Molly De Shong is a counsellor-therapist and facilitator in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Molly has worked with individuals, couples, and groups for more than 30 years, focusing on mindfulness, resilience, self-care, and communication/conflict dynamics.

Counselling and Psychotherapy

Molly integrates mindfulness with somatic, cognitive behavioural, and psychodynamic methods — all to support insight, skill-building, and resilience. Specialty areas:

• anxiety, stress management, self-care
• low mood and depression
• grief, loss, transition
• identity, self-esteem, assertiveness
• addictive patterns
• career planning
• relationships and interpersonal dynamics
• couple counselling 

Couple Counselling

Bring awareness to what matters to you both—whether that’s to strengthen your connection and change patterns, or decide to separate amicably. 

Mindfulness-Based Interventions

We feel at our ‘best’ when we’re aware of ourselves, including the habits and stressors that get in our way. Mindfulness helps us tap our innate awareness, strength, and resilience in meeting day to day challenges. Molly trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) with founder Jon Kabat-Zinn as well as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC).  She offers multi-week and introductory programs for the public and organizations.

Consulting, Facilitation, Training

For 30 years, Molly has worked with individuals and teams, offering coaching, facilitation, mediation, and training in: self-awareness and resilience, team leadership, career transition, interpersonal dynamics. Her work included conflict coaching/mediation with staff and physicians at NS Health.

Current courses include:

• Mindfulness and Resilience:  6-week opportunity to learn and practice the skills of  awareness, self-care, and resilience

• Supporting Ourselves & Others: ongoing learning and practice, with peer support encouraged

• Navigating Difficult Conversations: full- and half-day course to learn/practice the skills of staying present, supportive, and creative during difficult conversations with other

Contact Molly for more information.

Mindfulness and Resilience

6-session program exploring how Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) and other disciplines support “resilience”

Introduction to Mindfulness and Self-Compassion

Explore how these principles and practices support self-awareness and self-care. Instruction, practice, and discussion in a relaxed group atmosphere.

May and June, 2023  Write for information and dates.

One hour, 6:30 -7:30 PM

No charge. Register with Molly De Shong at 902-802-6543 or email mdeshong (at) gmail.com

 

Molly De Shong, M.Ed. is a counsellor-therapist registered with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT). She holds a Masters in Education/Counselling,  a diploma in Health-Based Psychotherapy, and has trained deeply in Transformative Mediation. Molly has been counselling/coaching for over 25 years, focusing on health and wellness, self-esteem, communication dynamics, and life and career transition. Molly’s approach integrates mindfulness-based discovery with strengths-based methods (cognitive behavioural, Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)—all to support insight, capacity building, and resilience.

Molly is also a seasoned trainer and facilitator, supporting individuals and teams in self-care, communication, and decision-making. She helped raise a stepson, and in her spare time she co-directs a small improvisational choir.

Fees may be covered by some Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAP), as well as group health insurance benefits. Check with your employer and/or insurance provider.

Sessions held in-person or by phone or Internet.

Contact

Molly DeShong
Phone: 902.802.6543 (confidential)
Email: mdeshong [at] gmail.com
Website: mollydeshong.com

Office location: Living Well Integrated Care Centre, 2176 Windsor St., Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada)

Fees

• $100 per hour-long session, with sliding scale available; please inquire as needed.
• Fees covered by some Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAP) and group health insurance benefits. Check with your employer and/or insurance provider.
• Fees may be considered a medical expense for income tax purposes and claimed on your Nova Scotia tax return.

Sessions in-person or by phone, Internet

Registrations

Canadian Certified Counsellor #3007

Nova Scotia Registered Counselling Therapist  #15-005

Insurance Provider Registration

Medavie Blue Cross provider #120160

Green Shield Canada and SSQ Financial Group provider #000544139

Counselling-therapy is also provided /insured by Manulife, Great West Life, SunLife, Desjardins, Veterans Affairs Canada, Health Association of NS, The Shaw Group, Tandus, and others.

Education

M.Ed. (Counselling), Acadia University, 2012

Diploma, Health-Based Psychotherapy, 1999

B.Mus.Ed, Dalhousie University, 1990

B.Arts, Hamilton College, 1984

Professional Training: Highlights

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: 7-Day Professional Training with Drs. Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli, 2014

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: 5-day training, 2014

Transformative Mediation Basic and Advanced Training, 2012 and 2015 (Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation)

For upcoming programs, please see https://mollydeshong.com/upcoming-courses/

Books

• Russ Harris: The Happiness Trap
• John Teasdale et al: The Mindful Way Workbook (for preventing relapse of depression, anxiety)
  
• Edmund Bourne: The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook (latest edition)
  
• Chris Germer: The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion
• Nicholas Lore: The Pathfinder (latest edition), a career decision-making guide
  
• Kerry Patterson et al: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High (latest edition)
  
• Sue Johnson: Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
• Terry Real: Then New Rules for Marriage
• John Gottman: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

Websites

Mindful.org

National Institute of Mental Health

Anxiety Canada

Centre for Clinical Interventions

National Institute on Drug Abuse