Founder & Director of The Relationship Centre • Certified EFT Therapist
My love of helping others started with receiving my Masters of Social Work. I quickly found my way to offering individual and couples therapy which provided a powerful way to connect with people wanting to make meaningful changes in their lives. My work has been guided by our need for connection – to know we matter, that our world is a safe and predictable place, and that when we are in need, someone will be there for us. I have felt deeply privileged to share a healing and therapeutic journey with so many women, men and couples.
Motherhood and being married have significantly influenced not only my life but my work. I have pursued advanced clinical training to work with pregnant and postpartum women and with couples – two areas of work that have felt very close to my heart.
I am now focusing my helping efforts on touching even more lives with the creation of The Relationship Centre. By bringing together a team of skilled and compassionate therapists, we are able to help more people than I ever could have helped on my own. I am excited to use the skills that helped me provide quality therapy to building and mentoring a team of therapists who serve our community by providing evidenced based therapy that changes people’s lives.
While I am no longer providing therapy services myself, I am supporting our therapy team in their clinical work while also leading the practice towards future growth and development.
Clinical Director
I believe in practicing from the heart and the mind and offering my best and full self to others to meet in a space of safety and trust. I know life is not meant to be half lived and a connection to a trusted therapist can help shift us toward a more fulsome and fulfilling life.
I offer unconditional acceptance through warmth, compassion and a genuine regard for all ages and life situations. I am a very creative person and I take this into practice, and I help build a vision with you to create that future ‘you’ and we work together to shift toward this. I work from a variety of practice perspectives (strength-based, trauma-informed and responsive) considering early childhood experiences, critical life events and the day-to-day stress and strain that adults can be under in this world.
I grew up in Nova Scotia and learned the value of family, friendships and connection to community. I feel deeply connected to the ocean and sharing space with four-legged friends. I completed my schooling on the East Coast, lastly obtaining a Master of Social Work from Dalhousie University. I have worked in the Social Service area for over 20 years and focused on working with children, youth, and caregivers. I have extensive practice knowledge of leadership and how to leverage oneself as a leader to create a positive and progressive team and workplace.
The therapies I lean into are centred around Acceptance Therapy, Polyvagal Therapy, Solution Focused and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I believe you are the expert within your own life, and I am here to act like a lighthouse, helping to guide and facilitate your landing.
Office Manager
We know it can be uncomfortable to contact people you don’t know, especially when you are not feeling your best. My goal is to make you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. Whether in your initial phone or email conversations or when you visit our centre in person be assured we are here to help you.
Our centre is the place you can come to heal and grow.
Client Care Coordinator
I understand it can be difficult to reach out for help. I will provide compassionate guidance to match you to a therapist who has the specific skills to help you overcome your challenges. As I am committed to helping you get the support you need to feel well.
Client Care Coordinator
I have devoted my career to client care, and I love helping people. With compassionate guidance, I will answer all your questions and help you move forward with the therapist that is best suited to help you with your unique needs. I look forward to having the opportunity to connect with you.
Therapist
Youth, adults, couples and families face life challenges for many different reasons. Relationship struggles, past hurts, managing ongoing stress and feeling disconnected from a partner may be just a few of these. It takes love, commitment and courage to seek therapy. My professional responsibility is to provide a confidential and supportive environment where I will help you talk about your unique situation and how to pursue positive change. When I bring my extensive experience, education and training and you bring the awareness and knowledge of your situation, together we will explore your thoughts and feelings. This new and enhanced understanding will lead us to identifying a map for positive change. I will support you as you make the changes you decide to pursue. As a caring, compassionate and empathetic person, I believe people of all abilities, genders, races, gender identities, religions and ethnicities deserve happiness.
I bring many different life experiences and a passion for helping people to make positive change in their lives to my work. I have a Master’s degree in Social Work and have worked in community agencies for the past 25 years with people across the lifespan and these experiences have all helped prepare me to listen and to hear your story in a different way than you may have experienced before.
As I am committed to continuously enhancing my skills, I regularly attend evidence based training such as Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy for Addictions, Narrative Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.
