Amanda J. Oosterveer, a mental health counselor at the Niagara North Family Health Team's site in Niagara-on-the-Lake, received the Ontario Counselor of the Year Award from Niagara University's College of Education on Dec. 18. The award was presented by Dr. Chandra Foote, dean of NU's College of Education.
Since 2008, Oosterveer has also operated a private practice, Ascension Counselling, in St. Catharines, Ontario. She previously worked as a counselor for Community Addiction Services of Niagara for eight years. From 2000-10, Oosterveer served on the board of directors for the Niagara Region Sexual Assault Center.
Fellow counselor Helene Wiens, M.S.Ed.'07, described Oosterveer as "a genuine, congruent, empathetic counselor and a compassionate caregiver who provides unconditional positive regard to anyone who has the pleasure of meeting with her."
Oosterveer holds a bachelor's degree from Brock University and a master's degree from Niagara University. She is a registered psychotherapist with the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario and a Canadian certified counselor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
