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My Approach

I am first and foremost a mother of three wonderful children who teach me more about my strengths and growing edges than I ever imagined. I am continuously challenged in my role as a parent/counsellor to practice what I preach, and although I fall short some days, I am reminded that no parent is perfect and that I can replace self-criticism with grace and kindness for myself as I journey along this wild and wonderful path of parenthood. My goal is to help other parents learn and grow alongside their children; to play, get messy, have fun and maintain love as their relational anchor. My hope is that parents can accept their mistakes with honesty and self-compassion and learn how to repair and recover from them; and to develop new tools and strategies to show up for their children with an empowered spirit. 

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My formal training in Counselling Psychology, Educational Counselling and Child Psychotherapy Play Therapy has given me the titles of Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Counselling Association, Play Therapy Member Intern with the Canadian Association of Play Therapy, as well as Board Member with BC Play Therapy Association.

 

I work from a client-centred, attachment-oriented, adlerian theory, and strengths-based perspective to support clients with various challenges, which may include:

  • behaviour issues

  • anxiety

  • ADHD

  • emotion regulation

  • attachment

  • trauma

  • developmental issues

  • sleep disturbances

  • separation/divorce

  • grief & loss

  • abuse

  • anger/aggression

  • self-esteem

  • adoption/foster care

  • school-based concerns 

  • social skills development

  • depression

 

My core counselling modalities include: Play Therapy, Expressive Arts (Sandtray, Art Therapy), Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TI-CBT), Attachment-Based approaches, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy.

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Parent support and coaching are an important part of my practice especially when working with children and teens who need the guidance and encouragement from all loving adults in their circle of support. I am trained in a number of attachment-based modalities that will provide tools and strategies for parents to support the parent-child relationship, empower you to lead and nurture your child, and develop the confidence to manage future challenges. 

 

I am also committed to supporting new mothers who have suffered the loss of a child, have experienced a traumatic birth, or who are overwhelmed in their new role as mother. My hope is to create a trauma-informed space where mothers can find safety to feel, process, grieve and grow in their new identity. I am currently the Clinical Representative for Western Canada with ASK Therapy, a counselling collective specializing in perinatal mental health.

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And finally, I am a certified postpartum doula with DONA International and am hoping to bridge support for new moms in the early days of motherhood, when mood and mental health can be most fragile. As the great-granddaughter of one of Poland’s well respected Midwives/doulas, I feel honoured to carry on the tradition of being a ‘mother’s helper’ and support the most valuable, vulnerable and precious roles on earth – motherhood.

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The most rewarding part of my job is to witness resilient and committed individuals and families rediscover joy and laughter, grow together, and find the strength to carry forward on their journey. My continued hope is that each child, adolescent, mother, parent or couple who accesses counselling with me will have the opportunity to playfully and honestly express themselves, face their challenges, gain perspective and learn new ways to cope and thrive. I hope that our time together can give you an opportunity to look around you and see your supports, while at the same time turn inward, find love and compassion there, and find new ways to grow from the inside out. 

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