Specializations

 I provide support for the really difficult times in life including: 

• Traumatic experiences 
• Bullying
• Interpersonal and domestic violence
• Complex grief and loss
• Children who have been removed from parental care
• Parental separation/divorce
• Children in blended homes or homes with children who have complex needs.

I use trauma informed approaches including EMDR, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Cognitive behavioural therapy, somatic approaches, and mindfulness.

 I offer individualized care to help people overcome  mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety.

I help treat most forms of anxiety including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, separation anxiety, and school refusal.

I support parents in finding ways to help their children who may not be able to get to school because of the crippling effects of social anxiety. 

I tailor interventions to meet client needs and preferences. I will draw from a combination of psychoeducation, somatic approaches, EMDR, dialectical behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy. I may also use expressive arts and some adapted forms of play therapy.

I support people trying to find ways to cope with really painful emotions and feelings of being so overwhelmed they use self-injury as a coping strategy.

I also provide stabilization and safety-planning support to people experiencing suicidal thinking or with their caregivers or parents.

This is sensitive work and requires a full-team approach . This means parents/caregivers must be willing to work with other important family members, Elders, or other spiritual leaders if desired, medical professionals and any other involved community agencies.

Anyone experiencing active suicide planning is referred to their local emergency room or instructed to call 911.

I offer support to young people to help them understand why they feel the way they do, what may be happening in their lives. 

I provide young people with a space to be heard and validated. We work together to address whatever may be getting in their way of living the life they see for themselves.

Topics we might look at include: 

• Anxiety and depression
• Bullying
• Social Anxiety
• Identity
• Body Image
• Self-esteem or confidence
• Self-harm
• Suicidal thinking
• School problems
• Friendship
• Dating
• Social media problems
• Pressure
• Teen-parent conflicts
• Substance misuse
• Risky sexual behaviour
• Independence

We might also look at ways to cope with the effects of more systemic issues such as racism, sexism, ableism,  cisnormative bullying (homophobia, transphobia, etc.), and sizeism. 

I provide extremely affirming care and support all rainbow and unicorn journeys.

I support people who are learning about themselves and their preferred gender or sexuality. 

Keeping safety as our top priority, I support those who are curious or questioning, Topics we might look at include personal identity, coming out , social transitioning, friendships, finding places of belonging, enhancing family support, dating,  working, legal rights, and medical transitioning process. 

I also provide mental health support for those experiencing depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidality, or substance abuse. 

I also support parents/caregivers who are looking for ways to understand and support young people who are curious, questioning, or just trying to come out. 

I do not engage in any kind of conversion or reparative therapy— ever. Thankfully, it's illegal.

Parents, I encourage you to look at the included articles on LGBTQTSIA+ individuals here.

I help young people and parents/caregivers find solutions to problems they may be having at school. 

In particular, I provide counselling or parent coaching for: 

• Bullying
• School refusal
• Social anxiety
• Social skills
• Behavioural challenges 
• Advocacy for services
• Individualized Educational Planning
• System Navigation

 I am fully aware of the many systemic barriers entrenched in Western School Systems. I advocate for change. 

 I support people with neurodivergence (ADHD, ASD, FASD) to find ways to feel better in, build skills , and to navigate a world that just doesn't quite get it yet.  

We might work on developing: 

• Distress tolerance
• Emotion Regulation 
• Interpersonal skills
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Executive Functioning Skills
• Self-advocacy
• Independence

I also support parents of neurodivergent children to gain greater understanding of neurodivergence, explore effective ways to help, creating a neurodivergent friendly home, and ways to advocate for their child.