I bring an enthusiastic and innovative approach to therapy. My role as a therapist is to create a safe and engaging space where clients can explore their own stories and discover their sense of hope within. I work with individuals, couples, and families. I have training and experience in working with adolescents, individuals who are on the autism spectrum, and people with special needs as well as their families and caregivers. Online video sessions are also available.

I am passionate and prepared to support you in your counselling experience. I can relate to the daunting feeling of sharing vulnerable moments with a new person so I work to make therapy feel welcoming and comfortable. With time and practice, I hope to build a strong foundation of trust with one another in order to explore the depth of your life and discuss what's drawn you to therapy. If you are experiencing anything in the range of my specialties listed, I would be humbled if you choose to share your time and story with me.

Want something different? Then you have to do something different. Are you ready? Then let's get to work. The reason I am here offering this service is because I am ready to support YOU in making positive changes in your life. As a Social Worker you can likely claim our time through your work benefits. Call today.

I value providing a safe, welcoming space for clients to explore their experiences. I employ a trauma-informed, strength-based and anti-oppressive lens, which extends to a mindfulness of diversity. I strive to embody a compassionate, collaborative, and curious stance, always with the goal of striving to understand a client’s experience more fully. I believe that each individual is an expert in their own experience and possesses a wealth of information about themselves. I work collaboratively with clients to begin deriving meaning and wisdom from what they have faced in their lives.

Do you find yourself doing things that you don't feel you have genuinely chosen? Does your mind feel hijacked, or as if it's looping the same thoughts over and over? Sometimes we can find ourselves not liking who we are, or the way our lives are going. We may not even be sure how this happened or where we’re headed. Our minds can get off track in ways that we know don't reflect our values and goals. This can show up as repetitive negative and anxious thoughts, overeating or restricting food, unhealthy relationships or compulsive sensation seeking, to name a few.

*You're welcome to contact me. I'm accepting clients at this time.* My philosophy in my practice, At The Root Counselling, is to “dig deeper” to understand the roots of challenges in order to encourage growth. I offer support for individuals, couples, and families with challenges that relate to their relationships. This includes their relationships with themselves and also with each other. It's a privilege for me to be on the journey of change.

If you are reading this you have already taken the scariest step; recognizing that you want help and support from a counsellor. Sometimes life gives us more than we can handle alone. It can be difficult for individuals to have healthy self-image and compassion, especially after experiencing disappointment, loss and trauma. Everyone has their own story that caused them to be in the place they currently are. And sometimes parts of our story interfere with us being able to move forward.

I’m an individual, couples, and family therapist. I value authenticity, curiosity, a non-judgemental stance, warmth and compassion. These values are integral to the way I approach working with clients. I believe in creating a safe space where people of all backgrounds are welcome, and where clients feel seen, heard, valued, and supported. I work together with clients to capitalize on their inherent strengths and skills, and to cultivate greater feelings of connection, authenticity, understanding, curiosity, compassion, and mindfulness in their lives.

Is your child now a stranger? Your once sweet baby grew up a bit and is now distant, aggressive, private, and a stranger. You never thought you'd see the day they'd cuss at you. It feels like a constant cycle of arguments, groundings, and harsh conversations that aren't working. They're yelling at you, you're yelling at them, and parenting just hurts right now. Nobody told you it would get this hard. Maybe it has escalated to drugs, gangs, and violence. All you know is you're afraid, frustrated, and panicked. You want your child back.

I have been working in mental health for over 15 years, providing counseling to clients experiencing varying psychological difficulties including stress, anxiety, depression, life crisis, anger issues, suicidal ideation and relational challenges. I am currently working in the Emergency Department of Grand River hospital as a Mental Health Crisis Worker. Through my practice, I draw from different therapeutic modalities in supporting clients’ needs and best interests. I utilize strategies and tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness, Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Solution Focus.

So many of us experience a dissonance with regards to what we think and how we feel. While, we often *know* what might be best for us, we can’t help but *feel* stuck, overwhelmed, anxious, or numb. Many of us carry the negative beliefs, distrust, self-blame, guilt, shame, and (at times) unbearable weight of experiences from our past. You may know that you need healing, forgiveness, and self-love, but unsure of how to get there. I want to help. I take a client-centered, anti-oppressive approach, which considers each person’s unique cultural background, family history, socio-emotional development, worldview, and more.

