Support for Every Chapter
Comprehensive Therapy Services in Edmonton.
Welcome to a space where therapy feels real, relatable, and designed just for you. Whether you're here to heal from trauma, strengthen your relationship, or navigate the complexities of grief, I offer a range of services tailored to meet your unique needs. Let’s get real about your mental wellness and work together to find the support you deserve.
My Services
Grief is the mix of conflicting emotions that come from a change or the end of a familiar pattern of behaviour. Emotional pain from loss is a universal part of the human experience, and grief is something we will all face at some point in life. We’re often not taught how to navigate grief or unresolved emotional pain. We can carry pain, hurt, sadness, and unresolved emotions from past relationships and experiences. Grief can stem from a wide range of experiences, including death, divorce, retirement, marriage, becoming sober, childhood experiences (ACEs), abuse (mental, physical, verbal, or sexual), impacts of COVID-19, job loss, health changes, pet loss, trauma, and the loss of meaning or purpose in life, to name a few.
Unfortunately, not everyone is taught what to do when they experience grief due to a loss. The challenge is that often we are offered intellectual comments and then guidance usually stops there. Here are a few you might have heard:
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Don’t Feel Bad - It suggests that feeling upset or sad is an invalid response to a painful loss.
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Replace the Loss - A relationship cannot be replaced and we can’t erase a loss by simply flipping a switch.
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Grieve Alone - Isolation is not natural; it is something learned and it can be harmful.
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Grief Just Takes Time - Time keeps passing, but it does nothing on its own. It’s what we choose to do with that time that shapes the quality of our lives.
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Be Strong and Be Strong for Others - When we act strong and hide our true emotions - do we want to “be strong” or human?
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Keep Busy - Many people exhaust themselves by staying busy to avoid feeling the pain.
With this, we’re left to figure out things on our own. We might feel numb, which can last for varying lengths of time and is often accompanied by difficulty concentrating, focusing, or sleeping. It’s normal and natural to struggle with everyday tasks and routines, feeling like we’re on autopilot—just going through the motions.
Healing from grief is driven by action, not time. I am a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist® and we’ll work together, to help heal the pain from your loss or trauma, empowering you to break free from feeling stuck and move forward in your life. Using The Grief Recovery Method®, this program provides a structured approach to guide you through your grief and support your healing. It has a clear beginning and end and is not meant to be ongoing talk therapy.
Click here to learn more about The Grief Recovery Institute.
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Trauma, I see it everywhere. It’s painful, scary, and deeply painful. Trauma occurs when something exceeds your brain’s ability to process anything that feels too much, too fast, too soon, or even not enough. It’s your brain getting physiologically stuck, and it can show up in different ways, such as:
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Acute Trauma: Stemming from a single, isolated incident.
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Chronic Trauma: Resulting from repeated or prolonged exposure, such as domestic violence or abuse.
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Complex Trauma: Involving multiple, varied traumatic events, often invasive and interpersonal in nature.
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Transgenerational Trauma: Also known as intergenerational or multigenerational trauma, this refers to the transfer of trauma from one generation to the next through biological, environmental, psychological, or social pathways.
Trauma can affect individuals, families, communities, and even entire societies, leaving a lasting imprint. It can disrupt your sense of safety, trust in others, and overall well-being, which can be as distressing in itself.
Let’s explore the connection between feeling stuck and trauma. Healing from trauma often involves reconnecting with yourself, understanding your inner parts, and embracing all the facets of who you are.
You don't have to go through this alone. Healing is possible, and there is a way forward. Together, we can work to rebuild your sense of safety, resilience, and hope.
Trauma-informed therapy offers validation, understanding, and acceptance—essential building blocks for healing. I am trained in various evidence-based approaches, including [Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (https://www.emdria.org/ & https://emdrcanada.ca/), the Flash Technique, and Hypnosis. These techniques are designed to help process and release trauma which may be holding you back.
Together, we will work in a safe, comfortable space to explore your feelings and emotions. Trauma-informed therapy provides the opportunity to confront painful memories, overcome fears, and improve overall functioning. It can also help build confidence, develop practical coping strategies, and create meaningful shifts in how you navigate life. By addressing and reframing negative thought patterns and beliefs, we can open the door to lasting change and greater well-being.
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Navigating the world of dating can be overwhelming, no matter your age. Whether you're fresh on the scene or re-entering the dating world, I offer dating and relationship support to help you approach relationships with confidence and self-awareness.
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Dating Strategy: From crafting your online profile to improving communication and setting boundaries, we’ll develop a personalized strategy to help you navigate the dating world in a healthy, fulfilling way.
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Self-Improvement: Through self-awareness and relationship coaching, I’ll help you reflect on past relationships, understand your patterns, and improve your chances of building meaningful connections moving forward.
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Planning a wedding is exciting, but preparing for a lifetime together is even more important. My Marriage Preparation Therapy blends techniques from Gottman Couples Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to give couples the tools they need to build a strong, lasting partnership.
In these sessions, we focus on key areas like communication, conflict resolution, emotional intimacy, and shared goals. By taking a proactive approach to your relationship, you can address potential challenges before they arise and lay the groundwork for a healthy, successful marriage.
Whether you're newly engaged or have been together for years and want to ensure a strong start to married life, marriage preparation therapy is designed to help couples navigate the journey ahead with confidence and connection.
Building a healthy and fulfilling relationship takes effort, and even the strongest couples face challenges. My Couples Therapy sessions provide a supportive, non-judgmental space to help you and your partner navigate those challenges and rediscover emotional connection. Whether you’re struggling with communication breakdowns, trust issues, or simply feeling distant, I’m here to help you reconnect and strengthen your bond.
