A bit about my approach to therapy: As an LMFT specializing in trauma, my therapeutic approach is founded on a holistic and client-centered perspective. My chosen treatment modalities and interventions are selected and adjusted based on you, your goals, and what we are focusing on. Collaboration plays a vital role in our work together, as I deeply value your expertise in your own life.

What you can expect from our first session: I believe in tailoring each therapy session to your unique needs and experiences, ensuring that your quest toward healing is personalized and meaningful. By fostering a trusting and supportive environment, my goal is to empower you and provide a safe space for you to explore your trauma and embark on the transformative process of recovery.

I'm not sure how conscious it was; after my undergraduate degree (joint honours in philosophy and psychology), I think I always knew that I was interested in "how people are the way they are". Becoming a therapist took a little more time, but maybe that is also something I intuitively gravitated toward as a degree, based on my own tendencies. Some of my oldest friends tell me if ever they lost sight of me at a party, I could be found in one of two places: playing with the host's pet dog/cat, or comforting some sobbing stranger in a random corner of the room.

Scuba diving, reading about things happening in the world, listening to podcasts about murder shows, and sometimes current events. I generally always have two books I am reading; one fiction and one non-fiction. Current fiction is ABC, and current non-fiction is Maybe You Should Talk to Someone.

Micro rituals throughout the day (usually one of these between sessions to create containment between clients): making a cup of tea, washing my hands, and something somatic (stretch, structured tension, walking outside)

Routine boundary setting: no work emails on my phone so work doesn't "bleed into" home in an unregulated manner. When working from home, time is set aside for dedication to work, and then time dedicated to home and family

Harry Potter first comes to mind because every year I have read the box set at least once. I find it comforting, I find it encouraging and I think it is important to revisit the joys of our younger selves. Harry Potter is special to me because I read the books before the movies were ever made, and the way I imagine Hogwarts always changes a bit in my mind with each read. I like to think it keeps me creative

Currently, I cannot stop extolling the virtues of Stand In Pride because right now it is my favourite way to be an ally!

Mostly by doing things on my own; ironically for being a therapist who spends a big part of the day interacting with others, I am quite introverted and recharge through doing "comforting" things like naps, snacks, and little arts and crafts. The other way I recharge is to have fun; I have a need for fun and silliness in my life, and I really enjoy being able to enjoy fun and silly things with my husband or a friend.

I have two pets! Both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, one named Sherlock and one named Cousteau. Sherlock is almost eleven (!!) so he is very old and has gone deaf. When his vet first told us he was deaf, I got very sad and asked her how Sherlock would know if he was a good boy if he didn't hear me tell him that. The vet looked at me a bit like she wasn't sure how to tell a therapist that they might need therapy. And then she assured me dogs have other ways of knowing we think they're good boys. I like this story because it warms my heart and because I like to be reminded that nonverbal communication is at least as powerful as spoken words