Our Team
We harness our collective experience to provide children and families with nurturing support. Our approach is rooted in creativity and cultural understanding, ensuring that every family feels valued and empowered. Together, we create a safe and enriching environment supporting growth to thrive.
Esther Marie Waymouth,
MSW, RSW
Founder | Certified Play Therapist | Theraplay® Intern
Esther Marie Waymouth is the founder of Healing Hearts Play Therapy and a Certified Play Therapist with the Canadian Association for Play Therapy. She holds a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University, along with a Bachelor’s degree in History and Anthropology. She is also currently completing advanced training as a Theraplay® Intern through Theraplay® Canada.
Healing Hearts Play Therapy was born from Esther’s long-held vision of creating a centre that reflects the strengths, diversity, and cultural richness of the Greater Sudbury community. With over two decades of clinical experience, she has worked across child and family services, health care, school systems, and post-secondary institutions. Her deep connection to community is reflected in her work with the urban Indigenous population at N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre, where she supported children’s mental health through culturally grounded care.
Esther’s areas of clinical focus include attachment, complex trauma, and child development. She brings warmth, creativity, and playfulness into the therapy room—often incorporating puppetry and expressive tools to help children and families heal through joy, safety, and connection.
In English and French, Esther is dedicated to making services accessible and inclusive.
Linda Mhende-Chitohwa,
HBISW, RSW
Child, Youth, Adult & Family Therapist | Inclusive, Culturally Grounded Care
Linda is a compassionate and skilled clinician with extensive experience supporting children, youth, adults, couples, and families. She is a Registered Social Worker completed her Bachelors in Indigenous Social Work with Laurentian University. Linda is currently working on her Masters of Social Work. Linda brings creativity, curiosity, and developmental insight to her work with children and youth clients.
Her therapeutic style is warm, inclusive, trauma-informed, and non-judgmental. Linda has provided care in both urban settings and First Nations communities, and is deeply committed to culturally responsive, identity-affirming practice. She is experienced in working with individuals from diverse racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
In addition to child and family therapy, Linda enjoys working with couples to foster communication, connection, and mutual understanding. She offers online counselling services for couples, making relationship support accessible and flexible.
