I am a Registered Psychotherapist supporting adults (21+), across Ontario, Canada.
In 2008, I founded Recreational Respite, a national organization supporting the disability and neurodiverse community and individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Leading a team of over 200 recreation therapists, my work focused on reducing barriers to inclusion and fostering identity, connection, and wellbeing through meaningful engagement.
This work informs both my mentorship/leadership roles and psychotherapy practice with adults (21+) experiencing grief, anxiety, burnout, trauma, isolation, and “othering.” I use a non-pathologizing, strengths-based approach grounded in the social model of disability and neurodiversity-affirming care, tailored collaboratively to each client’s lived experience.
I integrate evidence-based approaches including Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR (R-TEP/G-TEP), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), alongside expressive arts, mindfulness, yoga-based practices, and narrative therapy.
My work is trauma-informed and trauma-focused, with experience supporting PTSD.
I hold a BA (Hons.) in Disability Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University and an MA in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. I am a Registered Psychotherapist in good standing with College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), practicing across Ontario, Canada.
Chronic stress and anxiety can lead to burnout, which is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion.
Counselling provides a safe and supportive space to explore the underlying causes of stress, anxiety, and burnout. These conditions often lead to emotional dysregulation, extreme fatigue, and social withdrawal. Some individuals may experience burnout due to the constant effort of masking, particularly identity-related challenges that can lead to a sense of disconnection from their true selves. Chronic stress from grief, loss, or traumatic experiences can also contribute to burnout.
Counselling support for trauma should be in a safe, non judgemental and trusting space, that promotes healing.
Trauma-informed care in counselling considers the impact of trauma on an individual’s well-being, including their social, physical, mental, and emotional responses to distressing events or changes that overwhelm their ability to cope. This often leads to feelings of helplessness, fear, and sometimes a false sense of safety.
If you are neurodivergent, trauma symptoms can overlap or exacerbate existing neurodivergent traits, leading to higher levels of anxiety and stress from experiences and higher rates of vulnerability while navigating complex systems and values.
Counselling support for mental health, provides a safe space to address chronic conditions or health changes or challenges while navigating identity and or a sense of self.
This can be especially difficult for those in caregiving or highly supportive roles for others and/or for those who are neurodiverse. The focus of this work together is understanding the link between sense of self, hormonal changes and the nervous system while supporting ones emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Counselling can be helpful to identify triggers and stress responses and then integrate techniques and resources to emotionally, mentally and physically regulate and restore a sense of safety and balance.
There are many intersections of grief. Not only dying or death.
Grief counselling in my practice considers the impact of a loss has had on an individual. These losses can include identity changes, significant life shifts, the challenges of navigating chronic conditions or disease, or the significant death or dying of a loved one.
If you’re neurodivergent, grief can stem from many experiences of being misunderstood, receiving a late diagnosis or suspected diagnosis, or feeling ‘othered’ as you struggle with identity. Ongoing stresses related to systemic and societal barriers, diverse losses, major life transitions, or relational changes can also contribute to grief. It’s important to explore these experiences as losses and the grief that accompanies them.
Any insurance and benefits, that offer coverage under registered psychotherapy.
Ontario Autism Program, Core Clinical Services can be used for therapy supports.
Community Assistance Program (CAP), with Autism Canada is a subsidy that can be applied for and will cover psychotherapy.
Video Resources
Videos and other audio resources can sometimes offer a common and often comforting voice with a shared message about the human experience in grief.
If you are in immediate crisis, please call 911, or call or text 988 for the suicide crisis hotline, available 24/7.
