About Cheryl Vanderveen, MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker & Psychotherapist | Founder of Kardia4Life Counselling

Cheryl Vanderveen is a Registered Social Worker (MSW, BSW) and the founder of Kardia4Life Counselling, offering online counselling services to adults and seniors in St. Thomas and Ontario. She combines strong clinical training, university teaching experience, and lived experience to support clients with anxiety, stress, grief, self-worth, life transitions, insomnia, and caregiver challenges.

Cheryl Vanderveen sitting on a bench in a park on a sunny day smiling at the camera

Credentials & Professional Training

 

Education 

  • Master of Social Work (MSW) – University of Windsor
  • Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) – King’s University College, Western University
  • Associate of the Royal Conservatory (A.R.C.T.) – Piano and Theory

Registration & Professional Status 

  • Registered Social Worker (RSW), Ontario
  • Experienced counsellor in community mental health, dementia services, and private practice
  • University and college instructor in Social Work and gerontology

Advanced Clinical Training (Selected)

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Certificate – Wilfrid Laurier University
  • Mindfulness-Based and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (MBCT / DBT) training
  • Solution-Focused and Single-Session Therapy
  • Anxiety-focused professional clinical workshops and “Anxiety with Concurrent Disorders.”
  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 1 completed; Level 2 in progress)
  • Neurorehabilitation Level I – Brock University (stroke/brain injury focus)
  • CBT-I (insomnia) and chronic illness, resilience and post-traumatic growth

    Research, Speaking & Advocacy (Selected)
  • Ongoing research and advocacy on silent stroke, acquired brain injury, and their impact on mental health
  • Podcast guest for Distress and Crisis Ontario (2024), speaking on silent stroke symptoms and impact
  • Speaker for Delton Glebe Counselling Centre, Waterloo (2024) on understanding silent stroke and its emotional effects
  • Presenter at the Ontario Brain Injury Association Conference (2025) on silent stroke symptoms, impact, and its connection to suicide risk and prevention

She has also published research in the Canadian Social Work Journal on best practices for caring for frail older adults, adding a research and program-evaluation layer to her clinical work. 

Why Kardia4Life

 

“Kardia” refers to the heart as the centre of one’s being — thoughts, emotions, will, and intellect. “4Life” reflects Cheryl’s belief that what is learned in counselling can shape well-being long after sessions end, supporting ongoing growth. 

Her aim is that clients leave sessions with:

  • Greater understanding of themselves and their patterns
  • A stronger sense of agency and self-worth
  • Practical tools for daily life

Renewed hope that things can feel different  

Clinical Focus & Approach

 

Cheryl works primarily with:

Her approach is:

  • Client-centred – you direct the goals; therapy is tailored to what you want different in your life.
  • Evidence-based – drawing from CBT, mindfulness-based therapy (MBCT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, DBT-informed strategies, and strength-based work.
  • Practical and educational – focused on both understanding and concrete tools you can use between sessions.

For clients who wish, Cheryl also offers faith-based / Christian counselling, thoughtfully integrating Christian beliefs, Scripture, prayer, and spiritual questions with evidence-based therapy. Faith is only incorporated when requested.