about renee

  • A photograph of Renee Dumaresue at Middle Cove, NL/ Ktaqmkuk, taken by Jill Willcott. Renee is white with mid-length blond hair and bangs. They are in the centre of the photograph and are captured close up, sitting against a cliff. Renee is wearing a long black coat that is open with an olive green button-up shirt underneath, a silver chain, and black jeans.

Some words that reflect how I move through the world include queer, non-binary, white and settler in Toronto (Tkaronto) and St. John’s, Newfoundland (Ktaqmkuk) & Labrador, where I come from. These places and the people who reside there have been fundamental in shaping who I am and how I show up.

I have been active for over 12 years in different forms of intersectional community organizing and building. The values I bring to my practice have roots in these spaces, as well as in my close friendships and my experiences in disabled, queer, harm reduction, and electronic dance music sub-cultural spaces and communities.

My therapy practice is further informed by my experiences offering trauma-informed and client-centred counselling, education and support to individuals and groups in a variety of settings.

I have a BSW from Memorial University of NL, an MSW from Toronto Metropolitan University, and I am completing a PhD of Social Work at York University. I also have a certificate in Sound Therapy from the Institute of Traditional Medicine. I am currently studying at the Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education and enrolled in the Sex Therapy Certificate Program and the Kink-Informed Certificate Program at Sexual Health Alliance.

I am a Registered Social Worker and in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and the Ontario Association of Social Workers. I also have approval from the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers to provide electronic services in the province. I participate in regular supervision alongside a group of peer therapists and find great pleasure in ongoing learning.