I offer Trauma Therapy for survivors of childhood abuse who have experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse, neglect and/or addictions. Trauma Therapy is not an easy or short process. I share skills and knowledge on how to begin to walk alongside your trauma, instead of against it. Trauma can make us feel powerless. Healing through understanding our trauma, takes our power back. I am queer-identified, non-monogamy/poly and cannabis friendly and strive to offer an open-minded, comfortable, safe(r) space to process traumas. Evening and Saturday appointments available.

You're not sure when it happened but all of a sudden you don't recognize the person sleeping next to you. It's frightening and heartbreaking to think that this could be the end of your relationship. Maybe it started after the kids were born or maybe you're wondering if you're not as compatible as you thought. There's this distance between you that can no longer be ignored. You've become simple roommates but you want so much more from your relationship.

We offer individual, family and couples counselling. Our rates are on a sliding scale based on income. Every Thursday from noon-6pm we have a Walk In Counselling Clinic and anyone is welcome to walk in and see a therapist for up to 90 minutes without having an appointment. We offer multicultural counselling, LGBTQ2+ counselling, and counselling for older adults and their families. We can help with healing from violence and abuse and recovery after a motor vehicle accident. We work with foster, adoptive and kinship families to help enhance their relationships.

My intention for you, as a therapist, is to be with you with compassion and skill to help you through life's difficult times and to help you reach your greater potential. We will work together, in a supportive environment, to increase resilience and wisdom so you can be better able to access, communicate and actualize your inner needs. Most of the clients I see are burdened by anxiety, depression, relationship problems and/or trauma. I have resources and strategies that address these all too common concerns.

As your therapist, I am here to create a comfortable, safe and authentic space for individuals to be vulnerable, share their stories, and sort through the hard stuff that comes with being human. Together, we will work to develop an understanding of your experiences and how this is impacting your ability to live a fulfilling life, as well as develop your confidence and ability to manage and cope with life difficulties. I am here to be a collaborative guide in supporting you where you are in life, and where you are hoping to go.

Do you find yourself struggling with feelings of inadequacy? No matter what you do, this feeling, and the self-criticisms that come with it feel impossible to shake? Maybe you find yourself worrying about the future, doubting your capability to cope with whatever life is about to throw at you next. Perhaps you can even see repetitive behaviours that keep you stuck, but you can't find a way to change these ingrained habits. The degree to which these things effect everyone lies on a continuum. Some struggle with low self-esteem, others depression and anxiety, and trauma can lead to severe changes in many of these areas.

While I treat all genders, I specialize in men's issues individually or as a partner within a couple. At Couple Health we offer a team approach where Leah (Sex Therapist & Social Worker) sees the couple and I see the men. Exploring your own family & relationship history can really help you in relationships. I aim to help men explore what they want from their partner- how they want to be loved and how to explain this clearly and compassionately to their partner. You may also want to find coping strategies for relationship and family conflicts. Improving emotional and physical intimacy are also important reasons I can help you with.

A Sanctuary is a place of comfort, safety and healing, a refuge from the storms of our life. I aim not only to provide a sanctuary for my clients but to help them build one within themselves. Whatever you are struggling with I can help you to navigate by providing a safe & comforting environment where you can explore your own unique path to healing, growth and change. Together we will address the current issues as well as the relational patterns and beliefs that wound your sense of belonging and create obstacles to living a meaningful and fulfilling life.

I believe that most of our personal challenges can be effectively addressed by our internal resources and creativity. My aim for therapy is to help my clients arrive at a personal, yet structured and novel, understanding of themselves, others and the world around them. I have an M.A. in Counselling Psychology and have completed a two-year certificate in Trauma and Addiction Recovery Studies. I have a Ph.D. in Philosophy and I extensively use philosophical and existential ideas and insights in my counselling. I also have a certificate in Hypnotherapy which can be used upon request.