Master of Social Work
Wilfrid Laurier University, 2015.
About 4 Bears Counselling
Care rooted in stability, respect, and researched based practices.
At 4 Bears Counselling, therapy is a respectful space to slow down, understand what has been weighing on you, and move toward the life and relationships you want to build.
Care is warm, trauma-informed, and collaborative. Your pace, lived experience, values, and goals remain central to every conversation.
Clinician profile
Kristen Bird, MSW, RSW
Owner, operator, and lead therapist
Kristen Bird is the owner, operator, and lead therapist at 4 Bears Counselling. She is a Registered Social Worker and mental health therapist with more than a decade of counselling experience across individual, family, youth, and relationship-focused practice.
Kristen provides virtual counselling to clients in Ontario within her scope of practice as a Registered Social Worker registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and in-person support for clients who live in the Belleville/Kingston area.
Professional foundation
Education and training
Kristen’s practice is grounded in social work education, regulated registration, and ongoing clinical learning.
College and university education
Bachelor of Social Work
Ryerson University, 2011.
Registered Social Worker
Registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
Clinical development
Specialized clinical training
Completed training listed below reflects Kristen’s verified professional development. Approaches are used according to client needs, informed consent, and scope of practice.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Training with Dr. Sue Johnson, 2022.
EFT for Couples in Crisis
Further Emotionally Focused Therapy training, 2025.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy Initiative, 2025.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Training completed, 2022.
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Training completed, 2022.
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Components of Care, Postpartum Support International, 2019.
Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychopharmacology
Postpartum Support International, 2019.
A care philosophy that meets you where you are.
Collaboration
Your priorities help shape the work, with clear communication and consent along the way.
Trauma-informed care
Safety, choice, and emotional pacing are treated as essential parts of the therapeutic relationship.
Whole-person perspective
Emotional health is considered alongside relationships, identity, body, culture, and community.
Thoughtful next steps
Considering support?
If you are considering counselling, you can begin by learning more about the practice’s approach and deciding what support could feel right for you.