The Relationship Centre
About Us
Feeling Better Starts Here
2006
Mary Joan opened her private practice in the heart of Belleville.
2018
The Relationship Centre officially opened its doors.
100+
Years of shared experience amongst our therapists.
EFT
We specialize in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).
2025
We expanded to our second location in Kingston Ontario.
Why The Relationship Centre
We do more than help you get through the day,
At The Relationship Centre, we help you build the kind of life and relationships that feel good to live in.
Our therapists use a range of evidence-based approaches tailored to your unique needs, combining deep emotional work with practical strategies for meaningful lasting change. We believe true healing doesn’t just happen in the mind, it begins in the body, the nervous system, and in our earliest relationships.
That’s why we work from the bottom up. First, we help regulate your emotions and build safety. Then, we support you in exploring thoughts, patterns, and behaviours so you can understand the root cause of your triggers and heal from the inside out.
We hold space for real healing to begin and co-create the foundation for real change that lasts.
Client Care
Handled With Heart
What truly sets The Relationship Centre apart is the personalized, concierge-style care you receive from the moment you reach out. Our Client Care Coordinators are more than just a first point of contact, they’re compassionate guides who help make the entire process feel easier, warmer, and more human.
We understand that starting therapy can feel overwhelming and oftentimes taking the first step towards better mental health is the hardest part. Whether you need help understanding your insurance coverage, want to know what to expect in your first session, or need help finding the right therapist for your unique needs, we’re here to support you with patience and care.
We take the time to listen to your story, understand your goals, and recommend the best therapist for your situation, not just based on availability, but on fit. It’s a thoughtful, client-centred approach designed to make your journey feel welcoming from the very beginning.
From your first inquiry to your final session, you’ll never feel like just a number.
We want you to feel supported and cared for throughout the therapeutic process.
Start with A
Free Consultation
Our Values
We’re a team of caring therapy professionals dedicated to helping you move through what’s holding you back.
Client-Centered Support
Your story, your pace, your goals. We tailor therapy to your needs and walk beside you every step of the way with empathy, respect, and compassion.
Expertise You Can Trust
Our team brings extensive training in trauma-informed care, EFT, CBT, EMDR, somatic approaches, and more. We offer diverse modalities and lived experiences to meet you where you are.
Inclusive & Affirming Care
Our practice is a safe, welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, identities, sexualities, and lived experiences.
Collaboration & Choice
We believe therapy works best when it’s a partnership. You have a voice in your journey, we’re here to guide, not lead the way for you.
In-Person & Online
You weren’t meant to solve every problem on your own.
We believe everyone deserves a space to feel seen, heard, understood, and empowered. Therapy with us isn’t just about coping, it’s about transforming.
Our Story
Our doors have been open since 2006, originally as Mary Joan Brinson’s private practice. In 2018, The Relationship Centre was established to expand that vision and help even more people love deeply and live fully.
Since then, we’ve grown into a team of dedicated professionals who share one goal:
Create a safe space where people feel supported and empowered to change their lives.
Our Space
We’ve designed our therapy centre to be warm, calming, and peaceful because how you feel in the space matters.
Our Belleville office is a place where you can exhale. Every corner has been thoughtfully curated to support comfort, safety, and peace. From our welcoming reception to our softly lit therapy rooms, we’ve created an environment that helps you feel grounded from the moment you arrive.
This is your space to breathe, reflect, grow and heal.
A Message From Our Founder
We Believe Getting Help Should Be Easy
“We know how hard it is to ask for help. It takes courage to contact someone you’ve never met and share that you’re struggling. But we encourage you to take that first step. Because we know what’s waiting for you on the other side: a better way to live.”
— Mary Joan Brinson, MSW, RSW
Founder & Director
We understand how discouraging life can feel when you don’t have the support you need. Getting help shouldn’t be difficult too…
The Relationship Centre
Our Team
Each therapist at The Relationship Centre brings not only professional expertise, but genuine care for your healing journey. Whether you need individual support, couples therapy, or child and teen counselling, we’re here to help you feel better, grow stronger, and reconnect with yourself and those around you.
Mary Joan Brinson
Founder & Registered Social Worker
Andrew Garnet
Registered Social Worker
Daniel Forsythe
Registered Psychotherapist
Emma Elliot
Registered Social Worker
Holly Knowles
Registered Social Worker
Jen Bishop
Registered Social Worker
Jenna Raymond
Registered Social Worker
Julie Wiltshire
Registered Psychotherapist
Lydia Kellar
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
MaryClair Walker
Registered Social Worker
Melissa Bennett
Registered Social Worker
Monica Melanson
Registered Social Worker
Paula Leite
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Sydney Matson
Registered Psychotherapist
Tara Gingrich
Registered Social Worker
Tania Nicholls
Registered Social Worker
Courtney Kelso
Practice Manager
Emma Dunkley
Client Care Coordinator
The Relationship Centre
Let’s begin your journey,
Towards healing and connection, together.
Book your free consultation today and let’s find the right support for you.
Feeling Better Starts Here
In- person Therapy offered in Belleville Ontario. Serving surrounding areas of Trenton, Stirling, Tweed, Napanee, Picton, Deseronto, Madoc, Frankford, Quinte West, Prince Edward County, Brighton, and Marmora. Online therapy anywhere in Ontario.
