Reaching out and asking for help does not come easily for many people. I respect your willingness to face difficult feelings or circumstances in order to grow, create change, and find a more positive place in your life. Relationships and life stages come with many challenges, and I welcome the privilege of exploring these alongside you as we discuss your goals for therapy and develop a tailored plan to achieve them. 

Currently, I am a Master’s student in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University and am completing a practicum under the supervision of Joshua Peters, M.A., R.P. at the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships. I work with adults of all ages and am comfortable working with individuals of diverse cultures, religions, genders and sexual orientations. My approach is team oriented, which means that rather than direct you, I work alongside you in a structured way to help you examine and gain awareness of what paths and solutions will work best for you given your goals and your unique characteristics, relationships, background and lifestyle. My focus is on providing you a warm, confidential, nonjudgmental, and empathic space where you can feel safe and secure to carry out this work. 

I have a special interest in anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions (childbirth, retirement, empty nest, divorce etc.) and in body image and eating disorders. I have taken extensive training in emotion-focused family therapy. I have supported parents to care for children and youth with eating disorder and have contributed to Canadian practice and treatment guidelines for children and youth with eating disorders. In addition to working with individuals, I have an interest in couples counselling.

During our first session together, I will listen closely to what you are ready to tell me. We will carry out scientifically-based assessments and/or review results of assessments already performed to help inform our work together and set preliminary goals that may evolve as we move forward. Throughout therapy we will regularly assess and discuss progress and your satisfaction with the direction we are moving in so that we can alter treatment as needed. 

My approach pulls from various theoretical foundations. Psychodynamic and attachment-based theories provide structure to explore past and current relationships and their impact on one’s current thoughts, emotions, and patterns of behaviour. Humanistic theory informs exploration of deeper meanings and knowledge of self, helping to remove blocks to reaching one’s full potential and uncovering hidden strengths. Post-modernism incorporates consideration of the impact of social and cultural influences on one’s unique set of circumstances and day-to-day experiences. Therapeutically, I use a variety of skills and techniques depending on what is most suited to you. These include techniques based in cognitive-behavioural narrative, Gestalt, and solution-focused therapies. I have a special interest in emotion-focused and dialectical-behaviour therapies, in addition to family-based treatment and enhanced cognitive-behavioural therapy for the treatment of eating disorders. 

I am a qualifying member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and the Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists. I am also a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.