The action you have made to seek help is not an easy one, rather it demonstrates great strength, commitment, and resiliency. The effects of trauma can leave us feeling vulnerable and unsafe long after the event itself. So often people can be left feeling hopeless, disconnected, and ashamed. Healing these wounds are essential to developing a strong sense of self, positive self view, and safety within relationships. I work from a trauma-informed perspective and pull from approaches that will allow us to build an understanding of the protective strategies formed to survive the emotional and mental impact of the trauma and cultivate self-acceptance and trust with ourselves and others. I hope to create a space where you feel valued, seen, and safe as I believe the therapeutic relationship is the most important part of the healing process.

I provide psychotherapy to adults and couples experiencing a variety of struggles and issues. Primarily, I work with those who have experienced recent and historical trauma, such as attachment trauma and abuse/assault.  Additionally, I work with clients seeking support for emotional distress (e.g., reactivity, difficulties regulating, depression, anxiety), interpersonal relationships (e.g., relationship patterns, vulnerability issues), self-esteem issues, and personality disorders, among other areas as well. My practice is inclusive, as I work with a diverse set of presenting problems, backgrounds, and social identities, ensuring that the therapeutic approaches I employ are catered to each unique individual. Generally, I work with the goals of establishing meaningful relationships, helping people understand themselves, connecting to and regulating emotions, and empowering clients to become their most authentic selves.

I view therapy as a collaborative process, where clients are regarded as the experts in their own lives and hold autonomy in their journey of healing, growth, and development. I believe that past experiences hold valuable information for understanding current challenges and as such, I aim for us to uncover those pivotal moments. Every client is unique and requires an individualized approach; therefore, I practice integrative therapy, using a diverse array of theories and therapies. I predominantly use psychodynamic, attachment-based, and trauma-informed therapies to establish a therapeutic relationship and help understand how previous experiences have contributed to current struggles. I typically incorporate interventions from emotion-focused, cognitive-behavioral, somatic therapies to build self-awareness and develop skills for regulating distressing internal experiences. Although I will provide my insights regarding appropriate therapies and approaches, you will be given the space to decide the best approach for you.

I completed my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at the University of Ottawa, where I conducted research in cross-cultural counselling relationships. I have completed trainings in Emotionally-Focused Therapy for Adults and Couples, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Somatic Attachment, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Trauma-Informed Stabilization Therapy, among others. Over my professional career, I have provided counselling and support in a variety of community settings, including Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS) of Halton for survivors of assault, the Good Shepherd Family Centre for families living in homelessness, and the Hamilton Association for Residential and Recreational Redevelopment Programs (HARRRP) for inner-city youth. I am currently an autonomous Registered Psychotherapist and a Partner at the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships and director of the Centre’s Trauma Clinic. I primarily work with trauma and relationship difficulties with the use of trauma-informed, somatic, and relational approaches. In addition to my therapy practice, I also offer supervision to students and qualifying members of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.