Assisting people to experience positive change in their lives is one of the many reasons I continue to enjoy what I do. I look forward to meeting with you and to bringing my sincerity, warmth and even some humour into a helping relationship when you are ready to do so.
Psychotherapist
Navigating through the challenges of life can be difficult; especially when feeling alone in the journey. I believe therapy offers that connection with people to help them work through their struggles in a safe, supported environment. Over the last 20 years of clinical experience working with children, youth, adults and families I have grown to appreciate the power of one’s self discovery through therapy. I believe in connecting with people on an emotional level by hearing their story and make meaning of a life worth living.
As a registered psychotherapist with a Masters in Counseling Psychology; my experience has been with people in all developmental stages in their lives, dealing with anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief and loss.
Using therapeutic strategies in CBT, DBT, ACT, and EFT. My newest endeavour is in couple & family work using Emotion-Focused therapy. In understanding the power of connection and attachment needs, couples & families can begin to strengthen and repair their relationship bond. This work has been my motivation for completing certification in Emotion-Focused Therapy.
Additionally, I have attended Advanced Clinical Training to support women who are dealing with pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders.
Therapist
The decision to begin therapy takes courage – courage to look at and accept what is not working, courage to explore options and make healthy changes, and courage to trust a therapist to help you grow and heal. I will work with you to create the safe environment necessary for you to explore and resolve core issues, and release the thinking and behaviours that no longer serve you. As your therapist, I will help to empower you to create a more meaningful life by transforming your present concerns into solutions for healing and wholeness.
I have been trained in a number of treatment modalities and am able to work with you in whatever ways are most helpful to you. Neuroscience has recently provided proof of the brain’s ability to heal itself, as well as techniques for making real, permanent changes. Many of these techniques are the basis of my practice. Beginning with the proven understanding that the therapeutic relationship can be a foundation for healing, I am committed to a collaborative journey with you.
I am passionate about helping people heal and grow. I have a Master’s Degree in Social Work and am a Certified Trauma Clinician, Certified Concurrent Disorders Specialist, and Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist. I am dedicated to continuing to upgrade my skills and have training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Somatic Processing, Play and Art therapy, as well as in the Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping). My current endeavours are further training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples and in Perinatal Mood Disorders. I have spent many years working in mental health and addictions, as well as in Correctional facilities. I therefore have experience working with a variety of complex issues. My areas of specialization are grief and loss, trauma, anxiety and depression.
My love for counselling began early in my career when I was fortunate enough to be employed at Kingston Penitentiary in the Regional Treatment Centre. It became evident to me that a person’s behaviour (no matter how extreme it might seem), always made sense given their early childhood experiences and the way they learn to perceive and move through their world. Over the 30 years since that experience, I have worked with many clients with a myriad of issues and have continued to note that we all have a basic need to belong and to feel that we are important to someone. My own experiences with connection, trauma and loss have also been a factor in my professional development. Neuroscience has now proven that our brains are actually wired for intimate connection. Any disruption to our attachment bonds actually alters the make-up of our brains, which in turn, impacts how we are able to respond to our environment. Clients whom have previously been unsuccessful at making changes in their behaviours can experience success when they learn how to understand and manage their automatic stress response, feel into their emotions, and access their “thinking” brains. Showing clients that they can re-gain control of their lives by changing their neuropathways is exciting for me. I look forward to working with you.
Therapist
Whatever may have motivated you to seek support, I commend you for having the courage to step into therapy. As human beings we universally have challenges, struggles and stressors throughout our lives. Therapy is a powerful tool to help you cope, achieve your goals and enhance your life. My approach to therapy is warm and non-judgmental. Together we will realize your strengths, tap into your inner resources, build resiliency and enhance your coping skills. I can help you manage times of stress, uncertainty and transition, in a safe and secure space.
As a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with a Master of Social Work (MSW), I am passionate about helping people heal and grow. I have a great deal of personal experience, and have worked for the last twenty- six years in both private and community settings with children, adolescents, adults and families. I am committed to continuous learning to enhance my clinical experience in practice modalities which include: Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Informed Therapy, Strength Based Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Emotionally Focused Therapy. Seeing people improve their lives is the reason I love the work I do, and I would be honored to be a part of your journey.
