Experience
Education
I hold a Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, where I focused on trauma, mood regulation, mindfulness, and self-compassion.
I am currently training in Somatic Experiencing, a body-centered approach to healing stress and trauma. I also receive clinical supervision to ensure that my work is in line with professional standards.
Professional Experience.
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), and am a member in good standing with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC Member #16987).
I have acted in many roles as a counsellor through the years. As a youth counsellor, I supported adolescents and young adults with issues such as anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns. In that role, I worked with individuals, couples, and families.
I coordinated and facilitated the YMind Mindfulness Group for Anxiety, which offered anxiety support for teens and young adults.
With a non-profit organization, I worked as a trauma counsellor helping women who experienced violence as children and adults. Within the same organization, I acted as Counselling Supervisor, supporting a team of up to 15 mental health counsellors on clinical, ethical, and safety concerns.
I have facilitated workshops on Non-Violent Communication, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Therapeutic Writing.
I have worked with perpetrators of domestic violence with the B.C. Relationship Violence Program.
I've also worn several hats as a volunteer through the years, including providing art therapy to at-risk youth, supporting palliative patients in hospice, and coordinating mindfulness and yoga programming for children.
Personal Life Experience.
Mindful awareness is at the very centre of my life and work. I first learned traditional Buddhist meditation practices over twenty years ago. By connecting non-judgmentally with the reality of the present moment, I am able to share compassion and deep acceptance with myself and my clients.
Before I worked in the mental health field, I worked in arts and media. I hold a Master's Degree in Fine Arts and a Bachelor's' Degree in Humanities. These experiences show up in session as a fascination with the human experience, and a healthy respect for the role of instinct and expression in healing.
I'm a mom to two wild and wonderful boys who keep me moving! When I'm not at work, in the winter you can generally bet that I'm making soup, curled up with a good movie, or trying to get my kids to wear their boots. In the summer, on a good day I'm hanging out with my family on the beach - napping, reading, playing tag, and trying to wrap my head around the inner life of a sand dollar.
To book a session, or to learn more, please contact me.