Meet Chels Davies-Kneis

Registered Social Worker

Hello, my name is Chels! It’s nice to meet you!

I am a Registered Social Worker who works with individuals (16+), folks in relationships and families. I am proud to be an openly queer and non-binary clinician, and I am passionate about supporting folks in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I also offer clinical supervision to social workers and psychotherapists, with a particular focus on trauma-informed practice. While trauma work is my core area of expertise, I regularly draw on my broader clinical experience to support supervisees across diverse areas of practice. 

My priority as a therapist is to walk alongside my clients with empathy as they work towards accomplishing their wellness goals. I am primarily a strengths-based, person-centered, and trauma-informed clinician, which means that I believe my clients are the experts of their own experience. In sessions with me, you can expect to encounter kindness, compassion, and curiosity. I am committed to providing as safe and comfortable an environment as I can, with the understanding that opening up and being vulnerable can be daunting. My hope is that over time, trust will build and my clients will feel able to be their authentic selves in their sessions with me. 

I have a diverse range of experience in community, in-patient mental health, and private practice settings supporting a variety of client needs. I hold two undergraduate degrees from the University of Waterloo in Social Development Studies and Social Work, and earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Windsor. My areas of specialty are working with folks recovering from trauma/PTSD, neurodivergence, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Dissociation.   

The modalities that I use the most are Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Narrative Therapy. I also have additional training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). These approaches are primarily grounded in Cognitive Theory, which focuses on the connections between our thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and physiological responses. I find that exploring and deepening understanding of these relationships opens up more avenues for sustainable change and gentle processing of past events. 

When I’m not at work, you can find me hiking, making art, or baking bread! I love to try new recipes and spend time with people I love. If you want to get me talking, ask me about my favourite Dungeons and Dragons campaigns!