The Land & I

I am a cis-female settler, born and raised in Vancouver (unceded and ancestral Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Territory). I am grateful to live and work in this beautiful, special place and am eternally grateful to the nations who have stewarded these lands for millennia. I continuously endeavour to support reconciliation & recognition for MMIWG. I strive to implement decolonial and indigenous ways of knowing in my therapy practice.

My Personal Journey

I’ve spent many years in the client chair, knowing how tough it is to start but also how helpful it can be when you’re ready. During my early twenties, I suffered from debilitating anxiety, perfectionism, an eating disorder and emotional turmoil about family relationships and my identity. Those years challenged me, but I eventually found therapy, and my whole perspective shifted. I learned not to feel beholden to negative automatic thoughts, I realized how my core beliefs stemmed from my upbringing and societal messages, I grew more confident, self-assured and at peace knowing I had the power to change my life to fit me and my authentic self.

Like many of my clients, I’ve gone through seasons of questioning, reevaluating, and rediscovering what matters most. Shifting into counselling wasn’t a single leap but a gradual unfolding. From studying biology, nutrition, health and then psychology, what surprised me most was how much of my previous experience came with me. The education in biology and health, as well as skills I developed doing research and supporting folks in healthcare now help me support clients in navigating their inner worlds with steadiness and care.

I understand what it’s like to look accomplished on paper and still feel a sense of disconnection inside. That personal journey informs how I sit with clients—genuine, unpretentious, and deeply attuned to both strength and struggle.

Education & Professional Credentials

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition with a Minor in Psychology from UBC. I became fascinated with the mind, personality and attachment patterns by the end of my undergrad studies. That interest led me into research, where I worked as a research assistant for over six years.

My research focused on personality constructs—particularly perfectionism, narcissism, and loyalty. I worked closely with Dr. Paul Hewitt, a distinguished and leading researcher on perfectionism, and later with Dr. David Kealy, whose work focused on identity development and loyalty. This time in research shaped my understanding of personality, how research can be balanced with clinical practice and ultimately added nuance, depth, and respect for the complex ways early experiences shape our lives.

I later completed a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology at UBC and became a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.

My clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed approaches, evidence-based practices, including EMDR, IFS (parts work), psychodynamic, somatic, attachment and cognitive behavioural therapy. I’ve completed advanced training in EMDR and regularly engage in continuing education to deepen my practice.

My Approach to Counselling

My work focuses on helping ambitious, thoughtful adults heal from trauma, overcome self-criticism, and reconnect with themselves. Many of my clients are high-achievers, helpers, or people who have learned to carry a lot without letting much show. Others are navigating the echoes of childhood experiences that have impacted their sense of safety and self-worth.

My approach is warm, direct, and paced to support nervous system safety. I am not a blank slate! I will laugh with you, cry with you, share memes with you and more. I aim to create a space where you feel both deeply seen and gently challenged—a space where growth can actually take root.

Clients often describe me as compassionate, down-to-earth, and engaged. I bring both depth and practicality to sessions, holding space for emotions while helping you make sense of your patterns and experiences, as well as finding solutions for different behaviours going forward.

Outside the Therapy Room

When I’m not in session, you’ll find me spending time in nature, walking my dog Maui on the North Shore, listening to old records from the 60s and 70s (I love Led Zeppelin & CCR), reading books, watching spy shows , and spending time with friends & family.

Common Areas of my Work

I welcome diverse clients of all ages, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities, particularly those navigating:

• Anxiety, depression

• Perfectionism, self-esteem, self worth

• Trauma, PTSD, c-PTSD,

• Relationship / attachment wounds

• Identity exploration (gender, culture, sexuality, neurodivergence)

• Medical trauma and chronic health challenges

• Life transitions, personal growth

• Grief and loss

• First responders, health care workers, “helpers”

My Therapeutic Style & Modalities

I work from an integrative, individualized approach, drawing from:

• EMDR

• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Psychodynamic & Control Mastery Theory

• AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy)

• Attachment-oriented, person-centred work

• Somatic & mindfulness-based practices

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Sessions adapt to what you need—sometimes deeply emotional, sometimes reflective, sometimes strategy-focused. Your voice and feedback guide the process.

First Responders & Healthcare Professionals

Before becoming a therapist, I spent years working in Dispatch Operations at BCEHS. I know firsthand the weight that can come with high-stakes, high-responsibility roles—and how easy it is to keep functioning on the outside while parts of you struggle quietly inside. I bring lived experience working within first responder culture—the bonds, the humour, and the heavy load of trauma, cumulative stress, and moral injury.

More recently, I have worked as Critical Incident Stress Coordinator for BCEHS, supporting colleagues after critical events and loss. I have heard countless stories of what it’s like to witness unfathomable events despite years of experience, to feel the “gut punch” that a child has passed away in front of their parents. I also know the heartache of losing friends and colleagues to suicide or terminal illness far too early in life. This has been an extraordinarily unusual year for paramedic and dispatcher losses. These are some categories of folks I love working with:

• Paramedics, dispatchers, healthcare workers and folks in STEM

• Processing critical incidents, line-of-duty trauma, and operational stress injuries

• Burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral injury

• Returning to work after leave or navigating career transitions

Our work can focus fully on what you need to heal, recover, and move forward.

Taking the First Step

Reaching out for counselling can feel like a big decision—that’s normal. If you’re curious how we might work together, I offer an initial consultation to see if it feels like a good fit.

You deserve a space where your experiences matter, where you are seen, believed, and supported.