Reviews of Transformation Counselling (Psychiatrist)

Romina Ghiasi

Thank you for all your help !

Jean Belony

I would highly recommend John and his highly qualified team of professionals to anyone who is looking for Counselling. I've had the pleasure of having John work personally with one of my foster kids in the past. The difference that John has made in this young man's life is invaluable. The young man presented with multiple complex issues. John was able to provide the young man with a safe and comfortable environment which eventually led him to make significant breakthroughs in multiple areas in his life. John never pressured my foster-son to attend sessions. He looked forward to meeting with John on a weekly basis. Given the nature of our situation, John was able to accommodate our ever changing schedule. On the occasion that we were unable to make an appointment, John always found a way to make time to see my foster-son. Not only is John a highly qualified and competent Professional, he is also an all around good guy. He is very friendly and personable. To be honest, there isn't enough time for me to jot down all the benefits that my family received as a result of John working with us. We are forever grateful to him and his friendly/professional staff.

D Kubala

Saw another clients information on the laptop while in a session. Maybe don't leave personal information available like that.

Melissa Pyne

John Roche’s standards for excellence has created a community of highly skilled clinicians at Transformation Counselling. Not only has he hired some of the brightest minds in our community, he continues to generously invest in their growth and development. With a recognition that one therapeutic modality does not fit for everyone, the team at Transformation is well rounded in offering many evidence-based practices. But perhaps even more important than their skill, is their level of care. I know John to care deeply about every client's experience at Transformation and you can see this value reflected amongst the team as well. Smart, caring and authentic is how I'd describe the vibe at Transformation. As a fellow clinician in private practice, I take great care to ensure that my referrals end up in good hands and I have trust that that is exactly what happens when I refer to Transformation.

Andrea Nelson

John is amazing, he's a great therapist, and I would trust anyone who works along side him. He's done an amazing job at building up an incredible practice.

Project D

I came to John as a police officer, former military member. As you can imagine, I was looking for a particular type of therapist. I had been to two others and was not impressed. After one session with John, I found myself looking forward to the next session. I appreciated the way he laid his plan for treatment out upfront, and his obvious positive energy and spirit were very calming to me. I have recently been clinically diagnosed with PTSD and I want to thank John for seeing that first and starting me on the road to wellness. I wish circumstances did not force me to leave the area, or I would still be thriving under his therapy. Thank you, John, and I highly recommend you to any and everyone struggling, especially in my field. -DH

Bryn McIlroy

I genuinely looked forward to my weekly appointments with John. An exceptional counsellor, and an equally amazing person.

alexander casella

When I first started with John I struggled to go out. Now I have the confidence to wear a onesie to do my groceries.

Sunny T

Transformation is probably the most innovative counselling centre in the KW area. The entire staff is super friendly & professional, and seem incredibly dedicated to personal growth & enhancing their practice. Can't recommend them enough!

Melissa B

I thank the universe every day that I found John. It was during a terribly traumatic time in my life and working with him has been life changing, in fact life saving. I immediately felt safe and supported in his space and found his methods beneficial from day one. I have spent time with a variety of therapists over the years for various reasons and none have been as effective or empathetic as John. He has incredible energy and an obvious passion for his practice. I would give more than five stars if I could. John is simply an amazing therapist and human being, and I recommend him without any hesitation.

rob mcrae

John is an uncompromising professional and everyone I've met at Transformation has been the cream of the crop of therapists in Waterloo. As my practice - Wise Path Counselling - is in Hamilton, John is my first recommendation for anyone looking for the best of the best in KW.

Samantha Kristoferson

I can't say enough positive things about Ghazala from Transformation Counselling. She was kind, empathetic, and created a safe space (virtually) for my partner and I to address our conflicts with each other. Not only did she provide strategies and handouts for us to work on, she always followed up on our work positively and with encouragement. We are now able to resolve our disagreements peacefully, but we have grown more intimate and loving towards each other -- using the strategies she offered to us. This was a lifetime investment. Thank you.

Cassy Dietrich

John is a really great therapist and I'm excited to see how his business grows in the future!

Tom Barker

One cannot spend time with John without realizing that he truly desires and is willing to work for progress for his patients. Within the first few minutes of working with John a couple of things were apparent, he is a profoundly caring, and deeply compassionate person. He is extremely passionate about his profession, and is constantly working to ensure he can provide his clients with the best possible methods of treatment. He has a wisdom beyond his years. It has been my privilege to work with John, and I would HIGHLY recommend his services to anyone.

