Connie Butera
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST (RPQ), B.A.S,
While professionally working as an award-winning event planner and officiant, I have had the privilege of volunteering for where my heart desires most – helping others in my community. I especially enjoy working with new and special needs parents. I am a mother of 2 myself, both of which have special needs. The impacts that my work has had on my location as an Autism parent in the community has been vast.

Since 2019 I have been a Parent Mentor for The Children’s Treatment Network; providing support to parents of children on the Autism Spectrum. I have continued my studies by obtaining a Certificate in Autism via Kerry’s Place Autism Services and have utilized this training to support families in my community as well as my own son with Autism. I volunteer regularly with Project Autism York Region, coordinating programs, workshops and seminars for parents. I have created a YouTube Channel where I openly share my experiences in being an Autism Parent and connect other parents with resources in our community.

I am a graduate of York Universities Atkinson Faulty of Liberal & Professional Studies; having completed a Bachelor of Administrative Studies. I have sought additional training with respect to various areas of parenting and perinatal support via various notable bodies including Post Partum Support International and Health Nexus – Best Start. When I became a first-time mother in 2010, I started working as a peer support mentor for new and expecting parents of children in my community.

As a Community Development Manager for The Life With A Baby Foundation (a registered charity); I have been supporting new moms in their journey to parenthood; especially moms experiencing signs and symptoms of Post Partum Mood Disorders. We do this through our peer-to-peer support model and providing information sessions, workshops, fun social events and seminars. I have been able to utilize my additional training to support thousands of mothers in my community by running support groups at a peer level.

I previously completed a 1 year contract with Catholic Community Services of York Region, working in their Counselling Group Services Program as the Program Manager, coordinating programs for clients of various needs. I would design and coordinate programs such as Newcomer Support Groups, Parenting Groups, Divorce & Separation Groups and more! This hands-on experience in Counselling Program Design & Management was a jet setter for me in Social Services. The groups that I coordinated serviced hundreds of families in need in my community.

With the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality & events industry and my children getting older, I felt it was the perfect time for me to head back to school and career retrain for where my heart truly lays. I feel that all of my volunteer work has lead me to this point of serving others and I would love to continue what I am doing now but on a more hands on and clinical level. The impacts of my work in the various different Autism and Perinatal Mood Disorders community has been vast and I can see the need for additional support.

As of January 2023, I am proud to now officially be a Registered Psychotherapist (RPQ) and now Registered with The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). I will be completing my practicum with Life With A Baby Inc., supporting families in the vulnerable perinatal period.

My goal is to continue to service my local community of parents in a private practice as well as via the agencies I am already connected with. I look forward to how my new education can further impact the work I do in my community in helping additional families. Id love to continue my work as a volunteer in these organizations and take my philanthropy to a new level!