Cherie Mak

Hoi Yee (Cherie) Mak

(she/her) MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker

CREDENTIALS

Cherie Mak is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW), as well as with the Social Registration Board in Hong Kong. She is also a Mental Health First Aider issued by the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong.

AREAS OF FOCUS

Cherie’s areas of focus include depression, anxiety, stress management, emotion control, suicide/ self-harm, parenting, learning difficulties, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships. In particular, Cherie specializes in working with children and youth to support their mental health.

LANGUAGES

Cherie is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Cherie graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W) from Hong Kong Baptist University and with a Master of Social Work (M.S.W) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Before immigrating to Canada, Cherie worked in schools (Diocesan Boys’ School, King George V School) and non-governmental organizations (Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited, KELY Support Group). Her social work practice includes case management, crisis intervention, group work, and workshops. Her expertise concerns youth mental health, students with special educational needs, and parent-child relationships. In Canada, she had her practicum in the Centre for Immigrant & Community Services and has worked at the University of Toronto as a Mental Health Programs Officer for the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

APPROACH TO TREATMENT

Cherie is known for her empathetic and non-judgemental approach that fosters a safe space where clients feel heard, connected, and recharged. She values drawing perspectives from clients’ backgrounds in order to elicit their strengths, develop coping strategies, and bring lasting changes. Cherie recognizes the complexities of familial relationships, such as intergenerational communication differences and the stress and challenges that arise from school/ work. Cherie’s success is to empower clients by walking alongside them while they overcome challenges at their own pace to excel and reach their full potential in life. Methodologically, she practices Narrative Therapy, Solution-focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-centered Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Cherie was born and raised in Hong Kong. Her life mission is to bring happiness and positivity to people around her. She enjoys playing board games, trying out new recipes, and doing outdoor activities. In her free time, she also volunteers in local charities.