top of page

MY APPROACH

Starts with kindness, compassion and unbiased guidance

At this inner city counselling therapy practice, I work with everyone and this ranges from small groups, one-on-one counselling, brief family counselling, workshops, to individual solutions-focused sessions on re-framing career/relationship/addictions problems and solutions. I work primarily with clients 12 and older.

It has been taught in Indigenous oral traditions that healing medicine is already within the pain and suffering- thus the cure and the dis-ease are connected. Healing therefore is like the story of Wizard of Oz where you think you are lost but the journey eventually leads you home to your own power that you had all along and one that you can use for the rest of your life. These obstacles where you end up feeling lost are often understood pathologically and by diagnosis in our society. But what if your suffering is a doorway to self-discovery, deeper self-acceptance and a more meaningful existence?

I believe healing is when all aspects of being (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) are accepted and integrated on an ongoing basis. Holistic healing expands not only awareness of our individual stress response but also our response options. I am here to help you build your awareness to expand your choices. I am not a healer, I am a helper for you to find your own way to self-healing. I use my training in psychology, movement (dance and somatic therapies), mental health research, my personal experience, intuition, and healing wisdom from my family and community of mentors and Elders. While my approach is informed by some spiritual teachings, I respectfully orient my approach to the spiritual beliefs of each client.

​

About : About Me

MY METHODS

I integrate multiple methods depending on the goals of the client.

66053499734__47737D6E-5CF4-40CA-AF26-EFC1921AC9D9.fullsizerender.jpg

SOMATIC METHODS

Aimed to restore the nervous system (fight, flight and freeze response).  This bottom up approach improves awareness and safety of the felt-sense (internal bodily sensations that often coincide with emotions and thoughts). I integrate scents, textures, movement and visuals in this approach.

66053518076__A723E79B-B914-4D89-B22C-1F06F87FF580.jpg

INTERGENERATIONAL APPROACH TO TRAUMA

Support healthy family attachments and promote intergenerational healing. This approach also affirms that individual cultural belonging can become more whole through community healing.  'Culture as treatment' can be carefully integrated into therapy to address clients' need for spiritual healing. Many cultures  have valuable healing traditions which are important to clients' vision of healing. I can also be a liaison to further cultural supports (sweats, talking circles etc).

TRADITIONAL HEALING AND SPIRITUAL APPROACHES

Often our struggles are "soul wounds" as Duran (1999) wrote of, where our spirits have been shocked, crushed, defeated, deflated.  Spiritual health, including connection to spirit of self, God/Creator, nature/Mother Earth and other beings, is central to healing.  I will help you identify and balance these spiritual relationships important to your healing.

66053539170__D23028A9-7F78-4654-9D38-04D153132B5E.jpg
66053534559__54A600D6-D738-4F4E-A9D7-1C84B3972787.jpg

EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR)

While I have been working with eye movements in therapy for many years,  I've recently been integrating EMDR into my practice. EMDR is a well-established and extensively researched therapy that is effective in improving post-traumatic stress, panic attacks, grief, phobias, addiction, anxiety, stress reduction, pain disorders, past abuse, as well as other issues. It is a holistic (mind, body, emotion) therapy and works on how one approaches their past, present and future simultaneously. I have certification by EMDRIA to offer EMDR in my sessions.

About : Resources

MY EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

 2006 - 2009

BA ED MASTERS OF TEACHING PROGRAM

From 2009 until 2018, I worked as a teacher and guidance counsellor in CBE in grades 6-12. I worked in diverse settings and with all types of learners.

2000 - 2004

BA HONOURS, POLITICAL SCIENCE

Mixed Methods Research in Social Attitudes, Beliefs and Ideologies. I gained insight into how groups of people think and behave.

2014 - 2016

MASTER OF ARTS IN COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY (MACP)

My internship practicum was at Calgary Counselling Center. I also worked with AHS, Renfrew CBE and other school districts in mental health capacity building.

2019-2021

PHD STUDENT

I was trained in graduate level mixed methods health research. Research areas were Indigenous methodologies, plant medicines, holistic and spiritual measurements of health and wellness.

About : Credentials
bottom of page