love for old hobbies, which largely began to happen through community. I joined a dance studio after a ten-year hiatus. I attended a book launch and TIFA Ever After (complete with a fantasy ball!), and started devouring books again. I connected with other Disney Adults online. I tried new cosplays and created my own crossplay for Fan Expo Canada. These events energized me, reminding me just how much my own self-care practices need to include connection and creativity, and it slowly became easier to carve out more time for my individual hobbies everyday. The effect snowballed, and I’m so ready to continue sustaining these connects and habits in 2026.
I also took some time off for travelling! In April, my family met up with our relatives in England, and Alex and I went to our friends’ beautiful wedding in Mexico in October. This was the first time I’ve ever completely unplugged from any and all work while on vacation, and while it was surprisingly difficult at times not to check my notifications, I’m so glad that I did. Lounging by the pool in Mexico (or attempting to) also taught me that I do still have quite a bit of work in learning how not to over-function and genuinely relax! So, let that be your reminder that your therapist really is human, too.
