I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Sociology from the Toronto Metropolitan University, and a Master’s degree in Social Work specializing in Health & Mental Health from the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work at the University of Toronto. My undergraduate degree focused on child development and welfare, special needs and inclusion, assessment of development and milestones, curriculum development and evaluation, critical pedagogy and diversity issues, the importance of play, behaviour redirection, and fostering parent/guardian-child attachment and attunement. My graduate studies specialized in health and mental health across the life span highlighting issues related to mental health stigma, access and barriers to mental health services, social determinants of health, trauma and recovery, addictions and harm-reduction, mood disorders, application of therapeutic modalities, and issues related to oppression and its intersectionality. Internships I have completed as part of my education range from daycare settings, public district school boards, drug/alcohol/problem gambling rehab program, sexual assault/rape crisis centre, settlement and integration organizations for refugees and immigrants, and other non-for-profits.
I strongly believe in an integrated approach to therapy which is informed on the awareness of the inseparability between the mind and body. I remain committed to expanding my knowledge in this area which emphasizes elements such as movement, nature, intuitive eating, restorative sleep, spirituality, alternate healing, lifestyle activities and meaningful rituals, and a wide range of mind-body modalities. My efforts in continuing to build in this area have led me to obtain: a Reiki Master certification, an Intensive Sex Therapy Training from the University of Guelph which focused on sexual concerns and sexual pleasure, as well as extensive training and supervision in Sandplay Therapy from the Canadian Association for Sandplay Therapy. On the personal front, I have been practicing various forms of yoga for over two decades and taken visual art courses such as encaustic painting and contemporary art.
In the past, I have worked at a sexual assault/rape crisis centre in various capacities ranging from individual and group counsellor, community outreach worker, and crisis line counsellor. In this role, I have supervised placement students, offered support to crisis line volunteers, provided short and long-term counselling, supported clients through accompaniments, and facilitated workshops and closed groups related to trauma and well-being. For three years, I worked in two accredited family service agencies doing therapeutic work (individually and group) in three programs: an intervention program for mothers and children who have experienced domestic violence; as a generalist counsellor working with individuals, children, couples, and families; and as a counsellor to the walk-in counselling program. For nearly eight years, I worked at an accredited community health centre with a multi-disciplinary team (consisting of physicians, nurse practitioners, and a psychiatrist) focusing on mental health, primary care, and sexual and reproductive needs of youth between the ages of 13 to 29 individually and through couple’s counselling. I have also taught a range of mental health courses, for four years, in a Bachelor’s degree program and a mental health certificate program. I established my private practice in 2013 and have since continued to provide psychotherapy services to youth (ages 12 and up), adults, couples, and families.
I value and remain committed to seeking out professional development opportunities on a regular basis. I receive on-going clinical supervision with a clinical professional who is contracted to supervise my work. I am in the habit of reviewing academic literature and other professional publications in order to provide my clients with effective and ethical psychotherapy services. I am a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers , the Ontario Association of Social Workers and governed by their Code of Ethics, and the Canadian Association for Sandplay Therapy.
