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•   Bachelor Degree in Social Work

•   Master Degree is Clinical Social Work from University of Calgary

•   Over 14 years of experience working in mental health settings

•   Clinical experience in palliative care, hospice, grief and bereavement

•   Extensive post-graduate training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for individuals, couples and families

•   Trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassionate Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI)

•   Completed 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Certification

•   2SLGBTQ+ affirming and allied therapist

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My Counselling Journey

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My journey in this field of work began over 14 years ago. I started volunteering on a crisis line and I was quickly in awe of how resilient, vulnerable and courageous people were as they were navigating very difficult life experiences. I began my Social Work Diploma at Mount Royal University in 2010 and then went on to pursue my Bachelor Degree in Social Work and my Master Degree in Clinical Social Work in which I completed in 2015.

I have had the honour of working in various mental health and human services fields including crisis work at the Distress Centre, Mobile Response Team, palliative and end-of-life care, grief and bereavement, working with very marginalised and under-served groups, clinical child and youth mental health, couples and relationship therapy and family therapy.

When I am not working, I love spending time with my spouse and young daughter, as well as my extended family. I enjoy being outdoors on my bike, in a lake or lying on the grass. I am grateful to have travelled internationally and learned about cultural competency directly through my travels. I am a lifelong learner and spend a lot of my time attending to my own growth and development through reading, professional development, mindfulness and reflection.

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My Approach

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I strive to offer a safe and welcoming space where you can feel heard, accepted and valued. I am guided by client-centred and humanistic practices that recognise that human beings are complex and unique and adapt to their environment in the best ways they know how. My belief is that the relationship between

the client and therapist is paramount in the change process. As Carl Rogers said, “If I can provide a certain type of relationship, the other will discover within themselves the capacity to use that relationship for growth, and change and personal development will occur.”

I use attachment-based and trauma-informed approaches to connect with and better understand my clients. Much of my work is shaped by attachment science that believes that “bonding and connecting with others is viewed as the most intrinsic essential survival strategy for human beings and humans are most aware of this need for connection at times of threat, risk, pain or uncertainty.”

I see my clients and their lives from a complete biopsychosocial frame that recognises and deeply understands people in the context of their physical, psychological, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and cultural realms.

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I can help you find what is causing and maintaining the presenting issues in your life and explore ways to overcome barriers that are in the way. 

I believe strongly in supporting you with dignity, compassion and respect.

By actively listening, respecting your autonomy and self-determination, we can find ways for you to be empowered and make changes in your life.

My multi-systemic approach that draws from feminist and anti-oppressive social work practices allow me to be inclusive and diversity-oriented no matter what your belief system imay be. 

 

I have experience working with youth, young adults, folks in life and family transitions including birth and death, peri-natal and post-partum mental health, relationship and marital counselling including sexual(ity) concerns, alternative relationship structures (i.e. consensual non-monogamy) and 2SLGBTQ+ challenges.

 

The Therapy Process

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Counselling and self-exploration is a journey; one that is not for the faint of heart. It is a unique and dynamic process that is different for each individual. I view the therapeutic journey as a marriage between scientific and evidence-based practices, and the genuine relationship between  client and therapist.

I hope to provide you with a space where you can feel safe to start your own internal healing process. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me!