Brittany Madigan, RSW, MSW (she/her)
The Basics
I am a daughter, a sister, a partner, a friend, and a mother to 3 four-legged kids: one very large horse and two very small dogs. I am Mohawk of Kahnawake from my mother’s side and Canadian from my father’s side. I connected with my Indigenous identity in my early 20’s and am still learning about it every day.
I was raised in Pickering, Ontario but grew roots in Hamilton, Ontario when I went to McMaster University for my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work. I love living in the East end of Hamilton with my partner and my poodles, Milo and Cody.
I’m an introvert who is often described as quiet and thoughtful but with a silly sense of humour once you get to know me. I’m a feminist, an animal-lover, an ally to the LGBTQ2+ community, and a very concerned citizen about mother earth’s changing climate.
When I’m not working you’ll find me spending time with my horse Santé, weight-lifting, and reading novels. I’m a junk-food vegan and feel my best when I am outside in nature.
My therapy approach is often described as gentle, warm, and compassionate. With over twelve years in the social work field I have in-depth knowledge about mental health, trauma, child welfare, and issues specific to Indigenous people. I started my part-time private practice in 2017 and jumped into my full-time practice in January 2020.
Lived Experience
This is not an exhaustive list as some things are too private to share as a therapist; however I find it helpful for clients to know I am a real person with lived experiences that enhance my connection to their stories.
I am a daughter, a sister, a partner, a friend, and a mother to 3 four-legged kids: one very large horse and two very small dogs. I am Mohawk of Kahnawake from my mother’s side and Canadian from my father’s side. I connected with my Indigenous identity in my early 20’s and am still learning about it every day.
I was raised in Pickering, Ontario but grew roots in Hamilton, Ontario when I went to McMaster University for my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work. I love living in the East end of Hamilton with my partner and my poodles, Milo and Cody.
I’m an introvert who is often described as quiet and thoughtful but with a silly sense of humour once you get to know me. I’m a feminist, an animal-lover, an ally to the LGBTQ2+ community, and a very concerned citizen about mother earth’s changing climate.
When I’m not working you’ll find me spending time with my horse Santé, weight-lifting, and reading novels. I’m a junk-food vegan and feel my best when I am outside in nature.
My therapy approach is often described as gentle, warm, and compassionate. With over twelve years in the social work field I have in-depth knowledge about mental health, trauma, child welfare, and issues specific to Indigenous people. I started my part-time private practice in 2017 and jumped into my full-time practice in January 2020.
Lived Experience
This is not an exhaustive list as some things are too private to share as a therapist; however I find it helpful for clients to know I am a real person with lived experiences that enhance my connection to their stories.
- As a woman with dual identity as Indigenous and Canadian, I have experienced racism and feeling like I don’t belong to either culture. Intergenerational trauma has impacted my family in various ways.
- A wonderfully privileged and happy childhood was marked by my parents divorced when I was 12 years old. I eventually became part of a blended family before moving away for university. I experienced my own amicable divorce in my late 20’s.
- I have a mild stutter which is usually undetectable now but was quite noticeable when I was a child. I have insider knowledge about anxiety/isolation/self esteem issues related to stuttering (however please note I am not a speech-language pathologist).
- I am no stranger to anxiety and have experienced panic attacks. I was bullied in middle school and high school. My younger self struggled immensely with self esteem, body image issues, and feeling like I didn’t truly belong.