KENDALL TELEFONOW

she/her

Child and Youth Worker (CYW)
Registered Social Service Worker (RSSW)

CPI Certified Instructor – Associate

Services

 Hi I am Kendall, welcome to Infinity Youth and Family Services!

I graduated with my Child and Youth Worker degree in 2011 from Mohawk College and was on the dean’s honours list for all three years of my study. I am also a certified trainer with the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), Non Violent Crisis Intervention. I have been in the field for 15+ years providing counselling to individuals, families and groups in a variety of settings including residential, schools and mental health agencies.

I have a warm and strength-based approach, and specialize in skills-based treatment approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Zones of Regulation and Triple P-Positive Parenting. I provide skills to help youth and their families with coping strategies around emotion regulation, anxiety, depression, parent/child conflict, and parenting skills. I have also worked for years with youth that are diagnosed with Autism (both verbal and non-verbal). I value a collaborative approach to care, and enjoy guiding individuals on their journey to personal growth and change.

Services

My Treatment Approaches

BUILDING A THERAPEUTIC RAPPORT

 The foundation of being a CYW is creating a therapeutic and trusting relationship with our clients. Through assessment and conversation, I will be able to determine the youth’s or families needs and will use a non-judgmental and supportive approach.

STRENGTH-BASED APPROACH

 Using a strength-based approach, this will help navigate my treatment planning by looking at what is going well and finding strategies to build on that. Skills do not necessarily need to be focused on the challenges, they can also be utilized on building up the positives and strengthening relationships.

TREATMENT PLANNING

 Working together and reviewing challenges, strengths and goals, will allow for sessions to stay on track and to help me provide the most effective treatment to work on. Individual skills and strategies will be suggested and developed to help support personal challenges.

Professional Background

  • Ontario College Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Worker from Mohawk College
  • CPI Certified Instructor, Non Violent Crisis Intervention — Associate
  • Registered member of the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals (OAMHP)

Additional Training

  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
  • Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) Trauma Framework
  • Triple P Positive Parenting
  • Emotion Focused Family Therapy
  • Positive Spaces
  • Developmental Assets
  • First Aid/CPR