I’ve been a clinical counsellor for ten years now. I love my job! It is such an honour to be invited into someone’s inner world and reality… their struggles, fears, hopes, joys, values, strengths, & personality. I seek to deeply understand who my clients are and what they are feeling & thinking, so that I can provide my best skills & knowledge for each person’s situation.

What’s my counselling style? In a word, “adaptable.” I am flexible in my role for you, because you are unique (as a snowflake!) and even more so, within that uniqueness, you may have different needs at different times. When I first started out, one of my mentors explained this to me. As a counsellor, my role is to be:

• a witness
• a mirror and…
• sometimes a participant

I understand now, more than ever, why it is only “sometimes” that I provide ideas that could become solutions. Often the process of speaking your story out loud to a compassionate witness who can mirror back what you’re feeling is healing in and of itself. You express, release, get clarity, have your “eureka!” moments, and find your own solutions.

That being said, there will be times when you may feel lost or want to understand more deeply how the brain, body & emotions work, and you will want more than a witness or mirror. I have lots of training, expertise, and wisdom which helps me be a valuable guide. I know what you need to do to:

• bring lasting change to your life
• make difficult decisions
• communicate in healthy ways
• open up to vulnerability
• overcome avoidance or addiction
• address trauma
• honour and move through loss
• find yourself again or create yourself anew
• feel better

Here are some of my additional trainings and some of my professional experience:

• Level Two Gottman Couples Therapy
• Dr. Susan Johnson’s EFT Couples method
• Bringing Baby Home Certificate — information helping a couple gain communication skills and knowledge to be better parents and partners
• As well, I spent 3 years as the in-house staff trauma counsellor at a homeless shelter, supporting over 200 frontline workers.
• And I am the co-author of the book Trauma on the Front Line: A Practical Guide for Caregivers Supporting Survivors

You’re the expert of you, and I’m the expert on change. It’s your choice whether or when you want me to be a “witness/mirror” or more of a “participant” and guide that provides ideas, structure, or suggestions. I am at your service in whatever capacity you need.

To note: Couple’s therapy is usually very directive because I often need to teach healthy communication tools. So, if you’re seeking couple’s therapy, it is likely you’ll get more benefit from me as a guide, although some couples are very insightful and motivated and can use a therapist as a safe space and sounding board more than a teacher.

You may be getting a gut feel already about whether I’m a good fit for you. Or you may need more info or time as you select a therapist. Do tune into your feelings or instinct: Research shows that the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors for positive outcomes. If you’d like to get more of a feel for who I am, you can go to my scheduling calendar via the button below to book a free 15 min consult. We can chat about what you’re going through right now and I can answer any questions you might have.