ABOUT ME
As someone who has had my fair share of struggles battling anxiety and depression from a young age, I have been in and out of many counselling offices and understand the importance of finding a safe, welcoming, and comfortable space to share your innermost thoughts.
I have been lucky enough to find counsellors in my life who have helped shape me into the woman and practitioner I am today. It is my hope, as a counsellor, that I can use the dark times I’ve been through in my life to support others in finding new light in theirs. I knew from an early age that I wanted a career in which I could help those with similar struggles as mine.
Upon completing my Bachelor in Psychology at the University of British Columbia, I decided I wanted a new adventure. I moved to The Netherlands and completed a Masters of Counselling Psychology at The University of Webster in Leiden. Living in the Netherlands for 4 years was a great experience which helped me grow both as an individual and a counsellor however, Vancouver has always been home. Upon returning to BC, I began to work in the non-profit sector, supporting women who have had a history of exploitation and trafficking. I then moved on to working for the health authority supporting youth and young adults with both substance use and mental health concerns.
In my private practice, it is my hope to be able to reach beyond and help more people in their journey towards mental wellness.
MY APPROACH
Counselling is a personalized experience. My approach will always depend on the individual client’s wants, needs, and concerns. I work with a humanistic and integrative approach, incorporating different psychological perspectives in order to create an individual-based therapy. I believe in creating and maintaining an empathetic and encouraging therapeutic relationship, as this is an essential part of the healing process.
In my opinion, therapy is a collaborative process in which openness and honesty on both ends serves the client best. Therapy is an intimate and sometimes difficult process, and I approach all of my clients with respect and kindness in order to create a “safe place” to maximize the outcome of therapy.
I draw on the perspective of the following approaches:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on thoughts, behaviours, and feelings and their connection to one another. It aims to develop new and healthier thought patterns and behaviours in order to replace old and ineffective patterns.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) focuses on a balance between acceptance and change. The aim is to help individuals in regulating emotions and better coping with destructive and/or harmful behaviours.
Person-Centered is a personalized approach aimed to facilitate personal growth, awareness, and sense of self in order to live a more fulfilled and positive life.
Narrative Therapy explores the stories of one’s life, their meaning, interpretations, and effects. It helps individuals re-write/re-author their stories to have new meaning and to gain a new perspective about the present in order to see new possibilities for the future.
Mindfulness focuses on consciously bringing awareness to the present moment, by living in the here-and-now in a non-judgemental, accepting, and effective manner.