Dayirai Kapfunde (she/her)
BA, BSW, MSW, RSW, RCSW-S
Contracted Therapist (Virtual)
Journeys of Life Counselling Services Inc.
Raised in Southern Alkebulan (colonially known as Africa), Dayirai (Dye-Rye) calls Zimbabwe (colonially known as Rhodesia) her first home. In 2001, she settled in Burlington, Ontario, the traditional territory of Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Attiwonderonk, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation peoples. In 2012, she moved to Treaty 8 Territory, the traditional meeting ground, gathering place, and travelling route to the Cree, Dene, Dane-zaa (Beaver), and Metis. Since 2021, Dayirai has gratefully acknowledged that she grounds her work, life, play, and growth on the unceded Treaty 6 Territory. As an intersectional human, Dayirai has reflected that she became Black when she came to Canada and has a personal awareness of how imposed identity interacts with gender, class, immigration status, and additional identities to influence how one moves within society.
From 2009-2012, Dayirai provided strengths-based support to children and families as a Child Protection Worker at the Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton, Ontario. During this time, she witnessed families pushed to the margins of society, whether by language as new immigrants, economics, or the generational problems of addiction and trauma. From 2012-2017, Dayirai provided employee assistance counselling to individuals and families within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. From 2018-2023, Dayirai provided therapeutic services to children, youth, and adults accessing mental health care in community and hospital settings. In addition to this work, since March 2013, Dayirai has offered counselling and therapy through her private practice, Journeys of Life Counselling Services Inc.
Dayirai is passionate about decolonizing and destigmatizing mental health care. She has received training in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) skills, motivational interviewing (MI), narrative therapy (NT), and solution-focused therapy (SFT). Dayirai is a Certified and Advanced Tree of Life Practitioner, an EMDR Certified Therapist (EMDRIA), a Certified PEERS Provider via Telehealth, and a Registered Circle of Security Facilitator.
Dayirai is committed to practicing from a place that is person-centred, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. In her work, she prioritizes equitability, inclusion, and mutual respect. She offers virtual therapy services to children, teens, adults, couples, and families throughout Fort McMurray and the greater Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
Education
Doctoral Student, University of Alberta (2023-Present)
Post-Graduate Diploma in Professional Addiction Studies, McMaster University (2017)
Master of Social Work, Toronto Metropolitan University (2009)
Bachelor of Social Work, McMaster University (2008)
Bachelor of Arts, McMaster University (2008)
Registration
Dayirai is a Registered Social Worker (Registration Number: 11212), a Registered Clinical Social Worker (Registration Number: 20900), and a Registered Clinical Social Work Supervisor with the Alberta College of Social Workers.
Dayirai practices in accordance with the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, Values, and Guiding Principles (2024) and the Alberta College of Social Workers Standards of Practice (March 2023). Per the Government Organization Act (RSA 2000), Schedule 7.1, Dayirai is authorized to perform the restricted activity of psychosocial intervention.
