Many individuals I work with express feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness, shame/guilt, and a sense of disconnection from themselves and others. Through exploration and awareness of how our past experiences might be impacting aspects of our life in the present (in work or school, relationships, or self-concept) we can understand patterns that may no longer be adaptive and work towards healing, growth and a sense of living in greater alignment with our values and desires.

I provide psychotherapy to adolescents (16 years and older), and adults experiencing a variety of challenges. Much of my experience has been supporting folks who have experienced trauma, adverse childhood experiences, attachment trauma and abuse/assault. I also work with people facing challenges with emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, interpersonal relationships, self-esteem issues, identity and cultural challenges, and personality disorders, among other areas as well.

My practice is holistic and inclusive, as I work to facilitate safe spaces for people from all walks of life with unique identities and with a deep respect for the connection between the body, mind and spirit. I believe that therapeutic relationships can be collaborative and transformative experiences that support people to facilitate changes that are meaningful and that can lead to a greater sense of agency and authenticity.

In our initial sessions, we will work to understand your goals, strengths and needs. I work from an integrative approach, drawing from many theories and modalities, as there is often no one solution for the complexities of the human experience. Trained primarily in psychodynamic psychotherapy, I bring a relational lens to understanding how our past experiences may be impacting our present challenges. I also draw from attachment-based, somatic, emotion focused, cognitive-behavioural, mindfulness centred, and trauma-informed therapies to work towards greater self-understanding and strategies for increased emotional regulation.

Audre Lorde stated, “Pain is important: how we evade it, how we succumb to it, how we deal with it, how we transcend it.” Lorde believed that pain can be a catalyst for personal growth, and self-discovery. Embarking on a healing journey takes courage and can deepen our self-understanding of our most challenging emotional experiences, thoughts and behaviours.

I completed a diploma in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Ontario Psychotherapy and Counselling College in Toronto as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts at McMaster University. I have completed additional training in Dialectal Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents & Families, Dyadic Developmental Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy,  Embrave Enhanced Gender Based Violence Protocol and Trauma-Informed Counselling. As a Registered Psychotherapist, I have worked both in private practice and community settings. I have also supported students as teaching assistant at the Ontario Psychotherapy and Counselling College. Previous to my work as a therapist, I supported children, youth and families in community based programs to navigate systems, access services and reconnect with their sense of resilience, joy and fun.