Passionate about empowering people
I'm really glad you made it here. I'll bet you are wondering 'WHY I am the right fit to help you' and 'HOW I can help you'.
I have witnessed sorrow, suffering and trauma in my 'over 30 years as a helping professional' (educator, humanitarian aid and international development professional, trainer and coach). But I have also seen incredible resilience when there is adversity and a person's' potential to create meaningful change - if one is open to it.
- As a teacher, I experienced how creativity is an essential human resource and takes courage to do.
- Coaching newcomers to Canada helped me to appreciate acculturation challenges, personal strength and adaptability to major life transitions.
- In my humanitarian and development work, I witnessed how people in crises can push themselves to carry on and overcome obstacles and trauma.
I get how it feels to be in your shoes
I am no stranger to feeling stressed, stuck, lost and overwhelmed. I have experienced my own set of challenges and changes along the way. I have reinvented my professional self numerous times and I have chosen 'perhaps less than conventional paths' in life. I am familiar with loneliness, cumulative stress, compassion fatigue, anxiety, feelings of not belonging and isolation. Not only have I learned that pushing myself out of my comfort zone can bring growth but to process and heal, I made the choice to ask for help and do my own personal work.
Responding to what you need
Because of my experience working with diverse populations, I appreciate the richness of an individual's background, lifestyle, interests, identity and experiences. I recognize that all shape who a person is. Each of us has our own obstacles to navigate and we also make our own choices in how we deal with them. I believe one of these choices is asking for help when we need it or even sometimes, when we don't think we need it.
What you are experiencing is an opportunity for personal growth
When we are in our pain or discomfort, it's so hard to see and feel anything else. But you can use it to create more fulfillment in yourself, in your relationships and in your life.
I will appreciate and validate your uniqueness
Each of us sees and experiences the world uniquely. We also learn in our own ways. To me, that means ' one approach does not fit every client'. This is why I take an integrative approach in my practice.
I understand that you will need different things at different times during the counselling process. Our work together needs to be fluid- moving between everyday challenges to emotional uncovering to more spiritual or philosophical exploration.
In sessions, you might need to talk or even vent. At other times you might need to get out of your head. There will be times when you might need to sit with and pay attention to your painful thoughts and feelings instead of fighting or escaping them. And at other times, you might need to express yourself creatively or experience something. Yes, we do not just talk but also do the work we are talking about. I will do my best to be as responsive as I can and that includes responding to your personality, concerns, stressors, learning style and strengths.
I have come to realize that connecting in a meaningful way and helping others has become a way to construct meaning in my life. It has shaped me to be the person I am today as well as how I am as a therapist.
Some random stuff about me
I'm an eternal helping professional and a big fan of slowing down and creatively exploring and experiencing life and one's internal world.
SLOWING DOWN...... my morning ritual with coffee, quiet & stillness, cuddles & walks with my dog Zeebo (fun fact- I'm also trained in canine massage therapy), getting outside & into nature whatever the season.
CALMNESS & GROUNDING....being near or in water... using my quasi- green thumb to try growing things both inside & out, nurturing the meaningful connections in my life.
CURIOUSITY....... off the beaten-track travelling, the thrill of getting lost in new places, trying new, weird & spicy foods, exploring gem stones & their energies, life-long learning.
PLAY, CREATE AND FUN.....experimenting with photographs, textiles & interior design, playing with the written word, laughs with friends.
Zeebo and I enjoying the winter outdoors.