Dr. Marie Filion

Marie grew up in a dysfunctional home where stress was commonplace. Her asthma got so bad that she was on multiple medications and could hardly participate in daily life. Her allergies were also quite severe, to the point of being allergic to her hair.

Marie’s mother suffered from mental health issues that adversely affected Marie’s life. The difficulties within the family home included being exposed to unsafe adults, after which Marie was sexually, physically, emotionally, and psychologically abused, and abandoned and neglected as a child. Marie carries an ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) score of nine out of ten but presents as someone with an ACE score of one.

In late adolescence, Marie struggled with severe anxiety, at which point she often felt paralyzed. The pressure got so bad that at nineteen, she considered taking her own life. When she was raped in her early twenties’ things came to a head. A good friend intervened at the university, providing Marie desperately wanted hope.

After getting married, the couple suffered two miscarriages between their first and second child. This is a deep loss experience. Marie sought out counseling after the second miscarriage. Her counsellor not only facilitated healing for the loss of her children but also helped Marie process her childhood abuse.

She considered changing her major when her counselor suggested that her life experiences would make her excellent at helping others. Marie was hooked and changed her major from wanting to be a Marine Biologist to the goal of being a psychologist. She minored in psychology, setting the stage for this new profession.

Marie is well acquainted with the struggles of life and can identify with many of the difficulties her clients experience.

Marie learned how to cope and heal through her relationship with the Lord, good supportive friends, and her horse. She is compassionate to those who struggle with challenging life circumstances. Both personal and professional experiences have prepared Marie to help individuals and families find the keys to challenging situations. Marie believes if she can heal, anybody can heal. She is passionate about this view and aims to infuse hope into those she works with.

Marie fostered hurting children, being able to reach them and understand them because she had lived their lives. The insight she possesses from her childhood struggles has become invaluable to struggling families. Three out of four of her biological children were special needs. Her son was diagnosed with high-functioning autism, but Marie refused to allow this to limit his potential.

She specializes in helping parents reach their children and has been personally trained by Dr. Daniel Hughes, Dr. Sian Phillips, and Dr. Bruce Perry. Dr. Perry was brought in on one of Marie’s cases, where she had the honor of learning directly from him. She has trained at the Child Trauma Academy, Amen Clinic, and in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. She also did training with Dr. Karyn Purvis; after that, she completed that Adult Attachment Interview and was rated as a securely attached adult. This is testimony to God’s healing power in her life, as people with ACE scores of over six often end up with severe mental health problems.

Marie has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a second undergraduate degree in Psychology from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Her graduate work comprises a Master of Science in Psychology from Walden University and additional coursework from the University of Calgary and Duke University. Marie had finished a Master of Philosophy in Psychology and her PhD in psychology. She has further trained in school neuropsychology to understand the neuropsychology of the developing brain. She has been accepted to Bristol University Applied Neuropsychology beginning September 2024. This part-time 14-month program will provide Marie with the knowledge of adult neuropsychology.

Marie has over twenty years of working with individuals and families who struggle with various challenges. She has a published book, “Learn How to Fight to Save Your Relationship,” available on Amazon. The Christian version has been accepted for publication by Christian Faith Publishing and should be out soon. She is often called in to work with complex cases that other clinicians would not consider taking. Marie believes there is health and healing for everyone and prayerfully works hard to find solutions with her clients.

How do all these experiences and training translate for clients? A high degree of expertise and vast knowledge to be able to pinpoint the root causes of anxiety for children, adolescents, and adults. Anxiety can have roots in fear, sensorimotor deficits, past trauma, obsessive thoughts, state conditions, life balance, memory problems, combination anxiety/depression, and co-morbidity. Marie will explore these areas with you and discover the driving force behind your condition.

Marie has learned compassion for anyone struggling with anxiety from mild to severe. Each client is cared for, listened to, and understood. These are ingredients Marie believes are essential to provide a holistic approach.

Marie joined anxietycentre.com’s team of recommended therapists in October 2016. Marie has four grown children.