Samuel Šporich

Extremely approachable, great ideas, very educated, fantastic socks.

Mark Jull

John's counselling is excellent. He is kind, caring, and intelligent. I 'shopped around' for a counsellor and knew immediately John was the best. He's probably as close to full analysis you can get without seeing a psychologist.

Nathaniel Khaleel

From the moment I walked through the door I felt welcomed and respected. It's obvious that the staff at Transformation care deeply about the work that they do and their commitment to professional development is so refreshing! Their staff boasts some of the best counsellors around and their commitment to authenticity is second to none. If you're prepared to trust anyone with your mental health, you can't go wrong with this team of counsellors.

Katie K. May

John Roche has the unique ability to offer spot-on insight and support with a side of humor and no BS compassion. As a professional who has worked alongside John in an international DBT consultation group for the past 18 months, I have witnessed firsthand his sharp skill set in helping clients move from stuck and struggling to confident and coping effectively. For the individual who's looking for that therapist to "keep it real" with them AND who has the knowledge, education and expertise to help you heal, John is the powerhouse therapist you need to partner with you in creating a life you love.

Ways To Wellbeing

John is awesome. His team run a great DBT program for people with personality disorders and also do a lot of great work helping people heal from trauma. As an EMDR consultant he gives great feedback and has wonderful insights to share.

Niklaas

I currently see Lauren and she's a fantastic listener and her insight has helped me through some troubling times. Highly recommend!

Raechel Pefanis

As a 20 year clinical social worker, supervisor, instructor and previous clinic owner myself, I have a viewpoint to the world of counselling services that many do not. Over the last decade, as de-stigmatization has come to an end, psychotherapy has become "high demand" by the general public, as those that do our trade bring their skills to a private market. This, of course, means that many are out there are trying to "make a business" out of this work. The public must be very, very discerning. Transformation Counselling is a place that has, amidst this noise, built toward human factors. It is not a business; it is a service. John treats his staff like gold, who translate this goodwill into their work with clients. They meet together to exchange best practices, hold each other accountable to great client care, and support each other through the fatigue that can sometimes accompany this work. There are a lot of counselling agencies out there that are fuelled by aggression or opportunism, but Transformation is not one of them. You're in good hands with John and his team, and will be treated with decency, respect, and attention.

Chantelle Sayegh

I have been seeing Sehrish as a counsellor for over a year. I was experiencing panic attacks and very high anxiety when I first started. Narrative/talk therapy historically only heightened the intensity of my emotions and left me feeling much worse. Fortunately, she is very skilled and offers many modalities of therapy. I am a mental health professional myself and I feel confident saying Sehrish explains things very well and really knows what she’s doing. I have been able to start healing the underlying issues of my anxiety through sessions with Sehrish.

Sandra Biskupovic

I can wholeheartedly say that the experience of therapy has been life-changing here. I work with Jenna and my perspective on therapy and mental health has dramatically changed after taking the difficult leap of booking my first session and working with a therapist. There is not a day that goes by in which I don't benefit from experiences I've had and practices I've learned from doing CBT here. I highly highly recommend Transformation Counselling, I think their approach to therapy and mission are extremely beneficial for our community.

Tanielle O'Hearn

John's commitment to developing the skills of his clinicians has resulted in the growth of an amazing team that I never hesitate to refer clients to. Transformation Counselling continues to deliver quality services to the KW area and John's dedication to that quality is something that all counselling agencies should strive for.

Tim

I was hesitant at first to get back into counselling, even though I knew deep down, I needed to go back. Carling was recommended to me by a friend, and it was the best decision I have made in a very long time. Carling has a gift of digging deep into your issues, while still making you feel safe and secure. She has a had a tremendous amount of empathy towards me during our sessions, you can tell that she truly cares about you, and wants the best for you. I am very excited to keep working with Carling, and continue my journey of healing.

Alexandra Paige

After years of counselling and multiple therapists, I can confidently say John takes therapy to another level. While most therapists have helped me in developing coping skills for the day-to-day, I found the benefits of these therapies to be short-lived. John skilfully guided me in identifying and tackling the underlying issues preventing me from being my best self. After just over a year of working with John I am more confident, content, and happier than I ever thought to be possible. John's ability to make you feel at ease, his compassion, and immense dedication to his practice separate him from the rest. Anyone would be extremely lucky to work with John!

