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 am a regular practitioner of yoga and meditation and a mother of two boys. I hold additional training, education and experience in the areas of grief and loss, depression and suicide, anxiety, reproductive mental health, stress-management, career transitions, relationships, neuropsychology, and mindfulness.
My Philosophy
Health is so much more than the absence of disease. It's human nature to get caught up in focusing on what is wrong and how to fix it: we ruminate on what is wrong with us, what we or others are doing wrong, and how we “should” be thinking and feeling. When we are suffering from a difficult time in our lives and our circumstances overwhelm our ability to cope, our longing for a solution can sometimes keep us so focused on being problem-free that we can lose sight of what is possible beyond that. 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.
I believe that since every person and problem is unique, that my job as your counsellor is to be flexible in helping you find a path to your goals that works best for you. Flexibility is important because research has taught us that overall, most styles of therapy are equally effective in helping clients achieve their goals, but that not every style works for every person. I believe that you are the expert in your own life, and that you already possess the skills to move to the place you want to be. My job is to help you recognize and hone those skills, and support you through change, something that is hard for all of us.
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.