My Approach

I am well-trained, yet always learning

My work is grounded in understanding the ways that difficult experiences—ranging from those that leave us frustrated and confused to those that completely shock and overwhelm us—interrupt an individual’s growth, self-fulfillment, and the development of a meaningful life. I am here to support you on a wide range of issues, whether you’re struggling with a decision, have experienced a loss, are feeling depressed, overwhelmed, or anxious, you’re experiencing traumatic stress reactions to disturbing events from your past, or you’re a couple needing support.

I hold a degree from one of the only counselling programs specifically dedicated to the treatment of trauma (at the University of Victoria). Further, I have continued to seek professional training in some of the leading modalities used to treat traumatic stress (i.e. PTSD and c-PTSD), including EMDR and Somatic Transformation. Whatever you need support with, whether emotional or anxiety concerns, relationship struggles, dysfunctional or troubling thinking patterns, or a reaction to a traumatic experience, I would be happy to support you in improving your life.

  • Internal Family Systems

  • Advanced Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

  • Somatic Transformation

  • EMDR

  • Trauma Informed Practice / Tri-Phasic Trauma Theory

  • Attachment Theory

  • Interpersonal Process Therapy

  • Gestalt Psychotherapy

  • Mindfulness

Therapeutic theories and modalities I draw from include:

The good life is a process, not a state of being; it is a direction, not a destination.
Carl Rogers

You’re an expert; I’m an expert

I believe that counselling can be most successful when we step into our respective roles and work together. You are the expert in your life and experiences, and I will never assume to know better than you what you have experienced, felt, and needed, nor what you should or shouldn’t do in the future. While I will hypothesize and sometimes offer suggestions of things for you to try, I aim to listen fully in order to understand you as best as I can, rather than assume or advise.

I also believe that people seek counselling for more than simply to be listened to; clients typically want a counsellor that they believe has the expertise needed to help them with the changes they wish to experience. Therefore, I will actively use my training and competence to support you to grow your own understanding, discover solutions, and resolve what previously felt stuck. You will remain the expert in your life and experience, and I will bring my expertise as a therapist to serve you to the best of my abilities.

Counselling should feel informal yet focused

I have a non-judgmental, relaxed energy and aim to create safety and ease between myself and my clients. I want my clients to feel comfortable being themselves, sharing openly, and daring to be authentic.

At the same time, I know that counselling is an investment, both of time and financial resources. Clients come to me wanting positive change in their lives, and achieving this change requires focus and attention. My work balances the need for ease and fluidity with a solution oriented approach, which tends to help my clients meet their change goals while feeling natural and free from rigidity or pressure.

Counselling can be difficult, but it isn’t always

Counselling can be really difficult. Simply booking and attending your session takes courage; the process of working through the ways we’ve been hurt, breaking ingrained habits, facing our fears, and challenging our own thinking is often a painful process. I recognize that to see the kinds of change my clients long for they must work for it, often through significant discomfort, and I join them in this difficult journey.

But counselling with me also means identifying strengths, celebrating achievements, and growing what is already working well. While counselling can bring painful moments, so too does it bring some of the most joy-filled and pleasurable moments. I don’t shy away from either the pains or the joys of the process.

For more information visit Services and Fees