ABOUT ME
I am a Registered Social Worker and psychotherapist. I live and work in Stratford, and have called Stratford my home for over 20 years. I have worked in a variety of settings, including several programs designed to support individuals and their families struggling with emotional and mental health issues with the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, and with the Huron Perth Centre for Children and Youth. Life can be full of surprises, and sometimes those surprises leave us feeling overwhelmed, lost, unsure of ourselves, and unhappy. I am passionate about helping people identify their triggers, break free from those self-defeating cycles that keep us spinning, and find healing from past hurts. I am a firm believer in the power of the human spirit and its ability to overcome challenges and struggles as we journey towards living our lives authentically, with courage and strength.
MY APPROACH
Throughout my career, I have worked with individuals of all ages, including youth, young adults, adults and seniors, struggling with emotional, spiritual, physical and mental health issues. I use a collaborative and integrative approach that is client-centred, and draws on a variety of therapeutic methodalities to meet your needs, bring insight, awareness and self-compassion to the therapeutic relationship, and work towards developing strength and resilience. My therapeutic approach will meet you where you are at, provide a safe space for you to explore the struggles you are facing, work with you to build and refine your skills to move forward, and empower you to rise up again.
EDUCATION
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Wilfrid Laurier University, M.S.W., 1998
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University of Western Ontario. B.S.W., 1993
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Externship, Emotionally Focused Therapy, 2021
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Certificate in Solution Focused Therapy, 2003
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Ontario College of Social workers and Social Service Workers, Certificate #421145, since 1993
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Ontario Association of Social Workers, Certificate #19007, since 2020
Therapeutic Modalities:
Attachment
Our early experiences with caregivers have impacts on our adult lives.
Body Aware
Our physical and emotional sensations and our “gut” feelings are important.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Our thoughts and feelings impact how we act.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Managing our emotions and learning to tolerate distress.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Promoting awareness, acceptance, expression, utilization, regulation and transformation of emotion to strengthen the self, regulate affect and create new meaning.
Existentialist
Considering the "big questions" like freedom, responsibility and the meaning of life can make life more purposeful.
Self-Compassion
We make more progress when we are kind and gentle with ourselves.
Shame Resilience
Brene Brown's research has found that when we are vulnerable and connect with others, we are more resilient to shame and blame.
Solution-Focused
Goal-oriented and future-focussed; actively working towards solutions, rather than focussing on the problems
Strengths-based
What's going right for you? Let's leverage that to bring about change.
Trauma Informed
We make our best attempts to resolve problems but sometimes we need new strategies, especially if we've been through traumatic experiences.
If you can't fly, then Run
If you can't run, then Walk
If you can't walk, then Crawl
but whatever you do,
you have to Keep Moving Forward
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.