Background & Approach
Education and Work Experience
Master of Social Work 2001 - 2003
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON
Awarded the Student Leadership Award
Honours Bachelor of Arts 1996 - 2000
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
Major: Psychology
Interdisciplinary Option: Legal Studies & Criminology
My journey in the helping profession began during my undergraduate studies, where I supported young mothers at Marillac Place, during and post pregnancy. At the same time, I volunteered with homeless youth at ROOF, now known as oneROOF Youth Services. I went on to complete my Master of Social Work (MSW), with placements at Mary’s Place Emergency Shelter and Catholic Family Counselling Services (formerly Carizon, now Camino), where I was also hired as a summer student.
After graduating with my MSW in 2003, I began my career with Guelph Family and Children’s Services as an intake and ongoing child protection worker. A couple of years later, I relocated to Toronto to work as a hospital social worker in adult outpatient mental health at St. Joseph’s Hospital, followed by a role on the high-risk pregnancy unit at Mount Sinai. In 2006, I returned to Kitchener-Waterloo and spent the next decade working in clinical roles at Front Door: Access to Child & Youth Mental Health Services, Lutherwood, and The Urgent Response Clinic at Grand River Hospital, supporting parents, caregivers, children, and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges.
From 2015- 2018, I provided counselling to university students at Renison University College, University of Waterloo, continuing my focus on mental health and well-being.
In 2018, I established my private practice to offer timely, client-centered care while creating balance in my own life. My diverse background in community, academic, and hospital settings sets my services apart, equipping me with strong advocacy skills and a deep understanding of navigating mental health, education, and social service systems.
Running my practice part-time allows me to balance being a mom to two incredible neurodivergent children with unique needs and continue my own healing journey. This balance ensures that I can be fully present for each session, offering you my best, most focused self. I intentionally protect time to prepare and reflect before and after every session.
In addition to my private practice, I work part-time at Field Trip Health, where I provide psychedelic-assisted therapy, further expanding the range of healing modalities I offer.
More About Me & My Approach
I am a highly valued Social Worker with 25 years of experience in the field resulting in extensive knowledge in assessment and treatment of mental health. I am experienced in providing psychotherapy to children/youth; post-secondary students; and adults.
My work is informed by the following approaches: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR trained and supervised), Ego-State Interventions/Working with Parts, Attachment, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavourial Therapy (DBT), Polyvagal Theory, and Mindfulness practices.
I work from an inclusive, trauma informed, strengths based and client-centered focus, carefully assessing and treating each individual in the context of their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
In the past I have co-facilitated parent support groups for parents of teens struggling with mental, emotional and behavioural issues. I have presented on the topics of mental health, suicide prevention, self-care, managing anxiety, time management, and study skills. I am well versed in community resources and a strong advocate for clients.
While doing community work, I was trained as a Practicum Supervisor, responsible for training and supervising Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) placement students for over a decade.
I am registered and in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), and also a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW), EMDR Canada, and emdria.
I believe in the importance of meeting you where you are in life and helping you to figure out the next steps in achieving wellness. I am known for my nurturing approach; drawing from my own lived experience and professional training to help guide our work together. I see my role as helping to empower you on your journey; to slow down, reflect and tune into the inner knowing we all have, yet often ignore. To quote Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah's book, the question shouldn't be, what's wrong with us, rather what happened to us?* Therapy can help unpack this and to recognize how what happened to us continues to show up in our current relationships, beliefs, and day-to-day functioning.
*What Happened To You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, by Dr. Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. & Oprah Winfrey, 2021