PERSPECTIVE
My approach is grounded in my belief that relationships and social engagement are integral to our experience of ourselves and the world; that cultivating curiosity and awareness is essential in change; that the broader influences found in each person’s context need to be recognized; that our bodies are wise, are programmed for healing, and need to be acknowledged and included in order to process our experiences; that we all have a longing for meaning and purpose; and that pain is a part of the human experience but suffering does not have to be. It is my view that therapy is an exploration of difficulties and suffering, a celebration of coherence and success, an opportunity to enhance personal awareness, to integrate new understanding, and is a joyful process. I am committed to creating a safe container where people are supported in their instinctual yearning for healing and growth.
Since beginning my Clinical Social Work practice I have dedicated my attention to studying clinical interventions and building my theoretical knowledge base. I apply a person-in-environment lens to my practice, utilize psycho-social development theory, attachment theory, apply a stages of change and recovery model for unconscious motivation, and utilize the polyvagal theory as a means to understand the neurobiology behind behaviour and unconscious actions in response to stressors. I work through a health enhancement/harm reduction model, a decolonizing framework, and utilize a strengths based, feminist, and anti-oppressive lens in my practice.
EDUCATION
I am a registered Clinical Social Worker who completed a masters degree in Clinical Social Work at The University of Calgary in 2011. During my studies I placed an emphasis on learning about the impact of intergenerational trauma and ongoing experiences of trauma on individuals, families, communities, cultures, and the role of the therapeutic relationships in renegotiating these injuries in order to find healing. I focused on building a foundation of anti-oppressive practice and I have specialized training in Somatic Experiencing, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Dialectical Behavioir Therapy skill training, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, and Motivational Interviewing.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
My professional experience has been varied and I have had the privilege of working alongside multiple populations in various cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual identities, worldviews, and life experiences. I have worked in the not-for-profit sector supporting young parents through group facilitation, delivering education programming, and providing counselling to students in a charter school. I have experience providing advocacy and systems navigation to individuals interacting with the criminal and family justice system, as well as newcomers to Canada. I have provided Social Work services in a rehabilitation hospital setting for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. Another part of my professional experience was providing individual trauma therapy to children in a school setting. I have also been involved in research coordination with a focus on mental health, access to public services, and meeting the needs of high-risk youth. I have 10 years of experience in the public health care system as a Social Worker providing individual therapy and advocacy with individuals experiencing the impacts of concurrent addiction and complex mental health, attachment disruptions, developmental trauma, shock trauma, sexual exploitation and abuse, exposure to violence through the lifespan, and lack of access to resources that support stability and safety. I have provided training to other professionals on trauma informed care and working with women who use substances. I currently have a private practice where I provide therapy to individuals focusing on a range of needs. I work with people who are seeking supports to find coherence in their lives, address critical incidents, and maintain wellness. The main population that I serve within this practice are adults who have experienced trauma, including sexual assault and sexual abuse, attachment disruptions, developmental trauma, panic and anxiety, First Responders and their families, including, police officers, firefighters, EMS/paramedics, and physicians. I also have extensive experience providing therapeutic supports to other therapists and helping professionals.
I am an experienced clinician and am dedicated to my ongoing learning. I hold a certificate in Somatic Experiencing (SE), a body based trauma processing modality, am an SE training assistant, a personal session provider, and case consultation provider for professionals working towards their SE certification. I have a keen interest in the way our physiology interacts with our experience of ourselves and the world and hold this focus in my practice. I have also completed my training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a trauma recovery modality, have completed training in Accelerated resolution Therapy (ART), another evidence based trauma therapy modality, and am an active member of the Clinical Social Work Registry. My ethical practice is based on continued learning, self-reflection, and ongoing self-care.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
CIHR Health Professional Student Research Award 2010
Queen Elizabeth II Masters Scholarship 2010
Louise McKinney Alberta Heritage Scholarship 2001
Member of the Gold Key Honours Society