Education
Master of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Waterloo, 2015
Master of Pastoral Studies, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy, University of Toronto, 2021
About
The most impactful conversations in my life have been the ones where I have felt the presence of the other(s) listening to me. That type of deep listening is fully alive, present, and is conscious of not allowing judgement and bias lead the dialogue. I have experienced these conversations with friends, family members, colleagues, my own personal work in therapy, and with strangers alike. My hope is that I can bring this same alive, present, and accepting sense of presence to all people I work with.
I have experienced it’s benefits; I hope I can bring others to experience the same.
Feel free to explore this page to learn more about my approach to psychotherapy. You might also enjoy some of the writings I’ve posted.
How I work
Four Things I bring into Every Session
Collaboration
Therapy is a partnership. It works best when we're working together on your life. We both get curious about your life; about where you've been, where you are right now, and where you want to go.
Intention
The weight of your emotional world and the turbulent nature of your thoughts might make it difficult to focus, to fully figure out where you want to start in our sessions. I’ll support you in bringing intentionality and focus our conversations.
Presence
I am fully present in our conversation, to the flows of emotions and thoughts shared in our conversations. I model attention and presence and help you find more of it in your life.
Clarity
My aim is to help untangle the knots of thought, emotion, and memory that might be too difficult and too complex to hold and process on your own. I’ll support you in taking steps to clarify and understand what may have at one time felt intolerable, complicated, and insurmountable.
I don't apply any of these frameworks like a formula. In practice, this looks like paying as much attention to what's happening in your body as what's happening in your thoughts. It's about taking the stories you tell about your life seriously, looking at them closely and honestly and asking yourself if these stories are serving you. Do you feel yourself to be a victim? Do you feel small? Unsure of where to start? Does uncertainty rock you to your core and see you constantly seeking for reassurance?
My approach is to be with you as a steady, non-judgemental, kind, and curious presence as wel explore the layers of your life experience.
I trained in these approaches because each one gave me something useful, not because I think therapy should follow a script. I treat your own experience as something worth exploring rather than correcting.
The actual work together is usually simpler than any of that sounds: two people talking honestly about what's hard and collaboratively working together to find ways to move forward.
My Inspirations
My Inspirations
Carl Rogers Psychologist, originator of the Person-Centered approach to psychotherapy.
Peter Levine Founder of Somatic Experiencing, an approach to thoughts, emotions, and life centered on the body.
Carl Jung Psychologist, incorporated dreams, symbols, and mythology into the psychotherapeutic framework.
Terry Marks-Tarlow Psychologist, researches the role of intuition in psychotherapy.
Russ Harris Doctor, psychotherapist, practitioner and educator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)roach to psychotherapy.
Carl Rogers Psychologist, originator of the Person-Centered approach to psychotherapy.
Peter Levine Founder of Somatic Experiencing, an approach to thoughts, emotions, and life centered on the body
Carl Jung Psychologist, incorporated dreams, symbols, and mythology into the psychotherapeutic framework
Terry Marks-Tarlow Psychologist, researches the role of intuition in psychotherapy
Russ Harris Doctor, psychotherapist, practitioner and educator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Harlene Anderson Psychologist and Cofounder of the Collaborative Approach to psychotherapy.
Below is a list of authors, practitioners, philosophers, and teachers that inspire my work and my approach. I’ve provided links to further your curiosity, if it strikes you.
Below is a list of authors, practitioners, philosophers, and teachers that inspire my work and my approach. I’ve provided links to further your curiosity, if it strikes you.