Welcome and hello! I am a cis-gender caucasian woman (she/they) who single parents two strong teenage daughters. I have been counselling for over 25 years, and specialise in somatic approaches and psychotherapy to address many mental health issues. My office has an extended area with a vast collection of clothing for those interested building confidence through self expression. I also have a collection of circus gear, that works for people who want a new somatic experience to address sides of yourself you never knew existed! I have developed creative self-exploration techniques to support clients, and use art, circus, fashion, role play and narrative experiences in my work with clients. I believe my approach needs to be multi-dimensional, because humans are complex and feelings can be buried and hard to access sometimes. I am an activist for social and environmental sanity, and believe that learning emotional literacy can heal more than one's self. I know life can be messy and overwhelming, and sometimes we need help to clean it up and get back on track. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with BCACC and NSCCT (Candidate). My experience is vast, having supported people of many ages, backgrounds, and personal experiences. I have specialised in providing care for youth, which has given me tremendous insights into family structures, dynamics, and a myriad of life topics that we humans face. Witnessing and supporting young people and their families through personal experiences are too many to name, making my specialty really about helping people better understand one's experience, identify coping strategies and navigate challenges as consciously and safely as possible using a variety of therapeutic techniques. For example, my counselling experience includes helping people through life events such as marriage, divorce, blended families, birth, death, community crisis, personal tragedy and processing grief, identity, relationships, mental health conditions and diagnoses, body dysmorphia and disordered eating, personal reinvention, personal goals, spiritual and religious beliefs, values identification, legal issues, complex trauma, sexual health, oppression and liberation, LGBTQA+, parenting, puberty, ... I personally invest in my own therapeutic journey, that began when I was 18 years old. Experiencing varied techniques of emotional and psychological support as life revealed its sometimes brutal edges has helped turn my own traumatic events and experiences into badges of honour and chapters of growth. All humans encounter struggles, and seeking guidance and support is a form of self preservation, wisdom, and humility; it informs our patterns and elevates our insights. Therapy can build resilience and compassion, leading to relief and joy. My therapeutic processes are diverse, and I primarily incorporate foundations of somatic therapy, Internal Family Systems, CBT, DBT, and psychotherapy. However, I am an emotional literacy nerd, and am constantly learning new ways of supporting people on their mental and emotional health and healing path. I am devoted to helping people liberate themselves from mind shackles and self-defeating patterns that often stem from traumas, past circumstances, and unaddressed emotional injuries. I know the life changing power of psycho-education, increased self awareness, and empathic witnessing. Learning new coping strategies and dealing with our buried feelings is not as hard as people sometimes think, and can lead to great relief and emotional freedom. This work brings me back to my purpose. I believe this is the work I've always meant to be doing. My trauma informed background influenced my approach as a classroom teacher. In my teaching and counselling roles I was able to see how school culture was heavily influenced by the past, and the resulting challenges the education system faces from so much unresolved negative generational history. As an athlete, I could see that although traditional sports worked for me in school, many students still feel they perpetuate a culture of competition and social hierarchy. So, I created a circus program, since circus culture is inclusive by default--indeed it is built on celebrating diversity and uniqueness. My professional interests and expertise expanded to include circus and counselling in the classroom, where teachers and I collaborated, using juggling to teach physics, aerials to teach engineering and math, costuming and stage makeup in art classes, and set design in wood working... I was even using acrobatics to teach the health curriculum, leading me to develop my own sexual health lessons around consent, boundaries, supporting one another, risk assessment, and safety. Working for over two decades as a Counsellor in the public school system opened my eyes to the impact of institutional generational trauma, and the importance of changing the culture from educational "institutions" to buildings of belonging and community. It starts with the adults paying attention to this "elephant in the room", and then working together to build such a space. Truth is the first step, before Reconciliation. At 54 years alive, I have recently taken the leap from the security of teaching, to build something new with my specialised skills and counselling background. My passion and skills lie in emotional and mental health, so I have transitioned to private practice as a counsellor. Change and innovation is often met with limitations and barriers within colonially designed systems, and my mid life compelled me to reevaluate my purpose. I had entered the profession to create positive change within the education system --to enhance the experience of learning for children, youth, and families. I deeply value education, and see it as a human right. However, the demand for counselling far outweighed the "supply" for students and families, compelling me to make the change. Instead of a part time focus in private practice, I am able to really prioritise clients, and work creatively with people who are ready to pay attention to their emotional and spiritual development. As Audre Lorde once said: "the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house", meaning that genuine change requires us to use new tools and implement new ways of thinking and behaving. My work reflects these words. My service as a mental health care provider allows me to offer my support and skills with new autonomy and greater breadth. I hope that I am better able to support diverse populations, from individuals to groups, with the common theme of being ready for personal growth. In my spare time, I can be found doing a wide array of activities, from connecting with family and friends, enjoying nature with my dog, watching performances, choreographing performances, training in aerial arts, planning a production, writing, learning, making art, playing tennis, cooking, cleaning, or taking care of everything I love. -Registered Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapist-Candidate -Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in British Columbia through the BCACC regulatory body -Masters in Counselling Psychology -BC certified teacher (BEd) -Sexual Health Educator, Opt Certified -20 years experience delivering comprehensive Sexual Health Education to students, parents, and teachers -24 years experience as a school counsellor, K-12, specialising in middle years -Founder of Tsunami Circus and former middle school Counselling/Circus program on Saltspring Island, BC -Presenter for Professional Development Workshops and Public Speaker to support mental, cultural, and physical health in education -Sexual Health Education Consultant for schools, teachers, and community -Cultural support for businesses, groups, and organisations.