Before I chose the career path of Psychotherapy, I spent many summers working in Northern Ontario and Quebec guiding youth on extended canoe trips with both Wapomeo and Project CANOE. After my undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, I travelled to Cuba where I worked as an intern through LifeCycles on an organic farm in Havana (ACTAF) for 4 months learning to garden and to speak Spanish. I also completed an organic farming program in B.C’s Gulf Islands (Linnaea Farm), worked at Eva’s Initiatives homeless shelters for youth and The Victoria Women’s Transition House for women and children leaving abusive homes.

Before settling in Toronto, I travelled to India to study Ashtanga Yoga in Mysore. When I returned to Toronto, I pursued my passion for understanding human interactions and social justice through my Masters of Social Work at the University of Toronto, and a Psychotherapy Diploma from The Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy (TIRP). For seven years after my schooling, I worked as a Psychotherapist in both private practices at the Commerce Court Health Centre (now Core Focus Health Group) and at Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach Service (BBYOS), a social service organization that works with young people between 12-25 years old providing free, long-term therapy. I also endeavoured to develop my Self through regular yoga practice and my own psychotherapy process.

In 2010, I became a mother for the first time and again in 2012. I share my life with two amazing children and my wonderful husband.

In 2013, I was invited to join the Pine River Institute (PRI) team as a Psychotherapist and Team Manager. My family and I moved to Creemore, Ontario so that I could follow my dream. I was excited to be able to combine my love of wilderness with therapeutic work with youth, parents and families – but I learned so much more than that! My experience at PRI provided me with a rich opportunity for personal and professional growth. At Pine River I worked hard to develop my skills not only as a Psychotherapist for youth but also for couples, families, trauma survivors and groups. I enjoyed developing workshops, teaching yoga to the boys on my team, learning from my talented colleagues and inspiring clients and being a part of powerful parent retreats.

I returned to private practice full time in 2018 and have been enjoying offering trauma focused therapy to my clients. I work from the perspective of relational psychotherapy, Satir Family Therapy, Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment and of course CRM. I also offer yoga therapy to provide an individualized practice for clients to assist with improving physical, physiological and psychological challenges they may face that may or may not be impacted by their trauma histories.

I am inspired to share the deep gifts my teachers have bestowed upon me. My most powerful teachers have been the many clients who have shared their wisdom, struggles, solutions and courage with me. I also deeply appreciate the supervisors, teachers and colleagues who have supported me, and still support me, as I continue to endeavour to learn the art of psychotherapy, yoga therapy, relationship, consciousness and of being human.