Therapist Profile
Marleen Filimon
Business Owner
Marleen is PMP's Founder and Clinical Director, with extensive experience in trauma therapy, EMDR, clinical consultation, and therapist development.
Marleen's Other Professional Interests
Marleen provides EMDR consultation for therapists working with trauma and complex cases. She also supports clinical development at PMP through consultation, supervision, and practice leadership.
Making space for your story
Marleen's Photos
Marleen's Bio
Psychotherapy: Marleen is not currently accepting psychotherapy clients.
EMDR Consultation: Limited spaces are available in Marleen’s small EMDR consultation groups. Individual consultation is offered on a very limited basis.
Clinical Supervision: Limited availability.
Format: Virtual consultation across Ontario, with in-person options in Burlington where available.
Best fit for: Therapists seeking thoughtful EMDR consultation, support with complex trauma cases, case conceptualization, and greater confidence integrating EMDR into clinical practice.
Education
Marleen completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s degree in Cognitive Psychology, and Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
She is a Registered Psychotherapist in good standing with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA approved EMDR Trainer. Her professional development has focused extensively on trauma, PTSD, EMDR, and the complexities of working with clients whose experiences do not always fit neatly into one treatment model.
Work Experience
Marleen has worked in mental health settings internationally, including psychiatric hospitals and community organizations in Europe, Canada, and abroad. Her early career included work at a forensic psychiatric hospital in the Netherlands and as a Trauma Therapist with the United Nations Staff Counselling Unit in Haiti.
For her work with the United Nations in Haiti, Marleen and her colleagues in the Staff Counselling Unit received the 2011 UN 21 Award, recognizing innovation, efficiency, and excellence in the delivery of UN programs and services.
After establishing Private Matters Psychotherapy in Burlington, Marleen developed a particular focus on trauma, PTSD, first responders, and EMDR. Over time, her work expanded from providing therapy to supporting other therapists through clinical supervision, EMDR consultation, and professional development.
Today, Marleen’s primary role at PMP is clinical leadership. She supports the development of the clinical team, helps maintain standards of care across the practice, and provides consultation when therapists are navigating complex clinical work.
As an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Trainer, Marleen also works with therapists who want to strengthen their understanding and application of EMDR. Her consultation style emphasizes case conceptualization, clinical reasoning, and helping therapists think through what to do when EMDR does not unfold as neatly as a protocol might suggest.
Personal Life
Marleen grew up internationally, living in the Netherlands, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt before eventually making Canada home. Those experiences fostered an enduring curiosity about people, culture, language, and the different ways people understand themselves and the world around them.
Outside of work, Marleen enjoys travelling and being outdoors. She and her husband take annual motorcycle trips, and she also enjoys hiking, backcountry camping, sailing, kayaking, skiing, sketching, and working on her piano skills.