About Kurtz Social Work

Arliss Kurtz is an independent, registered clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience having worked in the fields of early childhood education, child welfare, mental health, and forensics. Ms. Kurtz primarily provides therapy and assessment services for children and youth to address an array of emotional, behavioural, social, and mental health concerns, while also helping caregivers with parenting complexities. She has a wealth of experience working with children and youth who have histories of trauma, abuse, adversity, and loss. She is also a yoga teacher, RYT 200 and incorporates mindful awareness, breath work, and meditation into her social work practice.

Ms. Kurtz has additional specialized training to provide therapy for children and youth who engage in problematic or harmful sexual behaviours and to conduct juvenile psycho-sexual risk assessments. Using trauma-informed, multi-systemic, cognitive-behavioural, solution-focused, and strength-based approaches, her work promotes mental health recovery, healthy lifestyle choices, therapeutic parenting techniques, strengthening healthy attachments between youth and their caregivers, and encouraging professionals from involved systems to have an attuned understanding of the young person’s needs.

Ms. Kurtz is a presenter of the Mental Health First Aid Standard and Basic curriculum. She additionally offers customized professional development workshops that tailor the above topic areas for staff learning development. Training can be presented virtually or at the requested worksite.