CCC, RCC
In therapy sessions we will explore the hurdles that hold you back from having the quality of life you desire. My focus is to guide you towards a deeper level of change. We do this by exploring the patterns keeping you stuck, beliefs that limit you, and thoughts that cause you distress. Often these patterns are rooted in your past experiences. Therefore, the process becomes one of establishing meaningful relationships that generate mutual trust and a sense of safety.
While I draw upon a variety of theories, I maintain a thread of continuity in who I am, and how I make sense of my clients. Personally, I have a long relationship with mindfulness/meditation and psychotherapy integration to best serve my clients. I use mindfulness psychotherapy integration as the base of my work with clients. It is an effective tool to build self-awareness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Additionally, I am well learned in theology—I understand the 5 major religions of the world—and work to understand clients in relation to different systems and the impact of these systems on well-being. What works for some may not work for others, and in my work with you, we will highlight the areas where you show strength and resilience.
In order to better support you, I use skill-based strategies through a thoughtful integration of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness. I have extensive specialized training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and DBT groups, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Cognitive Behavioral therapy, including ACT and Changeways groups.
I am dedicated to evidence-based practice and treatments, and I am committed to providing compassionate, validating, and effective counselling services to adults, youths and their families, decision makers, and health care professionals.
My focus is helping clients develop skills related to accepting difficult life circumstances, making changes, analyzing behaviours, and learning healthier patterns of responding.
Professional Experience
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC). I received my Masters in Clinical Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle-Edmonton Campus and Bachelor of Child and Youth Care (BCYC) from McEwan University. I am also a member of Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta (CYCAA).
I have a decade of experience-working at Unlimited Potential Community Services (UP) and Oak Hill Ranch intensive group homes for children and youth. The intensive group homes have several houses with programs focusing on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), mental health, adolescent males with histories of sexual trauma, and intensive high needs.
I spent the greater part of 2021 working with five Sunshine Coast Secondary Schools before switching to working with adults.
I find connecting with children and youth is made easier by being a parent myself. Depending on the youth, I may use sports or board games to create safe environment for these individuals to express themselves.
