A bit more about me...
I am a Psychotherapist and Registered Therapeutic Counsellor with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada.
I have been on a journey of self-discovery and healing for many years, attending counselling and workshops, as well as studying the teachings of many great thought leaders.
I’ve always been the person people lean on for support, so when it was time for me to make a career change I knew it was time to become a registered counsellor. My training was experiential - meaning, everything learned in theory is first applied to self - therefore, I was also able to grow immensely. I learned so much about where my pain came, who I had to become to survive, and how to heal.
I have been able to see firsthand that change is possible and that we can be who we want to be in this world and live the life we’ve always wanted to... and we don't have to do it alone.
In late 2024 I moved to Ladner, and live here with my blended family, which includes my wonderful husband, Dave, a Certified Coach and Consultant, and our four teenagers.
My approach…
My therapeutic approach comes from a combination of perspectives that include Somatic Experiencing® (SE™), Family Systems Theory, person-centred, Gestalt and transpersonal orientations. Family Systems Theory is based on who you became in the family you grew up in. Gestalt therapy places emphasis on gaining awareness of the present moment and context. Through therapy, people learn to discover feelings that may have been suppressed or masked by other feelings and to accept and trust their emotions.
I am currently in the advanced/final year of the 3-year training to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) is the life’s work of Dr. Peter A. Levine. It aims to resolve symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma that accumulate in our bodies. When we are stuck in patterns of fight, flight, or freeze, SE helps us release, recover, and become more resilient. It is a body-oriented therapeutic model applied in multiple professions - psychotherapy, medicine, coaching, teaching, and physical therapy - for healing trauma and other stress disorders.
My initial focus is developing rapport, trust and a connection with you as this is key in our work together. I will ask you questions about your family, history, and we will explore how these relate to your current struggles – they are typically a direct result of the pain we experienced during childhood. Pain/trauma generates emotions that become stuck in our mind and body as energy in our unconscious, affecting our life until we uncover it and process it out, so we can heal these places. We will also examine patterns in your life that may not be serving you, look at the beliefs and values that drive them and explore new possibilities of creating the life you desire.
I will meet you wherever you are at, with immense care and without judgment.
Who I work with…
I work with individuals and couples ages 18 and up.
As a mother (who had post-partum struggles) I am passionate about helping people navigate the transition into parenthood, including when facing mental health issues related to prenatal or postpartum anxiety and depression. This also applies to anyone experiencing these issues due to perimenopause or menopause.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.