Thanks for getting to know me
I consider myself a fellow sufferer. Due to traumatic experiences early on in my life, I began my own counselling journey as a teenager. Engaging in therapy from such a young age normalized and destigmatized seeking professional support. This formative experience lit the spark of my desire to become a counsellor, and I am so grateful that I now get to guide others through their own personal therapeutic journeys. Throughout the years, I have undergone immense personal growth and healing, yet will always consider myself a work in progress.
Authenticity and safety are the two values that exemplify how I practice. As such, I’m going to show up as my genuine self, even if that means being imperfect and vulnerable. I hope this allows you to do the same. I am not afraid to ask difficult or uncomfortable questions that will challenge both of us. With that being said, I believe therapeutic healing cannot be done without safety being established. This means that you will guide where we go in our work together, and I will check in often if anything in my approach needs to be adjusted to meet your comfort, safety, and feelings of respect. I recognize that this approach is not the right fit for everyone, and in my view, finding a well-matched counsellor is a crucial element of therapeutic success. I am happy to answer any specific questions that would help you determine if I am the right fit for you during a free 15-minute phone consultation.
How I Practice
Areas of focus
Relationships
Difficult familial dynamics
Childhood trauma
Attachment parenting
Grief and loss
Substance use
Emotional regulation and coping
Insight into patterns of behaviour
Self-esteem and self-worth
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I practice from a relational, attachment, and trauma-informed lens. This means that I believe relationships and how we relate socially are important aspects of our growth and healing. I am interested in the complex ways that formative childhood experiences set the tone for how we view and participate in the world, as well as how early childhood relationships inform how we engage with others today, be it consciously or subconsciously. I believe the past affects us more than we generally realize.
As your therapist, I will be interested to learn about your childhood and early relationships. This does not need to happen immediately, as safety and trust must be established first before moving into deeper emotional processing. However, if you are not at all interested in exploring your past then we may not be the best fit. I would be happy to help you find a counsellor that better meets your needs.
Theoretical Orientation
Qualifications
&
Education
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. I am also a professional member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
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I completed my master’s degree in Counselling Psychology at Simon Fraser University. Previous to this, I completed a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology at the University of British Columbia. I have been working within the mental health field in various roles for 13 years.
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I have completed additional training in the following areas:
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EMDR Basic Training
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Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
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The Gottman Institute: Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 & 2 (in progress)
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San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety
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BCACC: Families, Family Breakdown, and the Law