Bridges Staff

Bridges remains vibrant with the exciting work of staff: Tod, Sarah, Marilee, Gillian, Kim, Kara-Lynn & Lesley. 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.

Lesley Finch is a Clinical Social Worker and Certified Canadian Addiction Counsellor who brings a calm, steady presence to her work with adults navigating trauma, addiction, and emotional overwhelm. She is known for her grounded approach, her genuine care for the people she supports, and her ability to create a therapeutic space that feels safe, respectful, and collaborative.

 Lesley tailors her approach to each individual. She helps clients build emotional regulation, process difficult experiences, and reconnect with their strengths at a pace that feels right for them.

 Lesley’s background includes more than a decade in inpatient and community mental health treatment, as well as experience working with first responders, military personnel, and individuals coping with occupational trauma.

 Clients often describe Lesley as compassionate, thoughtful, and deeply committed to their wellbeing. She brings both professionalism and warmth to her practice, offering a supportive environment where meaningful change can take root.

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.