Meet Steve Abma

Clinical Director, Registered Psychotherapist

I'm the owner of Abma Counselling here in Niagara Falls. I spent many years working directly with clients—especially couples—and now my focus is more behind the scenes.

I make sure the care we’re offering is solid, thoughtful, and held to a high standard.

These days, I spend most of my time supervising newer therapists, supporting the team, and helping shape a culture where good work can happen—for both clients and clinicians.

I also lead workshops in the community and am writing a book on emotional health and resilience.

Even if we don’t meet directly, I’m probably involved in some way—supporting your therapist, making improvements to our practice and speaking in the community.

Steve Abma couples marriage retreat counselling Niagara GTA

Our Values

At the heart of our group practice lies a commitment to helping people lead happier, more fulfilling lives. If I had to name the values that shape this practice, they’d be care, competency, compassion, and connection. These values reflect what I believe about people, the kind of culture we’re creating, and the quality of support we want to offer—both to clients and to our team.

Care

I care about people. That’s what led me into this work, and it’s still what drives it. I want people’s lives to get better—not just for their own sake, but for the people they’re in relationship with too. Whether someone’s reaching out for therapy or working here as part of the team, I want them to feel like they matter and that they’re in good hands.

Compassion

Compassion, for me, is the willingness to pay attention to what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. One of the things that makes our practice different is that our therapists don’t see themselves as experts looking down from the top. We see ourselves as fellow humans on the same journey. We’re not influencers. We’re not gurus. We have training and perspective, but that doesn’t put us above the people we work with. For a little while, we’re given the privilege of walking beside you—not ahead of you.

Competence

Competency is built into the fabric of our team. This is a place where therapists grow, think deeply about their work, and have access to resources, feedback, and support. Our team aims to be thoughtful and grounded, and relies on proven techniques. We care about doing the work well—not just being kind, but being effective.

Connection

For me, as a clinic owner, connection is the cornerstone of our practice. It's the therapeutic alliance we build with our clients—the trust, the mutual respect, and the shared commitment to their goals—that allows for true healing. But beyond that, it's the connection we foster as a team, ensuring every therapist feels supported, heard, and valued. This is how we create a safe space not just for our clients, but for the entire community of care we've built.

Let's Work Together

These days, most of my time goes into directing the practice and supporting the team, but I still take on work that feels beneficial to others and personally meaningful.

I’m writing a book about emotions—how they actually work, how to stop fighting them, and how they shape the way we live, lead, and relate to each other. It’s written for people who are tired of hanging onto old thoughts and feelings and nothing they've tried has worked. It's a new approach to an old problem: what to do with those emotions we don't like but can't seem to shake?

People reach out to work with me in different ways:

Employers who want help training their teams—especially around dealing with hard dynamics or difficult people.
Faith-Based Organizations who want someone to speak about the connection between emotional and spiritual health.
Therapists who are interested in joining the team and want to work in a collaborative setting.
Community Groups who are looking for a speaker or facilitator to talk about emotions in everyday life—how to work with them, not around them.