Therapist
As a therapist who has been working with adults, adolescents, young adults and families for over 15 years, I have experience with anxiety, depression, stress, emotion regulation, grief and loss, self-esteem, isolation, relationships, sexual or gender identity and trauma. I believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship to heal, transform and nurture growth. Through this connection I encourage you to form a holistic understanding of yourself within the world, supporting you in gaining a greater sense of control over your life. Using modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness, I will guide you to increase emotional awareness, build coping strategies and achieve your potential.
I am a registered social worker who received my Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto in 2004. Much of my therapy experience outside of private practice has been working with adolescents and families in Children’s Mental Health.
Psychotherapist
We all may experience issues in relationships, communication, depression, stress, anxiety, boundaries, or trauma. We weren’t designed to do life on our own. We were made for connection. More than ever it has been difficult to stay connected to others in order to seek help with our day-to-day challenges. Society sometimes wants us to believe that reaching out for help is a sign of weakness, but it is actually a core strength. I have a guiding principle that ‘the problem is the problem, the person is not the problem’. I believe that everyone has abilities and skills along with their own values and beliefs that can change their relationship with the problem in order to move towards healing and wellness. You are the expert of your life, and your problems do not define you. It is my goal to help you navigate through your challenges so that you are better able to change the narrative to your preferred story.
My background and training are rooted in a number of different life experiences which helps direct my passion to work with and help people. I have a B.Sc in Health Sciences and I am a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. I have 19 years of clinical experience in mental health, working with children, youth, and their families. I have worked individually with adults, as well as with individuals with special needs.
I am committed to life-long learning as I regularly attend training and workshops for my own growth, and so that I can best serve those with whom I work. This training combined with my experience allows me to use an eclectic approach to make sure to find the right fit for your unique needs while using evidence-based practices including CBT, DBT, EFT as well as Narrative Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. I employ a trauma-informed lens and a neuroscience perspective to understand behavior from a biological and developmental level. My priority is to ensure a warm, non-judgmental, empathetic safe space to create a trusting therapeutic relationship.
It is a joy to work collaboratively with individuals and come alongside people and tap into their strengths as they experience positive changes in their lives. I look forward to meeting you to discover your unique story and perspective. I look forward to working with you so that I might walk beside you on your journey and support you in the changes you want to see in your life.
Therapist
Life is full of ups and downs, and at times we all need support. I work from a client-centred approach and acknowledge that you are the expert in your own life. This means that you drive the bus, and I act as the GPS, helping along the way to provide guidance and support in getting where you want to be in life. My aim as a therapist is to understand your goals, to offer the chance to gain new insights, and draw on your personal strengths while also developing new perspectives along the way. I strive to offer genuine care and connection in my work and provide a safe and supportive environment to foster healing and growth. I feel grateful for the opportunity to see the inner strength and potential in all the people I work with.
As a registered social worker, with a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto, I have experience working with a variety of diverse populations. I am comfortable working from a wide range of therapeutic approaches and am trained in CBT, DBT, and Unified Protocol, and have experience working from a Narrative Therapy Approach. I have also completed courses in Art Based Mindfulness. As a passionate learner, I am always seeking opportunities to expand my knowledge and bring new evidence-based approaches to my work.
Therapist
We are all unique human beings making our way through life, striving for the common goals of happiness, meaning, and connection. However, life is not always so easy nor straight forward. Despite our best efforts it’s not hard to find ourselves down, stuck, or completely unable to figure out which way is up. From birth through adulthood life happens beyond our control sometimes leaving us in search of healing and renewed hope. Health and happiness are absolutely possible, often including the support of therapy. It is a courageous first step to identify the need for help and ask for it. Finding a therapist you trust and “click with” is an important part of this process.
As a therapist, I feel honoured and privileged to join with clients to offer support and guidance in overcoming life’s roadblocks to wellbeing and contentment. Perhaps you are dealing with a mental health diagnosis or with traumatic or unimaginable events that have left you feeling lost and hurt.
