The path that leads to seeking therapy is not an easy one. Life can be difficult. Sometimes, the reason is obvious, but other times our own behaviour is a mystery. We can lack self-esteem, or face depression, anxiety and traumatic events. At times, individual therapy is required; and at other times help with our relationships is needed. I provide therapeutic services in French or English.

A career in public safety is unlike any other. Police officers, firefighters, military personal and paramedics wake up each morning with the noble mission of keeping communities safe; often risking their own lives to protect others. While these professions can be exceptionally rewarding, these people are regularly exposed to traumatic situations.

If you are military personnel or a first responder affected by trauma, the stigma associated with asking for help can make coming forward seem difficult. Be assured that everything is completely confidential. Ignoring what you’re going through only increases your stress and worsens the problem, making it tougher to treat.

Specialized, confidential treatment for first responders does exist.

• Nobody fights alone. Many militaries and first responders experience operational stress injuries (OSI).
• Operational stress injuries are a normal human response to an abnormal situation
• Trauma is better understood as an injury to the brain (especially the memory) than an illness. Targeting the memory instead of the symptoms can help you get back to normal and performing at your best.
• Each of us can build resilience and post traumatic growth.

Alleviating the distress caused by traumatic memories traditionally required a longer-term therapy difficult to endure for first line responders and military personnel seeking a quick return to work. I practice Reconsolidation Therapy; a ground-breaking approach that can help you get rid of your symptoms in 6 sessions.

In individual therapy, I see clients struggle with wide-ranging issues that can include depression, anxiety and low self-esteem; as well as physical, mental and sexual trauma. My specialized area of practice is post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), combat stress, and operational injuries. I enjoy working with individuala who have sacrificed their physical well-being and sometimes mental health to serve and protect their fellow citizens. I dedicate a significant amount of my practice to these warriors. I am comfortable working with a diversity of people and am inclusive of all gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, races and ethnicities.

Knowing the impact trauma has on relationships and that social support is a real antidote to the development of PTSD, informs the couples therapy I provide to trauma survivors. I have experience repairing the relationships of same-sex, straight and inter-racial couples troubled by infidelity and other betrayals, desire and sexual problems, adjustments to the arrival of children, difficulties managing finances, and improving relationships with in-laws. I also work with a wide range of clinical populations including people with medical illness (chronic pain, cancer, diabetes etc.), addiction, PTSD, and various types of exposure to trauma.

The most important part of my practice is empathy. I will unconditionally value your experience and engage myself to make you feel valued, fully accepted, and understood. I am an integrative psychologist, but my core is really experiential/humanistic. This means that my role is to fully absorb your experience by hearing, seeing, and understanding you as you are in the moment, while being aware that all behaviours or dysfunctions are ways to cope with problems when nothing else is available. I will see you as a survivor of your own existence. I am flexible to provide you the optimal context in therapy, whether you want to modify your thoughts and behaviour, or manage your emotions in a satisfying way. I can provide cognitive behavioural treatments in a humanistic perspective. The second most important thing in my practice is to follow evidence-based therapy approaches to treat specific problems. Scientists and clinicians agree that despite the therapist’s own preference, some treatments work better than others depending on the specific clinical problem. I will follow evidence-based research practices for treatments, while staying flexible. I will adapt the best treatment for you which also respects your personal goals. For couple therapy, I use emotionally focused therapy. This is an empirical and well-researched approach and is like a road map that provides an understanding of adult attachment and helps to process change in a relationship, regardless of gender, culture, sexual orientation or clinical population.

Over the last 10 years, I have worked in various private practices, hospitals and clinics including Montfort Hospital, Center of Psychological Services at the University of Québec in Hull, Eastern Ottawa Psychological Center, Medical Sainte-Anne Clinic, Y2 Consultants Psychologist and the 555 Multi Clinic in Hull. In addition to my practice, I taught undergrad classes at the University of Québec in Hull and supervised Master’s degree students at the University of Ottawa.

Professional affiliations:
I currently work as a psychologist at the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships where I am certified to practice Reconsolidation Therapy and supervise a team of therapists specializing in the treatment of trauma. I’m an approved provider for Blue Cross, Green Shield.

I’m a registered member of the Canadian Psychological Association and as an autonomous psychologist with both the College of Psychologists of Ontario and the Order of Psychologists of Quebec.