John Stapleford and Associates (JS&A) began as a private practice in 1967 with the core interventions being marriage and family counselling and individual psychotherapy.  JS&A gradually evolved into a full-time, specialized practice that now provides a broad range of professional services and caters to the unique needs of each individual, couple and family.

John Stapleford, B.A.(Psych.), B.S.W., M.S.W., R.S.W.

• Professional Training: Graduated from the University of Toronto in 1967 with a Master of Social Work. Is Registered as a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
• Experience: Over 35 years of clinical experience in all areas of services related to marriage and family counselling, mediation, separation and divorce, individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, sexual therapy and abuse/anger management services.
• Publications: Director of research in a seven year research programme studying the effects of separation and divorce on the individual and the family; published through Health and Welfare Canada. In addition to research reports, in 2003 Mr. Stapleford completed a book of poetry and essays covering his personal, philosophical and spiritual journey.
• Management Consulting: Provided management consulting services to industry.
• Employee Assistance Programmes: Initiated and directed Employee Assistance Programmes to industry.
• Community Support: Guest speaker for numerous television and radio interviews as well as delivered a wide variety of speeches spanning over 3 decades.
• Social Action: Directed a Social Action programme for 10 years to assist single parent fathers and their children. This Social Action effort of the 1970’s was successful in changing legislation that directly affected single fathers thereby recognizing and entitling these fathers to receive Family Benefits through the revision of the Family Benefits Act of Ontario.
• Group Counselling: Conducted a wide variety of psychotherapeutic group programmes for individuals, couples and families to assist them in working through difficult psychological and interpersonal relationship problems within a supportive and caring environment. These programmes spanned a 25 year period. A husband-wife co-therapy approach was often used during this period.
• Community Organization: Founding member of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario. As well, implemented group programmes which trained parents in providing supportive peer mentorship to new parents of a child with a hearing impairment and worked collaboratively with the Canadian Hearing Society on this programme. As a result of these and other endeavours, John Stapleford & Associates deliberately initiated new and innovative services directed toward persons with various personal and physical challenges in order to provide much-needed support to these individuals and their families. Community support and consultations on these and other programmes have remained an ongoing priority at John Stapleford and Associates for many years.
• Administration: Director in a major social agency for over 10 years and was responsible for managing a large number of professional counsellors, researchers, and consultants including those from the University of Toronto and Health and Welfare Canada as well as the initiation and management of multi-faceted social programmes for the Greater Toronto community.
• Personal Profile: Married for 38 years and has two adult children.

Marilyn Stapleford, RN

• Professional Training: Graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1965 and won a General Proficiency Award for her graduating class. Earned a Diploma in Nursing Unit Administration in 1967.
• Experience: Over 35 years experience in the clinical practice of marriage and family counselling, individual psychotherapy, separation support, and mediation counselling.
• Group Counselling: Experienced as a psychotherapist facilitating groups for individuals and couples. Worked as a co-therapist with husband in marital and family groups.
• Lifestyle Counselling: Offers services in areas of community health including counselling on lifestyle issues such as diet, exercise and stress reduction.
• Grief Counselling: Experienced with issues surrounding death of family members e.g. infant death, children dealing with the death of a parent, or adults experiencing the loss of a partner.
• Medical and Rehabilitation: Particular interest in the impact of acute and chronic health problems on individuals and their interpersonal relationships. Has extensive knowledge of rehabilitation issues and challenges both on the individual and the family. Comprehensive knowledge and strategies for helping clients and their families cope with and adjust to living with challenges such as reduced mobility, congenital anomalies and acquired illness and injury.
• Parent/Child Bonding Issues: Assists families with infant bonding and with adjusting to the experience of living with a premature infant or a child with a disability.
• Pre and Post Adoption Services: Expertise in counselling birth parents regarding adoption and its long term impact both on them and their child(ren). This includes the psychological impact of reuniting adopted children with their birth parents.
• Consultation: Consultant to institutions and counsellor to individuals and their families regarding the emotional and psychological aspects of the institutional placement of seniors and the impact of such placements on the senior and his or her family.
• Community Organization: Founding member of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario. Past Chairperson of several programmes offered through the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association relating to the emotional, physical and psychosocial well being of children and their families living with disabilities.
• Personal Profile: Married 38 years and has two adult children.

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