It is my goal to provide care from a place of sincerity, kindness, and compassion. I do not take myself too seriously and have a good sense of humour creating a safe calm space for sharing and collaboration. You are the expert of your own life, my role is to provide support, strategies, and techniques that work for you and that help you achieve your goals.
I grew up in the Belleville area, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Calgary, obtained my Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington, and now live in the Kingston area. I have many years of experience in the areas of women’s health, reproductive rights, pregnancy, depression, anxiety, trauma, sexual assault, and domestic violence. I use a variety of techniques based in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, EMDR, trauma informed, strengths based, and solution focused modalities.
Psychotherapist
I like people and their stories and that is what draws me to this work. I feel a great sense of privilege sitting with people as they share their stories and I take this responsibility seriously and honour the opportunity to connect with people in this significant way. As I think about our life stories, I see they are made up of many different chapters, like a book, and in some chapters – we get stuck. We all experience getting stuck in some spots. And when we get stuck, we simply need help to move forward. And I love providing that help.
In my work with individuals, couples and families spanning over 20 years in a variety of mental health settings I have developed a calm, warm style of working with people, together with a good sense of humour to have some lighter moments as we do this heavier work. I have advanced training in CBT, MBSR and EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy). My current focus and passion are using EFT with couples. I love working with couples as I feel the change process is the greatest and more transformative. A couple in distress can be supported to understand how they keep getting stuck in the same old fight and learn new ways to connect on a much deeper level. Supporting couples through this change process is deeply satisfying to me.
Like my clients, I am committed to growth, and I continue to pursue higher levels of EFT training to enhance my work.
Therapist
Sometimes we behave or engage in ways that we don’t understand or necessarily want to, and that can take us off course. In therapy, we can come to understand what drives our behaviour and then we can make better choices to support our desired outcome.
My approach to therapy is Relational, Client-Centred, and Humanistic: I seek to provide a safe, supportive, warm, and calming environment for exploration and discovery to happen. It is important to me to build and establish rapport and trust with my clients. Therefore, I operate from a non-judgemental, anti-oppressive practice that focuses on understanding my clients and their experiences through active listening and attuning to their emotions. I do this through empathy, support, careful observation, and reflection of both verbal and non-verbal communication. This helps me to be aligned with my clients’ experiences and emotions.
I am a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Windsor. I have over 15 years of experience in working with varied populations in helping them to explore, discover and support their personal growth and development. My approach is eclectic utilizing techniques from ACT, DBT, CBT, IFS, Mindfulness, and EMDR.
Registered Social Worker
I believe in therapy’s power and transformative experience to explore our deepest feelings and vulnerabilities to gain clarity on our needs to achieve balance in our lives. We all experience events, relationships, or times in our lives that can be difficult, unexpected and completely different than we may have planned. I believe that through these challenging times, we can also experience incredible personal growth when we have support surrounding and encouraging us to heal. I take an empathetic and curious approach to our work together, meeting you as you are and helping you see that a different path is possible. I see my role as guiding the conversation to a deeper understanding of ourselves, learning to love ourselves and rediscovering what brings us joy and fulfillment. When we feel connected and whole, we can show up to the world and for those we love in an authentic way to live a full life.
In my own life, I value community and connection and believe that when we feel connected, we are capable of truly carving out the life that we want. I started my work over ten years ago after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the local health clinic in a fly-in northern community supporting mental health and wellness. After that transformative experience and with the support of my own community, I pursued my Bachelor’s and Master of Social Work degrees at the University of Victoria. For the past nine years, I have supported children, youth and families. I have a love of learning and enhancing my knowledge and skills, to best support the individuals I am honoured to work with. I lean into the modalities of Emotion Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Narrative therapy and often use a mix of modalities based on your unique needs.
As a therapist, I am committed to creating safety to process our most vulnerable and deepest feelings; and to truly shift our discomfort into growth on a deep and sustainable level. It is an honour being a part of this journey alongside you; the greatest joy in my work is being witness to healing and transformation while helping you create a life that is aligned with who you truly are.