“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
Barack Obama
I strongly believe that my clients are the experts in their own lives. Maybe you are asking yourself “Why see a therapist?” My answer is that sometimes life happens; we fall off course and we all need some support. As a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist, it’s my pleasure to support you on your journey. It doesn’t matter what concerns bring a client to me, my goal is to empower them and to provide the tools they need to navigate the obstacles they are facing.
I graduated from the University of Windsor’s School of Social Work with a Master’s degree in Social Work, following a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology (Honors). I am committed to continuing my professional development and am constantly expanding my knowledge to ensure that I am using the most up-to-date techniques. My ten years of professional experience have equipped me with a multitude of skills in clinical assessment, counselling and crisis intervention. I have facilitated life-skills groups for individuals, and have worked with and advocated for children, youth and families, including those on the autism spectrum with dual diagnoses.
I practice from a culturally sensitive perspective that sits within an anti-oppressive framework. In our changing society, I believe this creates an effective therapeutic relationship – and effective progressive social work sets the stage for change.
I have worked in a variety of settings, which include hospitals and jails, where I have helped clients navigate the criminal justice system and reintegrate into society. I help families within the child welfare system and my experience with various school boards has taught me how to deal with a range of school-related issues. I have also worked with seniors, in long-term care facilities, to ensure their needs are met.
The theoretical approaches I implement are based on my client’s unique needs. They include Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
My passion stems from my own experiences. I immigrated to Canada at 6 years old. I was a latch key child, raised by a single mother in underprivileged communities, learning how to adapt to the cultural differences. Because my mother left me, to come to Canada, when I was two years old, we initially did not have a close relationship and I felt truly isolated from my father and other family members back home. I often took the parent’s role, caring for my younger sibling while my mother worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. Over time, however, my mother and I were able to create a strong bond.
During my adolescence, I endured sexual assault, anxiety, societal pressures and intergenerational conflict. I also have personal experiences of loss, grief, post-partum depression, domestic violence, traumatic injury from a motor vehicle accident and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Despite that, or perhaps because of it, I believe there is an unseen benefit to any negative situation one faces. Ultimately, all of my personal experiences and my ability to overcome adversity have shaped me into the woman I am today: someone with a positive outlook on life. I believe that as such, my role is to help my clients find and realize the power that lies within them, to elicit change. There may be bumps along the way but together, we will get you where you want to be.
If you have read this far, I admire your persistence! You are one-step closer to making a great decision. I’ve been where you are – deciding whether I should make that appointment. Trust me, after my first therapy session I felt so relieved and my fears about therapy disappeared in minutes.
I’m a very easygoing therapist, who admires your strength in taking the next steps towards living a purposeful life. I’m confident that I will be able to support you on your wellness journey. My purpose is to make you feel comfortable while offering you the freedom to share as much, or as little, as you want. I am at your service.