My Work
I offer assessment and consultation services to clients and other professionals. My approach is wholistic, and my style is empathic and client focused. While my primary therapeutic modality is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, I may use other modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, Dual-Process Grief Therapy, Tasks of Mourning model, and energy work.
Since I began working in the field of grief and palliative counselling in 2011, I have had the privilege and honour to work with thousands of individuals and families facing the most life-altering and confusing challenges of their lives. I have also had the incredible opportunity to work with children and families at the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Centre in Toronto. I offer a compassionate and safe space for individuals and families who are facing complicated grief, significant loss, and other complex life transitions to feel seen, valued, heard, validated, and supported regardless of their life circumstance. This includes gender transitioning and LGBTQ coming out experiences. I also have expertise in sudden death by suicide, homicide, accident, and natural causes, as well as long-term illness and MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying).
If you find yourself or your family facing any of the above, it’s not uncommon to feel frustrated or misunderstood. You might be feeling lost, full of dread, or hopeless. At times, you may even have feelings of happiness and relief. It’s possible to feel all of these feelings at the same time. These mixed emotions are completely normal, but can be confusing.
You may have been searching for information on these issues online, or through health professionals, friends, books, or local organizations. You may feel frustrated, lost, full of dread, anxious, depressed, hopeless, or misunderstood.
Perhaps this is your first attempt to find support. I’m happy to tell you that you’ve come to the right place! Here you have found someone with knowledge and expertise; someone who will treat you with the dignity and compassion that you deserve.
I’m here to help you make sense of your experiences. There is no “right way” to feel in this journey.
My philosophy is that change and loss, and the feelings of grief that come from them, are at the root of many emotional, cognitive, and behavioural challenges. Change and loss can come in many different forms, including:
- death,
- job loss,
- the end of a relationship,
- LGBTQ2S+ coming out,
- gender transitioning,
- retirement,
- illness,
- injury,
- aging, and
- other life transitions.
These may be things that are happening to you, or happening to those you love. When we are able to explore our grief, through education and support, we are able to move forward and heal. I will help you find ways to understand, cope with, manage and heal from your pain, while still honouring how important the loss was in your life.
My own painful experiences with loss, transitions, and other life challenges threatened to break me. However, with the love and support of others, I was able to use these opportunities to grow personally and professionally. I now find my meaning in supporting others through tough times.