In 2020, after many years of self-help work and exploring various healing modalities, I finally stepped into a secret dream that I had harboured for most of my life. I went back to school to become a therapeutic counsellor. It was a very experiential program, and I was able to receive many hours of personal and group therapy along the way. I have grown so much through the experience and am so grateful to know how profoundly capable we are of change once we make the choice.

For the longest time I had been on a quest to find an easier way to live and to avoid my pain. Therapy undid the aloneness I felt, broadened my perspective helping me become aware of my patterns and defenses and gave me tools for change. I started feeling safe enough in my body to be with the pain I carried of worthlessness, despair and disconnection instead of avoiding it. All emotions became something to be curious with instead of overcoming or supressing. I recognized that emotions are something that I experience rather than something that defines me. I started to experience my embodiment in new ways and this has shifted my thought patterns. I began to feel more ease in my being and with the world around me. I am still on my quest, but it is decidedly not about avoiding pain anymore. It’s about loving my life and the people in it the best I can every day. And, I do laugh and enjoy myself a lot more!

I started learning about healing while I was a wildfire lookout. This job provided me with a safe space to connect with my true nature and nature itself! I became very interested in the plants and the elements that are the building blocks of all that we need to live and because no one else was around, I entered into relationships with them. This led me to herbalism. During the winter seasons, I trained to become a herbalist. Through that training I learned that there is so much more to the healing process than taking this plant for that symptom. I began to understand that body, mind, emotion and spirit just like earth, air, water and fire were all woven together and impacting our state of well being. 

As I deepened my relationship with the elements in various ways, I was led to breathwork and trained as a breathwork facilitator. I was amazed to discover my body knew exactly what it needed to do to move through and release and integrate past experiences finding it’s way to relief, ease and even inspiration. 

Concurrently I was becoming increasingly interested in spiritual healing and the ways our ancestors, who were more attuned with the earth and cycles, lived and healed. Growing up in Canada I knew that our indigenous people still had a connection to the land and spiritual beliefs that felt resonant yet so distant from me. I am of Northern European dissent. Many of my ancestors came from Ireland. So, I found a traditional healer in Ireland and went through an apprenticeship. I learned about my cultural origin stories, celebrations around the wheel of the year, women’s ways and goddesses, ritual, ceremony, journeying, healing, the betwixt and between and so much more. During this apprenticeship I travelled to Ireland to do ceremony at sacred sites with a circle of women, it changed my life.

I became alive with the desire to share the things I was learning and be of service in my community. I took jobs that supported children, families, elders and those who were ailing. Each of these jobs taught me so much but I knew I had more to offer which led me here. Training as a counsellor, I was introduced to many theories, approaches, modalities, and processes. I weave multiple approaches together to facilitate my clients through their unique therapeutic journey. I am client led, trusting you know what will work best for you. I draw on family systems theory, attachment theory, somatic therapies, parts work, emotionally focussed work, mindfulness, narrative and trauma informed approaches. I also work from a transpersonal perspective, which means understanding that we are spiritual beings. 

In my experience we are all trying to be the best version of ourselves, but we often end up feeling as if we fall short. It is hard to see why being our best self is not happening naturally. Unfortunately, we don’t know what we don’t know. Through counselling we get the opportunity to be deeply witnessed and to reflect with the assistance of another to truly know our authentic self. When we truly know who we are and where we are coming from we have more agency and clarity in how we choose to live.

We learn early on how to relate and be in the world through our family of origin. Whether we like it or not, our family of origin informs how we view and interact with ourselves, others and the world. Therefore, getting to know the ways our familial experiences impact our lives is foundational to the process.

When it comes to change, sometimes it can feel insurmountable, and we get stuck repeating patterns of behaviour that keep us from moving forward into where we want to be or how we truly desire to feel in our lives. Here is a key, most of our pain happened in connection therefore, healing this pain also needs to happen in connection. As your counsellor I am committed to being a trusted, compassionate person in your life. I am someone who can be there with you as you go through the feelings and emotions that past experiences have told you to keep hidden. There are many reasons why traversing this territory is a challenge, yet facing this challenge leads to what is possible and opens the door to countless opportunities. 

 As a trauma informed therapist I understand how important it is to attune with you in pacing and techniques to ensure you feel safe throughout the therapeutic process. Healing is an individual inside job. Ultimately you know what you need to thrive in your life. As a counsellor, I bring my curiosity and creativity to assist you in discovering your unique path to healing. 

I offer a safe space for you to explore your emotions, feelings and challenges. Together we will go through therapeutic processes to gain perspective and insight, find closure, resolve unprocessed experiences, integrate emergent truths and cultivate the skills and tools needed to navigate authentically through whatever life brings you. 

At the heart of my counseling practice lies a deep commitment to addressing a wide range of personal challenges and life issues. My expertise extends across various domains, each requiring a unique understanding and approach. Here is an overview of the areas I work with:

Each of these areas is approached with a unique blend of empathy, expertise, and a deep commitment to my clients’ well-being. My goal is to provide a safe and nurturing space where individuals can explore these challenges and embark on a journey towards healing and empowerment.