THE COUNSELLING PROCESS
I strive to provide a safe space in which those entering this process can feel secure in allowing me to witness their journey of exploration and growth. I can share my perspective and insight, as well as provide tools, but at the end of the day it is you doing the work and deciding what will be helpful to implement or incorporate into your life. I aspire to be worthy of participating in the process by providing a space that is respectful, honest, compassionate, free of judgement, and where you can allow yourself to be open and vulnerable.
I am associated with Cedar Counselling Collective, which is a collective of professional counsellors with diverse, advanced skills who are engaged in trauma-informed, person-centered practice and support each other through peer supervision.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE/FOCUS
I work with adults as individuals and couples.
My primary areas of focus are often interconnected: Relationships and Couples Therapy; Grief and Loss; Trauma; and Women's Health.
I have been privileged to work extensively with Indigenous communities over the past twenty years, and believe my varied roots enhance my ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds. My practice is centred on mutual respect and relationship, which I believe helps establish a safe space for personal exploration, growth, and healing.
Relationships
Relationship work can include caregiving of a child(ren) or another adult (including an ailing parent or partner, or an adult child). Relationship work can also be related to one's family of origin, breaking the cycle of intergenerational patterns, inner/vulnerable child exploration, or personal growth such as exploring attachment wounds and schemas, boundary setting, self-worth, self-trust, self-compassion, and mindfulness practice.
I am passionate about working with couples to deepen their understanding and connection to one another. Couples work often focuses on impacts of major life events, deepening connection, and working through relationship conflict (both past and present).
Grief and Loss
Grief and loss work can extend beyond death of a loved one. Grief and loss includes preparatory or anticipatory grief, ambiguous loss (such as miscarriage or caring for someone with dementia), attachment grief (such as loss of a child), or the end of a relationship (such as divorce or severing of a relationship with family of origin).
I also work with individuals and families who are going through the process of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) or Palliative Care. Support can include preparatory or anticipatory grief for both the individual and/or family, life review and legacy, final wishes, unfinished business, caregiver stress, and bereavement.
Trauma
Trauma is a natural emotional response to a terrible unnatural event. Acute Trauma is when a person experiences a single traumatic event (such as a car accident); Chronic Trauma is repeated and prolonged exposure to trauma (such as abuse); Complex Trauma occurs when a person is exposed to multiple varied traumatic events, and is often relational in nature (such as childhood experiences where attachments needs were not met on a continual basis).
I work with people who have experienced Chronic or Complex trauma (such as witnessing violence, or attachment wounds) , intergenerational trauma (unhealthy family cycles and patterns), colonial trauma (a family and/or community impacted by change or loss of culture due to colonization), or systemic trauma (environment or institutions that that cause, maintain or impact trauma).
Women's Health
I work with women who are experiencing physical and emotional challenges related to fertility, perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACH - If you want to know more specifics in understanding my approach
I practice from a bio-psycho-social-spiritual lens centred around healing centred engagement, also referred to as trauma informed practice. I draw from family systems, attachment theories, schema therapy, emotion focused therapy, lifespan development, response-based practice, compassionate inquiry, collaborative helping, and mindfulness practice.
In couples work I practice from the framework of Sue Johnson's Emotion Focused Therapy, I also draw from the work of Esther Perel and Cheryl Fraser. I am influenced by Brene Brown's work on vulnerability and shame, as well as Kate Mangino's work on gender equity, and Eve Rodsky's work on mental load and distribution of work load within the home. I have completed Levels 1 & 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
In trauma work I draw from the work of leaders such as Stephen Porges, Deb Dana, Peter Levine, Bessel van der Kolk, Mona Delahooke, Pat Ogden, Gabor Mate, David Berceli, Bruce Perry, and Dan Siegel.
My practice draws from both a top down and a bottom-up approach depending on what is the best fit for the client’s situation in the moment. A top-down approach focuses on shifting a client’s thinking, focusing on logic and reason. The brain’s ability to regulate during high stress may go offline, which is a limitation to this approach.
When appropriate, I use psychoeducation to explain Polyvagal Theory and how we ideally move through green, yellow, and red pathways throughout the day.
Before beginning bottom up or body-based work, I focus on sense of safety within the body, as well as using co-regulation and attachment. Once safety is identified and established we can move into mindfulness based work of being present in the body through breath work, body scans, and using movements. I also draw form the work of Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski regarding their research regarding stress burnout, and the importance of completing the stress cycle.
Regarding relational trauma, I draw from the work of Dick Schwartz, Sue Johnson, Gabor Mate, Galit Atlas, Mark Wolynn, and current epigenetic research. I also like to remind clients that we not only inherit trauma, but we also inherit tenacity and perseverance. Through breaking these family patterns and cycles, a new path is forged, and healing reverberates through the generations as well.
I am a strong believer in living life present, mindful, and with compassion for self and others. I am happy to offer meditation practice before or at the end of counselling sessions. I have composed many guided visual meditations myself, and also pull from the work of John Kabat-Zinn, Jack Kornfield, Cheryl Fraser, Tara Brach, and Kristen Neff.