Using evidence-based approaches like Gottman Couples Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT), we’ll work on:
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Improving Communication: Learn tools to express your needs clearly and listen effectively to your partner.
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Conflict Resolution: Address recurring conflicts and explore healthier ways to manage disagreements.
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Rebuilding Emotional Intimacy: Deepen your emotional connection by understanding each other’s needs and creating shared meaning in your relationship.
Couples therapy is not just for relationships in crisis; it’s also a great way to proactively build resilience and intimacy in your partnership. Whether you’re navigating a new phase of life, dealing with external stressors, or just want to ensure a strong foundation for the future, couples therapy can help you grow together.
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The end of a relationship can feel like uncharted territory, filled with grief, uncertainty, and emotional challenges. My Divorce/Decoupling Support sessions are designed to provide compassionate guidance as you process the complex emotions of separation, whether you’re ending a marriage, a long-term partnership, or another significant relationship.
In these sessions, we’ll focus on:
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Processing Grief and Loss: Acknowledge and work through the emotional pain that often accompanies separation.
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Rebuilding Your Identity: Rediscover who you are outside of the relationship and build confidence in your next chapter.
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Navigating Co-Parenting: Develop strategies to co-parent effectively, maintaining stability for your children while reducing conflict.
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Finding Closure and Moving Forward: Explore ways to heal and find peace as you transition into this new phase of life.
My approach integrates tools from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and other trauma-informed methods to help you feel supported and empowered during this time. Whether you’re facing feelings of anger, confusion, or relief, I’m here to meet you where you are and guide you toward clarity and healing. Divorce or decoupling doesn’t have to mean losing yourself—it can be the start of something new.
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According to the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), hypnosis facilitates a shift in consciousness, allowing you to access more of your natural abilities and make positive changes more quickly. This unique state of awareness opens the door to profound possibilities for healing, self-exploration, and personal transformation. Hypnosis can be used to support both psychological and physiological changes, including:
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Mental Imagery: By using mental imagery or imagination, hypnosis can help bring desired changes. The mind can harness the power of symbols and imagery to support personal goals.
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Suggestion: In a focused state, ideas and suggestions aligned with your goals can have a profound impact, encouraging positive shifts in the mind and behaviour.
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Unconscious Exploration: Hypnosis can explore underlying motivations or uncover past experiences that may be contributing to current challenges.
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Stress and Anxiety: It can reduce stress and promote relaxation.
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Chronic Pain: Hypnosis may help manage or alleviate chronic pain.
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Behavioural Changes: It supports smoking cessation, weight management, and other unwanted behaviours.
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Phobias: Hypnosis can assist in confronting and reducing fears associated with phobias.
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Sleep Issues: It can improve sleep patterns and help with insomnia.
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Trauma: Hypnosis can provide relief from the emotional impacts of past traumatic events.
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Self-Esteem and Confidence: It can support overcoming negative self-talk and boosting self-confidence.
Hypnosis works by engaging the subconscious mind, where deeply rooted beliefs and behaviours often reside. Through focused relaxation, hypnosis enables individuals to work through emotions, memories, and beliefs that may be affecting their mental and physical well-being. If you’re interested in incorporating aspects of hypnosis into your therapeutic journey, it can be a powerful and supportive tool for healing and transformation.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based behavioural therapy rooted in the idea that avoiding or trying to dismiss negative emotions can often make them more intense and persistent. Instead, ACT encourages accepting these emotions and taking actions that align with your core values, helping you create a more fulfilling life - regardless of the challenges you encounter. It has been shown to be effective for a wide range of clinical conditions, including:
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Anxiety and Stress
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Depression
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Chronic Pain
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Addiction/Substance Use
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Trauma
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PTSD
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Self-esteem and Self-compassion
The goal of ACT is to help you build a rich and meaningful life while accepting the inevitable challenges and pain that may come with it. By increasing psychological flexibility, ACT can empower you to respond to life's difficulties in a more adaptable and constructive way.
To learn more about ACT, please click here.
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I am committed to supporting the next generation of psychologists by offering to be a primary or secondary supervisor for clinical counselling psychology. As outlined by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), supervision is a formal, collaborative process led by a CAP-regulated psychologist with at least five years of experience as a registered professional in Alberta. Its primary goal is to ensure that psychological services align with CAP’s Standards of Practice and Standards for Supervision of Registered Provisional Psychologists.
The supervisory relationship is designed to foster the growth and continuous evaluation of a provisional psychologist’s knowledge, skills, and judgment. This is accomplished through guidance, modelling, collaborative problem-solving, and ongoing feedback. Effective supervision not only ensures that services are delivered ethically, competently, and safely but also provides a supportive environment for professional development.
I strive to offer personalized mentorship to Provisionally Registered Psychologists, helping them enhance their skills, overcome challenges, and build confidence in their practice. If you are a Provisional Psychologist in Alberta seeking supervision, lets connect with you and help move your career forwards.
Support for Indigenous Communities
I am deeply committed to working with Indigenous populations, on and off reserves. As an NIHB and Bigstone Provider, I offer culturally competent therapy that respects and honours the unique experiences, traditions, and needs of Indigenous communities. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive space where you feel heard, valued, and understood.
Working with the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community
As an ally to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, I provide a safe and inclusive space for individuals and couples to explore their mental wellness. Whatever challenges you may be experiencing, I am here to offer compassionate support that meets you where you are, with understanding and respect.
Let's Get Started
No matter where you are on that path, I’m here to walk or sit alongside you. Whether you've experienced a loss or trauma, are navigating a breakup or rough patch in your relationship, simply seeking a supportive space to talk and need an action plan I am here to help. Let’s work together to make therapy a positive and meaningful experience for your life.