I am an eclectic talk therapist, which means I draw from many different types of therapy. Some of my favourites include…

-“Parts” work and “Inner Child” work (as informed by an internal family systems approach) - www.ifs-institute.com

-Somatic (body) based approaches, including Polyvagal Theory (a nervous system based theory of safety and regulation) - www.rhythmofregulation.com

-Approaches of mindfulness and self-compassion - www.self-compassion.org

-I also love narrative therapy, emotion focused therapy, and dialectical behavioural therapy (which holds a beautiful paradox that radical acceptance is a necessary part of change).

Any approach I use, I do so from a trauma-informed lens.
I hold a 60hr Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate through The Embody Lab - www.theembodylab.com

I love working with people around personal transformation!

This can include identity shifts, grief and loss (in its many flavours… not just physical death), trauma work, and de-conditioning from all kinds of cultural norms that may not be personally aligned (heteronormativity, cisnormativity, monogamy…). And of course, it can include so much more. I love helping clients find their own authentic voice within their own unique life, however that may look.

A lot of my clients hold neurodivergent, non-monogamous, and/or queer identities, or in some way or another have felt like the “black sheep” of their worlds.

I love relationships, and this includes helping people cultivate a loving relationship with themselves, as well as navigating relationships with others. Self-esteem, attachment patterns, dating, love, sex, family dynamics… let’s dive in!

I am philosophical, existential, and spiritual. I love exploring big ideas like WHAT IS THE MEANING OF MY LIFE and WHO AM I and HOW DO I ACCESS MORE FREEDOM AND BEAUTY

I am a great fit for clients who are ready to dive into the deepest depths of their souls!

I am not religious! Organized religion holds a lot of dogma that is not for me, and continues to inflict a lot of harm on the queer community. I don’t agree with attempts to control using shame or punishment.

I am intuitive, mystical, and witchy, and experience the world in a way that holds deep reverence for the beautiful interconnectedness of all things. I believe in the transcendent powers of love, and in all of our innate goodness. I believe there’s more to ourselves, and this universe, than meets the eye, but I don’t pretend to have all the answers!

For myself personally, there has been a big overlap between my healing journey and my spirituality. In learning to surrender to and trust the flow of my own sacred life, I have felt increasing awe for the magic of life itself.

Your journey may not have this kind of lens, and that is perfectly ok!

This is a question that I don’t hold the answer to. How long you find this process beneficial for you is completely personal.

As it mirrors growth and transformation in every way, there is no clearly defined ‘end point’ to therapy. We are all forever on non-linear ever-unfolding journeys, and our souls cannot be rushed.

Many people choose to engage with therapy on a long-term basis, as part of their overall ongoing mental healthcare. Some seasons of your life may benefit from more regular support, others less.

The work we do together is not a magic bullet for change. Personal growth and healing is not a “one and done” process, and requires you to play with what we talk about in the therapy space out in your larger world. I’m like the gardening consultant, while you are the actual gardener of your life. Tending to your garden takes perseverance, desire, and time.

Just like tending to a garden, it takes time to identify the weeds, dig up the weeds, figure out what seeds to sow, and then nurture those seeds into blossoming growth. And, we are continually engaging in all these phases (often simultaneously), again and again. More weeds to dig, more seeds to sew, more nurturing to do. But, it does all tend to get easier, as we get into more of a flow with our ecosystem, and we have a better lay of the land.

Some signs that you’re coming into more of a flow with the ecosystem of your own self may include:

-An increased capacity for noticing and engaging with your emotions

-Feeling more slowness and intentionality/choice in your reactions, when something distressing happens

-Being able to more clearly identify your needs and wants, and express those in relationship-supporting ways, with others. This includes increased capacity for setting loving boundaries with yourself, and with others

-Experiencing your internal world to increasingly be one of safety and comfort. You may not have all the answers (we never do!), but you experience increasing trust and joy in your own self, amid all the ongoing unknowns and uncertainties of life.

Our gardens will never be perfect. That’s not the point. Therapy is a big success when your garden is increasingly blossoming to your liking and you enjoy sitting within it, even though it still rains sometimes, and some crops go bad despite your best intentions. Life involves continual tending, but getting to a place where you have a luscious garden to enjoy and feel safe within really deeply matters. I want that for you!

Most private insurance plans cover all of Registered Psychotherapists (that’s me!), Registered Social Workers, and Psychologists, under the counselling category. Please inquire with your plan, if you are unsure. I do not have a relationship with your insurance provider; I provide receipts at the end of sessions, which you may then submit for reimbursement.