WHY I COUNSEL 

The first thing I want you to know about me is that I believe in the resiliency of the human spirit. I have had the honour of working with people who have survived tremendous challenges, wounds, and losses. Pain and suffering are inevitable parts of life that can leave people feeling broken, exhausted, anguished, and disconnected from themselves, others, and their values. My aim is to alleviate pain where possible, encourage growth, and walk alongside someone as they learn to bear suffering in a way where they feel a sense of wholeness, where they feel at home in their sense of self, and where they feel they are living authentically aligned with their values and longings.

A common misconception is that you need to hit "rock bottom" before you decide to seek counselling. There are numerous reasons why a person may choose to speak with a qualified professional; everything from taking preventative measures to addressing a full-blown crisis. Whether you're in a season of life where you're looking for insight, needing some guidance in making a shift or transition, wanting to change but not being sure how, hurting badly and feeling hopeless, carrying a burden of past traumas and memories, or in a crisis and you've reached your limit - counselling can help, and it also takes your active participation and working on it/reflecting between sessions, too.

I have personal, lived experience in some of the focus areas that I work with, and while I limit my own sharing and no two people have the same story, this often helps clients feel more understood in that aside from training alone, I might be able to grasp in a deeper sense what an experience might be like for them and what is involved in healing.

OFFICIALLY

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (#15201) and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (#10002791). I have a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. I am the Executive Director of Vitality Collective, where I get to work alongside a wonderful team. In addition to several seminars for professional development, I have completed an additional two years of extensive trauma training through the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. I am also currently working toward a diploma with the Society for Logotherapy and Existential Analysis, which is a 6-year program originating in Vienna, Austria. I am a former board member of Existential Analysis Canada.

I primarily work with adult individuals and I especially enjoy helping clients with becoming their own person and identity development, living authentically, experiencing their emotions, and healing from childhood/family/developmental wounds.

Outside of my masters-level education, I have also trained in several different therapeutic modalities and draw from these to tailor my approach to the client's needs. Some of these trainings are oriented towards emotional processing, attachment and communication in relationships, healing and integration of trauma, identity development, neurobiology, shame, sexuality, somatic methods, and existential issues. My aim is that through an attuned therapeutic relationship, clients can discover a newfound way of relating to and experiencing themselves and others.

View my Counselling Issues page for full information on the types of issues that I work with.

PRACTICE FOCUS AREAS:

• Developmental & Relational Trauma/Abuse/CPTSD

• Grief & Loss

• Anxiety & Depression

• Chronic Illness & Pain

• Sexuality

• Religious Trauma, Deconstruction, Faith Transitions

• Relationship Issues (Family of Origin, Romantic, Dating, Friendship)

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Trauma: Level 1 (Dr. Rochelle Sharpe Lohrasbe & Rebeca Farca, PhDc)

• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Developmental Injury: Level 2 (Dr. Mason Sommers & Rebeca Farca, PhDc)

• Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Transformational Approaches to Treating Complex Trauma (Dr. Janina Fisher)

• Foundations For Treating Religious Trauma (Dr. Kathryn Keller & Anna Clark-Miller LPC, Religious Trauma Institute)

• Existential Analysis Counselling Diploma (GLE, Vienna, in progress) 

• Emotion Focused Therapy Externship (Vancouver Couples & Family Institute)

• The Sexually Competent Therapist: Integrating Sex Therapy Into Your Practice (Diana Sadat, Allura Sex Therapy Centre)

• Domestic Violence Workshop (Ishtar Transitions Society)

• Treatment of Chronic Pain (Dr. Kwee)

• Lifespan Integration: Level 1 (Cathy Thorpe)

• Observed and Experiential Integration: Level 1 (Dr. Richard Bradshaw & Audrey Cook)

• Understanding and Treating Chronic Shame in Complex Trauma and Dissociation (Dr. Kathy Steele)

• Working with the Effects of Emotional Abuse, Severe Neglect & Invisibility (Dr. Dolores Mosquera)

• Existential Summer Series Immersion (Dr. Alfried Laengle)

• Understanding and Treating Spiritual Abuse (NetCE)

• Sandtray Workshop (Dr. Bart Begalka) 

• Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy (Trinity Western University)

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

I do my best to live with openness, wonder, gratitude, humility, and embodiment. I spend a lot of time with my family as a wife, mother, and dog-mom. I enjoy being with my loved ones, moving my body, reading, studying Spanish, boardgames, and being lakeside or in the mountains. I would love to author a book one day. I consider myself a life-long learner and am always looking for new ways to develop myself both personally and professionally.