Practice Information
In my 17 years as both a counsellor and clinical supervisor I learned that what people want most from a therapist is an effective and compassionate advocate for change. They want to feel like their therapist really "gets" them and is willing to put the time and attention in to helping them see a way forward. Change happens when people are accepted for who they are, and recognized for the efforts they've put in so far to achieve their goals, no matter what choices they've made. They're seeking a therapist with experience and skills who can help put them on a new path to change, without judging them for having coped in ways that may have caused more harm to themselves, or to others they love.
It's my job to understand you and plot a realistic course for change in your life. Initial therapy sessions focus on identifying what's possible to change in your own life, or in the case of family work, in the life you share with other members of your family. Assessing your own strategies to date is part of this initial work. You may be surprised to uncover connections between thoughts and actions in the aftermath of a traumatic event and how these thoughts impact your present (it's not what happens, but what we do with what happens that matters). My training in systemic and emotion-focused therapy helps me shine a light on your existing strengths. I help you take a sober second look at your own thoughts about yourself and your life (past and present). We'll look at how your actions to date support your goals, and how best to address any areas of doubt or fear that may keep you from living the way you really want to live. What are you believing about yourself, or others now that may be getting in your way? Where do the beliefs you hold about yourself or about life really come from? How old are these beliefs? What's their "origin story" and does that really stand up to the present reality of your life?
We'll address complex feelings (eg. shame, blame, guilt, frustration) that may be working against you. We'll discover how feelings may be reality-tested, accepted as part of life, and integrated in a way that promotes self acceptance, confidence, healing, and increased connection. Regular check-ins about how you're feeling, thinking, and acting happen at the start of each session so that we can track and assess progress, making any necessary changes along the way. This may include additional referrals to other resources, services, or professionals. You'll also be supported to use your imagination to bring both mind and body into sharper awareness. I will support you to notice responses that enable greater self-understanding, self-compassion and provide new pathways to experience change within yourself. Sessions typically end with a question: What are you going to do with what we've discussed today? We'll discuss actions you may be willing to take and how best to deal with any setbacks that may occur in order to keep you on your path toward change.
My career path enabled a wide spectrum of opportunities working with people from all walks of life. I worked intensively with families who were self-referred and mandated by social services for complex issues including family violence. I learned how to orient my approach to the unique needs of each member of the family while keeping important cultural and gender-based factors in mind for those most at risk. Family work oriented me towards building connections between members, identifying key strengths, and fostering hope for change and growth.
In my work with hospice/palliative care, I learned to meet families with humility and compassion as they faced a heart-wrenching loss. I supported bereaved family members to recognize their own signs of adjustment and to live by their own timelines for recovery. In this work I learned that we grieve a relationship, not a role, and I tailored my approach to that unique connection each person had with their loved one.
In my work with women experiencing burn out and compassion fatigue I've learned to help them see how external factors contribute to unrealistic expectations as they strive to meet the demands of multiple professional and personal roles. Working with women who've experienced abuse by an intimate partner or spouse has taught me to pay close attention to how women work at keeping themselves safe, and how they've managed to negotiate personal, cultural, economic and physiological barriers in their efforts at protecting themselves and others from harm.
As someone who works with lesbian, gay, transgender and queer clients I strive to meet the challenge of queering my practice with direct bi-annual training with therapists from these communities. As a humanistic therapist I strive to keep myself open to all experiences and orientations that enable compassionate, trauma-informed approaches to problems that can land very differently for people who encounter gender-based discrimination and persecution in both public and private settings.
In my work with people with ADHD I've learned the importance of understanding the greater difficulty of living with an overabundance of curiousity in the so-called "attention economy." I work with adults who have suspected or diagnosed ADHD who want help to be in the driver seat of their own thoughts, emotions and actions, instead of at the whim of them. I'm a certified specialist in ADHD who can work with those living with this condition, as well as their family members, to help them become better regulators of their time and energy.
I continue to train and seek supervision with leading therapists in Canada, the US, Europe, and Asia in models of therapy that include the following: Satir Transformative Systemic Therapy, Emotion Focused Family Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Response Based Practice for those whose lives are impacted by violence.
I work and live in the beautiful region of southwest BC where I have raised kids and dogs, and continue to foster a healthy respect for this land and its way of providing for and supporting a diversity of life.
Specialized Training
- Satir Transformation Systemic Therapy(STST). I am a Clinical Member and approved supervisor for the Satir Institute of the Pacific (SIP)
- Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)
- ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CDSP) and trained facilitator of ADHD Skills Builder Program