Meet Steve Abma

Clinical Director, Registered Psychotherapist

As the founder of Abma Counselling, Steve's decades of experience working with clients now guide the practice's direction in Niagara Falls.

Steve spends his days supervising newer therapists and cultivating a culture that allows both clients and clinicians to do their best work. He is continually involved in making improvements to the practice and supporting every member of the therapeutic team.

Outside of his time at the practice, Steve enjoys being a husband, parent, writer, speaker and songwriter.

Values

At the heart of our practice lies a simple commitment to our community: helping people lead happier, more fulfilling lives. This mission is shaped by four foundational values that reflect Steve’s philosophy, the culture of the practice, and the quality of support offered to both clients and the team:

Care

Everything at Abma Counselling is driven by a simple but powerful truth: we care about people. This commitment is what led Steve into the work and what guides the entire practice today. We believe in helping people's lives improve, not just for their own sake, but for the people they are in relationship with, too. Whether someone is seeking therapy or joining our clinical team, our purpose is to ensure they feel like they matter and are in good hands.

Compassion

Compassion is the willingness to feel what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. We don't see ourselves as experts looking down; we see ourselves as fellow humans on the same journey as our clients. We are not influencers or gurus. We have training and perspective, but that doesn’t put us above the people we work with. For a little while, we are given the privilege of walking beside you, not ahead of you.

Competence

Competence is built into the fabric of our team. This is a place where therapists grow, think deeply about their work. They have access to resources, feedback, and support. Our team aims to be thoughtful and grounded. We rely on proven techniques. We care about doing the work well. And so, we maintain a strong culture of continuous professional development, requiring both regular supervision and ongoing training for every member of our team.

Connection

We value Connection because we know therapy only works if you feel it with your therapist. Many people seek help because they were hurt by disconnection. maybe being ignored or let down. A genuine connection in therapy helps heal that experience. When you feel seen, heard and understood, your body relaxes, making it easier to open up and think clearly, so you can face old problems and make real, lasting change.

Let's Work Together

While Steve focuses on leading the practice and supporting the team, he also makes room for writing and speaking on emotional health.

Steve is currently writing a book about emotions. It starts with a simple question: What if everything you learned about feelings was wrong? The book reveals how emotions actually work, why we fight them, and the one thing we can all do to finally turn those feelings into fuel for a better life. The book is due for release in 2026.

People reach out to work with Steve 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 how to manage stress, build strong relationships and how to live rich, full and meaningful life.