I am a Registered Psychotherapist and have a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counselling.
I have completed training as a Shamanic Teacher and Practitioner and am able to teach Soul Retrieval, Energy Attachment, Medicine for the Earth and Healing with Spiritual Light. In addition, I have studied Integrative and Holotropic Breathwork, Hypnotherapy and Flowyoga.
I have over 25 years experience providing counselling, and psychotherapy to people with traumatic injury, disability, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, stress, people recovering from abuse and addiction or experiencing major life transitions.
Early in my life, I knew I wanted to work in a job where I could help people. I saw that some people suffered and that there were conditions in the world that put some people at a disadvantage and I wanted to do something to make a difference. The path hasn’t been direct. I studied psychology and then went on to graduate school in Rehabilitation Counselling. My first jobs were working with people who had traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. I learned important lessons working with those early clients. First, I learned that some people created healthy, whole lives after their injuries while others seemed to shrink into a limited view of themselves, centered around their experience of injury, disability and pain. I learned that it was not the degree of injury that made a difference, but rather, a combination of their self-concept, early life experiences and social support that influenced how people recovered after injury. At times, I became frustrated with my role as a counsellor because I saw systemic problems that kept people in victim role – discrimination, poverty, lack of formal and informal support. Sometimes, I felt that the needs of clients were overwhelming and my ability to help was all too limited. I noticed that many of my clients had difficulty making changes – they could articulate their goals, and explain the steps to get there, but something prevented them from moving into action. Then, I looked at my own life and noticed the same pattern – I too, did not consistently take action toward goals that I had for myself, and here I was, intelligent, well-educated, and still, there was a gap between desire and action. Around this time, a friend of mine had begun to study hypnotherapy, and in listening to her experiences, I found the bridge and the reason for these gaps. I studied hypnotherapy as well, and began to understand the unconscious mind and various states of consciousness. I had new experiences of myself and I was able to be with my clients in a deeper way.
As I learned more about the inner life and the transpersonal realms, I explored a variety of approaches and modalities. I was drawn to study shamanism because of its overt spirituality and reverence for the natural world. I learned that all true healing derives from spirit; anything that doesn’t include spirit is incomplete. I was drawn to study yoga because of its emphasis on being fully present in the body. This was important to me as I had spent most of my life living in my head and did not appreciate my body. I studied breathwork because the breath bridges the physical and spiritual as well as the mental and emotional aspects of being.
In more recent years, my attention has been drawn to the conditions in which we live in the world; the problems we have in our relationships with the earth, the water, the air, the animals and our human brothers and sisters. As I did in my early life, I see conditions that disadvantage some beings, while others thrive. I was lead to study Sacred Activism to help me learn the importance of balancing personal and spiritual well-being with activism in the world. I learned that my drive to be part of change in the world can only be constructive if it comes from love; if it comes from anger, it adds to the destructive forces in the world. That said, I feel a fierce commitment to protecting life on this planet.
My seeking and studying have brought me to this time in my life and my work. I continue to want to help others, and I am now prepared to help people heal their hearts and spirits and to reclaim their presence in their bodies. I feel a particular commitment to work with other people who are helping professionals; people who want to make a difference in the world; people who understand that spirit needs to be part of their healing journey and people whose lives have been affected by trauma, illness or disability.
I would love to support you in your journey toward healing and wellness. Please contact me at 416.762.8054 to book an appointment or form more information.
Psychotherapy may be covered by some extended health plans but is not covered by OHIP. Please contact me for specific details.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, reach out by phone 416.762.8054, or contact me.