Patrick Jane

Heard the receptionists talking VERY private things about clients while I had my earphones in. Avoid

Lynne Zimmerman

I have been to many counsellors in the past... I always made some progress but fell back to my old routine. thoughts and beliefs soon after. Since I have been working with John Roche, this has completely changed. One of the protocols that John uses, EMDR, is a process that tenderly walks you through difficult memories that have caused you pain in the past, allowing you to forgive yourself and others and file them so they no longer affect your present. This experience has been truly life changing for me. In addition, John is caring, humorous and transparent to his clients. As John is also the business owner at Transformation Counselling, his staff are professional and hold the same standards and values as John.

Ashley D

Going to this place for therapy changed my life. I felt better almost immediately. Fully recommend.

john mohle

i really appreciate the therapy work John facilitates. For sure my inner self connection has grown and continues to do so. His Love for his work shines brightly :)

Beatrix Yip

I've seen multiple therapists, and John has been by far the best one I've seen. He is incredibly personable, empathetic, and I became comfortable with him almost immediatley. John was very good about explaining the therapy I would be undergoing and made sure that I was comfortable every step of the way, and even stopped to check on me if I seemed uneasy about any part of the process. Looking back on this 10-month journey, I will forever be grateful of the support John provided me throughout this process.

Mindy Smith-Bernard

I met John Roche during my EMDR basic training with the Niagara Stress & Trauma Clinic. I had the pleasure of using his services in the capacity of EMDR Consultant over the last year. John has a natural charisma that makes working with him easy and non-threatening. He was knowledgeable and encouraging. John's genuine and laid back style makes him a fantastic consultant and an all around great human. I look forward to continuing to work together in the future! Many thanks, John!!

Mark Matthew

I have been fortunate to work with John for the past 9 months. John is an exceptional therapist who is compassionate, motivating and empathetic. He creates a very safe space to be vulnerable. John is young, but he carries himself with a wisdom well beyond his age. I would highly recommended John to anyone looking to make positive change in their lives. John is much more than a therapist, he has been a life coach and also sort of a spiritual teacher to me. John has helped me work through and conquer a bunch of deep rooted fears, including a huge career change, my fear of public speaking, and processing trauma. John is a very motivating person and my regular visits with him have kept me on track and honest with myself about what I really want to get out of this life. I know that there is no way I would be at the place I am today if it wasn’t for John, I am so grateful to have worked with him. I have learned so many valuable skills that I can take with me in life. We have accomplished so much together in our short 9 months and our sessions really led to me taking action outside his office. Again I would highly recommend John!

Theo Caffery

John is an excellent therapist. He's incredibly emotionally intelligent and down-to-earth, I felt like he "got" me as soon as I walked in the door. John isn't about "maintenance" or "getting by"...he focused on identifying the underlying problems and helped me resolve them.

Dave ST

From the moment I met John, he was empathetic and helpful. You can tell that hes not only compassionate, but also truly cares about the clients he works with. John has helped taught me some valuable techniques that will help me throughout my life. Thank you John. would recommend 10/10.

Kevin Shantz

My personal counselor is Sehrish Haroon She is amazing at what she does ! Can't explain it until you meet her. Always doing research for next session or sending me info for previous conversation. Growing every day to become a better person from the advice im given...wish i had done this 30yrs ago ! Always looking forward to seeing what our next challenge will look like. Dont hesitate like i have in the past ! Give her a call and i promise you won't be disappointed ! Stay positive ????

Nicola Miller

I have been seeing John for a year and a half now and fully agree with all of the comments written here about him. I would like to add for myself that I have never felt more heard, more safe nor more of an honest, active participant in my own healing work as I do with John. I cannot stress how important that is in a theraputic relationship and one that I have never experienced until now. As a therapist he neither pushes nor pulls you along; he walks beside you, meeting you where you are every session. He will challenge your thinking in a compassionate, gentle way; guiding you towards answers and helping you find an attainable course of action. His belief and confidence in you is absolute. It truly is a partnership. Just as importantly, he builds trust by drawing on a wealth of expertise, education and solid professional knowledge to support his theraputic approach. What a blessing he is. John has helped me move forward in ways that I never imagined and I would not hesitate for a moment to recommend him to anyone who is searching for a therapist to partner with.

