meet Cheryl Pereira

awaiting registration

What it’s like to work with me:

I bring a warm, light-hearted, and direct style to therapy. I transitioned into this work after 15 years in the accounting field because I have a real passion for supporting people in changing their emotional patterns and behaviours. Clients will find me mature, grounded, and compassionate, and aside from the different perspective I bring from simply having had a previous career, I may be an especially good fit for clients whose mental health concerns are impacting or are centred around their finances.

I see collaboration as essential for creating lasting change. I work best with individuals who have clear goals and are ready to engage with strategies and practices between sessions.

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what i do best

  • Like all clinicians at Brown Psychological, OCD and anxiety disorders are a primary focus for me, and this is an area in which I have specialized training and receive ongoing clinical supervision. I provide assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for OCD, as well as for social anxiety, panic disorder, GAD, and other anxiety-related concerns.

  • I have experience working with trauma, especially developmental trauma and interpersonal trauma or interpersonal violence.

    I can also provide evidence based treatment for PTSD.

  • Finances are an area that can be deeply impacted by mental health and I work with a variety of financial mental health concerns and behaviours that people want to change.

    I help people untangle the beliefs, habits, and emotions that shape their relationship with money. Whether you're navigating financial stress, relationship conflict, compulsive spending, excessive saving, or shame around debt, I provide a compassionate, nonjudgmental space to explore what’s happening beneath the surface.

    While I don’t provide direct financial or accounting advice in session, I often encourage practical between-session tasks that help clients take meaningful steps toward greater financial confidence and stability.

  • I am especially passionate about helping people shift financial behaviours that may be creating stress or limiting their quality of life, such as excessive shopping and gambling.

    My master’s capstone project investigated treatment options for individuals with problematic buying–shopping behaviours and this is a special area of interest to me, and an area in which I have done a lot of study and reading.

  • I provide structured and evidence-based treatment for ADHD, and like all of the clinicians here at Brown Psychological Services, while I am not a specialist in Autism I invest extra time in reading, consultation, and consideration of how to modify evidence based treatments in areas that I work like anxiety disorders, OCD, and trauma, so that I can deliver the best quality treatment to Autistic folks.

  • I strive to create a welcoming, inclusive space for all people—regardless of age, race, gender, or orientation. As a South Asian clinician, I also especially welcome BIPOC clients who may be seeking a therapist who understands the importance of culture and identity in shaping their experiences and care.

Education & Experience

  • I received my Master of Counselling from City University of Seattle. I also have a Master of Business and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Alberta. I have been a Chartered Professional Accountant since 2012.

    • Exposure and Response Prevention (Ex/RP) for OCD – University of Pennsylvania

    • Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy for PTSD – University of Pennsylvania

    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Levels 1 & 2 – EMDR Consulting

    • Clinical Foundations in Gottman Method Couples Therapy Levels 1 & 2 – The Gottman Institute

    • Treating Affairs and Trauma – The Gottman Institute

    • Bridging Clinical & Cultural – Indigenous Psychological Services

    • Certified Psychological Health & Safety Assessor – Mental Health Commission of Canada

    • Integrating Psychological Health & Safety into the Workplace - Mental Health Commission of Canada

    • Trauma of Money – The Trauma of Money Institute

  • I do not work with families, children, or with people who need a higher level of care than I may be able to provide. This may include folks in acute psychosis, with anorexia or bulimia, certain personality disorders, chronic pain, forensic concerns, somatoform disorders, and addictions where there is acute physical withdrawal. While I will always assist existing clients in a crisis, if your primary concern is a mental health emergency I may refer you to other services before doing a longer-term piece of work with you.

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