My Professional Philosophy.

I deeply believe in the innate ability of the human organism to grow, change, and heal.

Sometimes we need help from a professional to facilitate the process of change. Coming to therapy can feel incredibly vulnerable and, therefore, I place a large emphasis on providing a warm, open, accepting, and non-judgemental environment for you to discuss the challenges that you are facing. In the context of a formal assessment, I aim to help children and their families feel comfortable and at ease by explaining the process of assessment and praising children for their efforts during an assessment.

My therapy approach is holistic, foundationally rooted in emotionally-focused therapy and social justice; it is trauma-informed, LGBTQ2S+ aware and affirmative, sex positive, and anti-oppressive. In each session, we will focus on the thoughts, emotions, behaviours, physiological processes, and patterns that have accumulated in your life and contribute to the hardships you are experiencing today. This approach necessarily involves recognizing that your personal journey is unique and tailoring clinical interventions to you, as an individual, vs. using a “cookie cutter” model of therapy. I draw from Emotion-Focused, Cognitive Behavioural, Gestalt, Solution-Focused, Somatic, and Narrative traditions of therapy.

Professional Background.

I am a Registered Psychologist with the BC College of Psychologists and am a certified Clinical Sexologist with the American College of Sexologists. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, a PhD in Counselling Psychology, and a PhD in Human Sexuality. Further to these credentials, I am extensively trained in assessment, Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples, and the Gottman Method of couples therapy. Between 2010 – 2014, I was an Adjunct Professor in the Masters programs in Counselling Psychology at Adler University and went on to become an Assistant Professor from 2014 – 2018.

Specific to my counselling practice, I have been providing counselling to individuals, couples, families, and groups in private and public settings for over 20 years. I have also been providing formal, standardized assessments since 2002. I have a wealth of knowledge and emotional / experiential understanding of human struggles, and would love to help you move through the challenges you are facing in your life.