Mark S

I went through a few counsellors looking for a good fit and John Roche is by far the best that I’ve worked with. With such an unbelievable combination of compassion, intelligence, and humour, he helped me grow in ways that I don’t think many therapists could have achieved. I can’t recommend him high enough!

Jeremy Vandenberg

You can trust John. He is understanding, patient and caring. I came to John as a student just finishing up school and he helped me realise the aspects of myself that I've been neglecting. He inspires curiosity and makes it easy to be engaged in the work you do together. I can't really recommend him enough. He gets the young professional transition period and will help you calm your anxieties. He is a great man to work with and for. Therapists don't come much better.

Natasha Lavji

It is my absolute pleasure, as the owner of Anchoridge Counselling Services, to endorse John Roche at Transformation Counselling. Over the years I have looked to John for guidance, support, and most of all collaboration for the care of our community. I constantly refer to John and his team of clinicians, and I always have 100% confidence in their work. John’s skillful approach with his clients has consistently surpassed the standard that most clinicians could hope to achieve. I am excited and grateful to continue working with John and his team, and I am very excited to see what the future holds.

Meaghan Snyder

Transformation Counselling deserves the most eloquent words of praise imaginable. I wish I had them. What I can say is that John Roche at Transformation Counselling made my life worth living again. He has been a source of constant stability with whom I can trust and rely on to always listen empathetically and provide honest feedback. His knowledge and skills are astounding. I have significantly benefitted from his expertise in CBT, EMDR, DBT and much more. He truly is a life saver. My trust in John's competence has lead me to receive family counselling and to start couples counselling with other staff at Transformation Counselling. I know anyone he would hire at Transformation Counselling will be a skilled and worthy therapist. Thank you John and thank you Transformation Counselling.

S Elyse

It's hard to describe how grateful I am for the help and support I received from John during our sessions. I struggled at length to find a suitable therapist, and from my first session with John I could see he offered a beacon of hope for me during very troubled times. Yet what I feel truly makes John an exceptional counsellor is the way he equipped me with the tools to navigate and overcome the challenges in life, now and in the future.

Sam S

I have been having sessions with John for over two years now and I can easily say he is the kindest, most compassionate therapist I have ever met. I have journeyed so far into bettering myself as well as dealing with anxiety and I honestly owe it all to his guidance. I would highly recommend John to people in search of a great professional!

Komal s

I would highly recommend Sehrish for CBT counselling. Being a student in Waterloo I found it very difficult to try therapy out for the first time due to the stigma. After speaking on the phone with her, she made me feel very comfortable and I booked an appointment. Throughout my sessions, I felt she was very caring, VERY accommodating to my schedule, financially and overall I feel very satisfied after going to her for some time now. I truly do think transformation counselling and Sehrish have done a great job at being patient and welcoming. Thank you, from a happy client. My advice to anyone thinking about therapy or more specifically CBT is to give her a call! It never hurts to try something out. :)

Fatima Mohammad

I want to start off by saying that no words in this review can accurately reflect the positive impact John had on my life. I have known John for a bit over 5 years and during that time, he proved to me time and time again that he genuinely cared about the wellbeing of his clients. Before knowing John, my mental health was deteriorating day after day. I did not think life was worth living at all, but here I am now enjoying life and can’t wait to see what the future holds. I am now able to pursue my goals and function fully when a few years ago I thought this was impossible and that my life was going to only get worse. I now feel that I can deal with anything that life throws my way, and keep moving forward. John did not use a magic wand to change my life. Instead, he used an evidence-based approach that is customized to my situation and he adjusted that approach based on how well it was working. The funny part is that he always told me that I will be ok, but I never believed that until I actually started seeing the positive changes in my mood, behaviour, and my day to day life. I am not exaggerating when I say John is one of the best therapists in the KW region, if not the entire world. I would highly recommend him for anyone who feels that life is not worth living or to anyone who simply just wants to get more out of life.

neavh christ

There were beneficial parts to my therapy in the beginning but it got worse as time went on. I found my therapist to be unprofessional. It was hard to book appointments as they were sometimes filled weeks in advance. My therapy was terminated through email which I found a little cold. I got diagnosed by a diagnostic professional and my therapist here told me it was wrong. Sharing my diagnosis was difficult and it resulted in stigmatization. My therapist was emailing a family member and I was unaware of this until much later.