Eddie Dobson, M.A., C.Y.C. (He/They)

Eddie (he/they) is a dedicated Child and Youth Counsellor with a B.A. and M.A. in Child and Youth Care (CYC). With experience in residential treatment centres and both in-patient and crisis settings within hospitals, Eddie has gained deep insights into the day-to-day realities faced by young people living with mental health challenges. Their practice is rooted in a youth-centred, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed approach, with a focus on supporting queer and neurodivergent children, youth, and families. Eddie is committed to creating spaces for joy and healing—spaces where young people can explore their understanding of self, filled with love, truth, resilience, and colour.

 Eddie’s work is shaped by their passion for exploring the intersections between neurodivergence and 2SLGBTQIA+ identities. They take a relational approach to therapy, supporting young people in navigating challenges related to identity, self-esteem, social skills, and emotional self-efficacy. Eddie works closely with neurodivergent youth—empowering them to build confidence, develop meaningful connections, and advocate for themselves in an environment that celebrates individuality and diversity. In doing so, Eddie fosters strength and resilience, helping youth break down harmful internalized stigmas and embrace their unique identities.

 During their time working at Michael Garron Hospital, Eddie supported children and youth facing a wide range of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, panic disorders, mood disorders, family conflict, and gender dysphoria. In this role, Eddie provided immediate crisis counselling and supported day-treatment programs, gaining valuable insight into the nuances of school avoidance. While working at Flourish, Eddie has collaborated with Strides Toronto, providing consultation for complex mental health cases in both day-treatment and live-in-treatment programs.

 Drawing from therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT, and EFST, Eddie helps young people and families build resilience and deepen their understanding of mental health. At Flourish, they offer one-on-one counselling, support queer families navigating transitions and coming out, develop group programs for queer youth, and create safe spaces for identity-building. Eddie is currently awaiting social work equivalency registration and is supervised by a registered social worker.

 Outside of work, Eddie enjoys exploring the woods with their puppy, Maple, or binge-watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, where they confidently believe they could win if given the chance.