Bridges Staff

Bridges remains vibrant with the exciting work of staff: Tod, Sarah, Marilee, Alexander, Sara, Gillian, Pamela, Kim & Kara-Lynn. The staff has been engaged in an exciting process of integrating four fields: domestic violence, narrative therapy, trauma and restorative justice. The staff present and publish their work internationally. The team has been working together over the last twenty years. They are also responsible for initiating and developing many local initiatives to address intimate partner violence in families.

As the Executive Director, Tod Augusta-Scott, MSW, RSW has worked alongside the Bridges Board of Directors build an organization dedicated to the ideal that abuse in relationships can be stopped and repair is possible. As the Lead Clinical Therapist, Tod encourages the counseling team to learn from each other and to share their successes and struggles in this difficult work.
Tod has become known internationally for his work with Bridges and other organizations and government agencies that address gender-based violence. His work integrates narrative therapy, trauma work and restorative justice into the field of domestic violence. Over the last twenty years he has published and presented his work internationally (Asia, Europe, British Isles, America) and presented in every province in Canada. He is the co-founder of the Canadian Domestic Violence Conference. He also works as a civilian therapist with the Canadian Armed Forces. He has taught in the Department of Social Work, Dalhousie University and is a guest speaker in classes on a regular basis.

Tod is the co-editor and a contributor to the critically acclaimed books Narrative Therapy: Making Meaning, Making Lives (Sage Publications, 2007) and Innovations in Interventions to Address Intimate Partner Violence: Research and Practice (Routledge Press, 2017). He has been interviewed by various media organizations including the Huffington Post, International Journal of Narrative Therapy, CBC The World at Six, and the Globe and Mail. Tod is a regular reviewer for numerous academic journals. He has created a group manual for working with men who have abused that has been officially adopted by three government departments in Canada. Tod was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Association of Social Workers in 2013. His work is featured in the 2017 documentary A Better Man, a film about domestic violence and restorative justice. He received an Award of Excellence for his work on gendered-violence in the Canadian Armed Forces in 2019.

For more information on Tod’s work and his academic and training endeavours, visit his website here.

Sarah Ayton’s approach to counselling is shaped by community care, intersectional feminism, and the deep belief in each person’s inherent right to safety, dignity, and belonging. They use a collaborative, holistic approach that weaves together somatic and narrative theories with creative exploration and practical skill-building. They recognize that each person’s story is unique and formed by intersecting identities, relationships, communities, cultures, and systems of power, privilege and oppression.

Sarah is inspired by transformative justice movements to take a restorative approach to addressing harm and moving toward healing with people who have both experienced and/or used abuse in their relationships. Here, complexity, compassion, authenticity, and accountability can all be nurtured in service of building healthier relationships.

Sarah works from trauma-informed, queer, anti-oppressive, and neurodivergent-affirming lenses. They are currently pursuing training in Somatic Experiencing. Outside of their work as a counsellor, they work as a community program coordinator and enjoy experimenting with all kinds of creative DIY projects.

Marilee Burwash-Brennan, MSW, RSW has worked in the domestic violence movement since 1984. She worked in a women’s shelter for ten years before she became a family therapist addressing issues of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and childhood trauma. She works extensively with women’s groups addressing these issues. Her practice has been influenced by feminism, narrative therapy and restorative justice. Marilee began working at Bridges in 2000 and received the Achievement of Excellence Award from the Nova Scotia Council for the Family in 2013.

Alexander Davis, MA is an emerging scholar with a passion for Intimate Partner Violence Prevention research and education. Trained in program facilitation and mental health first aid, and with over 10+ years working in research and academics in areas surrounding partnered violence, he has devoted his career to improving practice and seeing levels of violence reduced. Having recently completed an MA in Family Studies and Gerontology at Mount Saint Vincent University, his work focused on an environmental scan of IPV prevention programs and the reshaping of masculinity education. Alexander brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm into his work, helping people affected by violence in their lives where he can snd when he can.

Sara Densmore, CTRS, joined Bridges in 2021, initially focusing on intakes and outreach before completing her MSW internship with the organization. She now combines her counselling and outreach roles, approaching her work with a trauma-informed, collaborative lens, and a deep belief that each person is the expert of their own experience. With a warm, relational approach, Sara aims to create a space for healing that includes humour and genuine connection. 

 Her background in recreation therapy informs her practice, which spans long-term care, community settings, and schools. Striving to affirm trans/non-binary, 2SLGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent identities, Sara is committed to continuously expanding her knowledge and learning from those she works with. Her therapeutic practice is guided by principles of feminism, narrative therapy, strengths-based approaches, and social justice, with a focus on addressing gender-based violence, weight stigma, and other systemic barriers to well-being.

Pamela Kennedy has passionately worked in family services for over ten years, offering support to families across the life span, from new and expectant parents to elder and palliative care. Currently, she is responsible for the Fatherhood Matters initiative throughout Colchester East Hants, and is always looking for opportunities to provide support for men throughout this area. She also facilitates Bridges Open Group, which gives an opportunity for men find connection, trust and empathy, which allows discussions about trauma, accountability and hope in a safe, encouraging environment with guys struggling with the same issues. 

Her informal, welcoming, empathetic approach also uses humour to create authentic and honest relationships with clients in a non-clinical situation. She offers one on one, group, virtual and in person sessions especially when wait times are in place. This offers support "in the mean time" while waiting for more formal therapy. 

All Fatherhood Matters groups, sessions and activities are based IN community FOR community free of charge and are  open to any father or father figure .

Kim MacDonald is the office manager of daily operations and Conference Coordinator for the Canadian Domestic Violence Conference. Her tireless efforts to support the vision, staff and clients are key to the success of the Centre. Kim began working at Bridges in 2017. Before working at Bridges, Kim worked in the financial industry for over 10 years. Her work was primarily in customer service and sales. Kim has a Human Services diploma from NSCC.

Kara-Lynn McRae, MA, RCT-C, is a Registered Counselling Therapist - Candidate practicing in Nova Scotia. She holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. Kara-Lynn completed her clinical internship at Bridges Counselling Centre, where she gained experience supporting individuals through a wide range of life challenges with compassion and professionalism.

Kara-Lynn believes taking the first step toward change takes courage and vulnerability, and she aims to walk alongside clients on that journey with empathy, authenticity, and respect. Kara-Lynn uses a trauma-informed, integrative approach tailored to each client’s unique strengths, values, and experiences. She is dedicated to fostering a safe, empathetic, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered in their healing journey.