(AS A HUMAN)
My pronouns are she/her. I’m Metis, with Cree and English lineage, and was born and raised in Alberta. Today, I live and work in Moh’kinsstis / Calgary.
My partner and I are parents to three gorgeous and hilarious creatures, one human, two dogs.
I love animals. Growing up in rural Alberta, my sisters and I were never without them. From pets like dogs and rabbits to livestock like chickens and goats, I grew up experiencing the magic that animals bring to life. While we don’t have the space in our city home for any farm animals (my partner would argue anyway), our dogs have kept me connected to that magic.
Then I became a mom, and let’s just say my world was sufficiently turned upside down. Interestingly, I learned that being a therapist and being a parent are really complimentary experiences. I like to think that being a therapist makes me a better mom — and being a mom makes me a better therapist.
When I’m not working or parenting (rarely but ok) I can usually be found doing something at home: playing video games, DIY-ing, gardening, or streaming sci-fi/horror or deadpan comedy. I’m a terrible cook, bad at math, and dislike large crowds, although I do enjoy visiting Calgary’s many breweries and city parks.
I have lived experience of mental health challenges (including postpartum) and am a counselling client.
growth
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authenticity
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Humour
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autonomy
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growth 〰️ authenticity 〰️ Humour 〰️ autonomy 〰️
(AS A professional)
I earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Lethbridge and a graduate degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University.
Though my focus was always psychology, I was also involved with the sociology department’s research projects in university, which shaped my view that mental health is more than psychology. It’s holistic, complex, and inseparable from culture and systems. Research projects focused on topics like the medicalization of birth and homelessness in rural Alberta.
I spent the next 10 years working and volunteering with mental health non-profits, supporting youth and adults facing a variety of challenges. Through this work, I have training and experience working with trans and gender diverse folks and teens.
Driven by my passion for counselling and my love for learning, I’ve engaged with several professional development opportunities since becoming a therapist, and continue to excitedly consume every training, book, webinar, and workshop I can get my hands on. These include topics such as trauma, PTSD, burnout, and gender-affirming care.
Working with couples has been my newest learning endeavor. Since training in Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy, I have enjoyed working with couples looking to grow together, deepen their connection, and heal in the context of their romantic relationship.
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My approach to counselling
I like to describe my style as “right brained”, meaning I work in ways that engage the right hemisphere of the brain more than the left.
The right brain is typically associated with implicit memory, self-awareness, emotional processing, meaning making, and non-verbal communication. While some therapy focuses left-brain activities such as logic and analysis, I use techniques that focus on the roots of the issues rather than the surface.
In counselling, this might look like going deeper into emotional experience, memories, meaning, and physiological experience.
This approach is especially effective for individuals who have experienced trauma and relational challenges, as it fosters a deeper connection to self and others.