Who Am I?
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with over 16 years’ experience in mental health. I hold a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Victoria. I hold specialized training, education and experience in the areas of grief and loss, depression and suicide, anxiety, reproductive mental health, stress-management, career coaching, relationships, neuropsychology, neurodivergence, and mindfulness. I am an avid hiker, daily meditator, and mother of two.
My Philosophy
Health is so much more than the absence of disease. When we are suffering from a difficult time in our lives and our circumstances overwhelm our ability to cope, it's human nature to get caught up in what is wrong with us, what others are doing wrong, and how we “should” be thinking and feeling. Our longing for a solution keeps us helpless, discouraged, and mired in our problems. We become stuck in lack, inadequacy, and insufficiency, and our brains become accustomed to high levels of stress hormones. We forget what is possible beyond simply being problem-free. We forget what it is like to have hopes and dreams. We forget what is like to feel whole.
Ultimately we all deserve to be happy, to enjoy our lives, to pursue the passions that fuel us, and to thrive. We deserve the opportunity to grow from our painful experiences, not just survive them. We deserve to feel good enough, even when we aren’t perfect. We all want to resolve whatever issues are bothering us today, but living a fulfilled life is more than that, and it’s an attainable goal.
What Can I Expect?
Your first session is an intake session. We will talk about confidentiality and what you want to get from counselling. You will be able to ask me any questions you may have about me or about counselling.
From here we will start working toward your goals. This looks very different depending on what you are coming for, and you will guide me in creating a treatment plan just for you.
You can expect to be respected, consulted, and supported in all steps of your counselling process. You will be treated as a capable, intelligent person with the ability to make the changes you want in your life. This is called client-centred, strength-based counselling.
You can expect me to use accurate and current scientific information to explain why certain counselling methods might help you. I will teach you about how your brain and body neurologically work, and how using this information can help you cope with and heal mental health issues.