My years working in the field of addictions have deeply shaped how I show up with clients. Rather than positioning myself as an expert directing change from the outside, I've learned to walk alongside people as they navigate their own relationship with substance use — meeting them where they are, respecting their pace, and honoring the reality that recovery is rarely linear. I don't believe change comes from being handed the right answers; it comes from building trust in your own judgment, with support rather than direction. This experience shapes a collaborative, non-judgmental stance that carries through all of my work, not just with clients specifically struggling with addiction.

This collaborative foundation is complemented by Bowen Family Systems Theory, which views individuals not in isolation, but as part of an emotional system — shaped by generations of family patterns, roles, and relationships. I hold a certificate in Bowenian Multigenerational Family Systems Therapy, and this framework informs how I help clients understand recurring patterns in their relationships, anxiety, and sense of self, often tracing them back through family history to build lasting change rather than quick fixes.

These approaches are grounded in a strong foundation in clinical social work. I hold a Master of Social Work from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Victoria, which shape my commitment to understanding each person within their broader social, cultural, and relational context — not just their symptoms.

Before training as a therapist, I completed an Associate Degree in Recreation Administration from Malaspina College. That background continues to influence my practice, bringing a practical, whole-person appreciation for how activity, community, and everyday structure contribute to mental health and well-being.

Together, these threads inform a therapeutic approach that is collaborative, relational, and grounded — one that meets people where they are while looking beyond the individual to the systems and stories that shape who we are. My aim is never to be the authority you depend on, but the support that helps you find and trust your own way forward.