BENTE SKAU
Social Worker, Psychotherapist
MEET BENTE
Bente Skau is a Registered Social Worker and psychotherapist who supports individuals, couples, and families navigating relationship challenges, communication issues, childhood traumas, and the impacts of interpersonal harm. Bente has specialized expertise in the field of sexual abuse treatment including sibling sexual abuse. She has worked extensively with adolescents who have been sexually traumatized, supporting them in rebuilding a sense of safety, stability, and self-worth through trauma-informed, developmentally attuned care. In addition to working with survivors, she provides structured, compassionate treatment for youth who have engaged in sexually harmful behaviour, helping them develop accountability, empathy, and healthier relational boundaries. Known for her warmth and curiosity, she offers a space where clients feel respected—while also being encouraged to confront problems directly and move toward meaningful change.
Her therapeutic approach includes Narrative, Existential, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). She believes that people are not their problems, and that many difficulties arise from structural issues, social narratives, and past experiences rather than personal flaws. Bente also understands that early attachment disruptions can impact the ways that later relationships are formed so an examination of ones early experiences can be helpful in understanding current struggles.
As a critical social worker, Bente will aid you in examining how many elements of society are limiting or oppressive (whether it be gender roles or racism) and drawing on narrative and existential ideas, she helps clients deconstruct restrictive stories, explore identity and meaning, and reconnect with values and strengths. And when appropriate, CBT is used to build practical skills and create new, sustainable patterns of thinking and behaving.
With over 25 years of experience, Bente brings a grounded, relational approach to both individual and couple therapy. She supports clients looking to strengthen relationships, navigate family dynamics, heal from past harm, or understand themselves more deeply. Her style is compassionate, honest, and gently challenging.
In addition to her clinical work, Bente teaches in the School of Social Work at York University, where her interests in Queer Theory, Masculinity Studies, and Critical Social Work theory inform an inclusive and critically reflective practice.
CLINICAL SERVICES OFFERED
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Online & In-Person
Details coming soon!
TRAINING
Online & In-Person
Details coming soon!
CLINICAL CONSULTATION
Online & In-Person
Details coming soon!
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
Online & In-Person
The Clinical Collective has extensive experience supporting community-based organizations across Canada with creating Community of Practice groups. Working with children and youth who have experienced trauma and/or engaged in sexually harmful behaviour is demanding work that requires specialized skills and knowledge. It is work that is best done in a team approach, particularly when clinicians are learning to do this work. Establishing a Community of Practice is one way to support the work and development of the clinical staff. Etienne Wenger defined communities of practice as, “Groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly”. The intention of a Community of Practice is to support the learning obtained in training, to enhance the skill set of the clinicians, to provide a space to share information and discuss issues and engage in reflective practice. It needs to be a place where clinicians feel comfortable in sharing their issues and vulnerabilities as they learn together to do this work.