Qualifications and Background
My approach to counselling has been greatly inspired by my own lived experiences, experiences that inform my specialities, target client bases, modalities used, and offerings. I am a big believer that appropriate personal disclosure can be a powerful tool to build rapport with clients, or for clients to understand my personal background to test the waters of comfort. While our experiences are all unique, for clients seeking a therapist with particular lived experienced, I would like to share with you:
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Immigrant experience - Immigrated to Canada as a child.
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LGBT/Queer Identified - Identifies Gay, Non-Binary.
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Neurodiverse - Diagnosed dyspraxic as a child.
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Alternative Spirituality background - Member of the NeoPagan Community
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Geek and Fandom - Involved in various Fandoms, with experience LARPing​
Please see below more details about my training and professional background. To read more about my approach and the modalities I work with, see 'Approach'
Professional Experience
My educational and professional path has been eclectic and non-linear, but has given me a rich foundation of experiences that I bring to my work with clients. Below is an overview of my experience​​​
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My experiences in the helping professions began in High school in 2003 where I founded my school districts' very first Gay/Straight Alliance. Working with a member of staff, I facilitated weekly meetings of fellow students and was invited to present at two regional conferences catered to parents and educational professionals. The school board invited me to sit on an advisory committee which met semi regularly.​
In 2005, I enrolled in the Social Service Worker program at Humber College. This two year diploma program taught various core competencies in counselling, community support, advocacy, and social work theory. As part of this program, I completed three placements of four months each. I was placed at: Parkdale Community Information Centre (PCIC); Copernicus Lodge Polish Community Retirement and Long Term Care Home; and, Braeburn Neighbourhood Place. While at the college, I supported my campus community by sitting on the Humber Students' Federation Board of Directors, and spearheaded a mentorship program between first and second year students in my faculty. I also worked as a student life staff member in the halls of residence where I oversaw programming and social needs of a floor of fifty students.​​​
In 2010, I had the chance to work in the United Kingdom for a summer at the BISC (Bader International Studies Centre, now called Bader College) where I worked in the Student Life department, and worked first hand with the issue of culture shock in the mainly Canadian and American students attending the 'study abroad' terms. Throughout this period I was involved with professional student life in some capacity including presenting at various conferences, project assisting, or as a student life team member.
In 2015, I was becoming heavily involved with various psychospiritual and extracurricular programs and communities. I began to LARP (Live Action Role Play), while also concurrently working with an alternative spirituality group exploring storytelling through 'living myth' events. I began taking The Discovering the Total Self personal development course through a satellite of Transformational Arts College. I also began studying a spiritual tradition heavily inspired by humanistic and transpersonal psychology. These activities and more contributed to my deep interest in Jungian archetypal, the power of story, and narrative psychology.
From these activities I began to explore and study archetypal psychology and that lead me to making the decision in 2017 to return to school. Instead of returning to social work, I was accepted into the Spiritual Psychotherapy program at Transformational Arts College in Toronto. This integrative program included 400 hours of classroom time, 120 hours of supervised placement, and a requirement for 100 hours of personal therapy. I graduated in 2019, and began seeing clients as a counsellor in private practice. I also joined the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals (OAHMP) and Spiritual Directors International (SDI).
As 2020 came, and the Covid-19 Pandemic lockdowns began, like so many of us I moved online and began offering courses and experiences virtually. I developed a course around family work, conducting two eight week groups. This course formed the basis for my first book, Ancestral Whispers: A Guide to Developing Ancestral Veneration Practices (Llewellyn Worldwide, 2023). I also ran a Queer centric book club for twelve months, and a creative writing therapy group.
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In early 2021, I was invited to speak on a panel around psycho-spirituality at the Psychospirituality and Paganism Conference (organized by The Sisterhood of Avalon). The focus of this panel was to discuss the intersection possibilities for psychotherapy and a pagan worldview. In late 2021, I began working as a training facilitator for Spectrum, Waterloo Regions' 2SLGBTQ+ community space, in their Rainbow Diversity Competency Training. This training was designed to educate and inform attendees on the realities of the 2SLGBT+/Queer community to assist in inclusion and equity measures.
In 2022, I returned to university to complete an unfinished Bachelors Degree at the University of Waterloo and transferred into Liberal Studies. This program gave me the freedom to pursue an eclectic approach to finishing my education and expand on my toolkit. I minored in classical, medieval and religious studies but also had the opportunity to explore some of the emerging interdisplinary courses that fed into my mental health training.
In 2023, I was very pleased to have the opportunity to speak at the Queering Mental Health Conference (organized by Our Landing Place) delivering a presentation entitled "Inner Journey: The Potential of Spirituality in Psychotherapy." In this presentation I spoke about the opportunity for spirituality in psychotherapeutic practice and the queer community.​
In early 2024, I hit a milestone and exceeded 1000 client hours in private practice, and I sat and passed the certificate of proficiency exam, becoming a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) is a standardized assessment of the skills, knowledge and abilities required to be a professional counsellor or psychotherapist in the UK. It establishes the minimum level of proficiency and competence as lain out by BACP and their accrediting bodies' guidelines. I am now working toeards accreditation.
Education
2005 - 2007
Social Service Worker Diploma
Humber College
Social Service Worker diploma (equivalent level 5 Diploma) is a two year, full time diploma program which covered: advocacy and case management, counselling, family dynamics, human behaviour and development, interpersonal skills, mental health, and working with groups and communities.
2017 - 2019
Spiritual Psychotherapy Diploma
Transformational Arts College
Diploma program (equivalent of Postgraduate diploma) in various psychotherapeutic modalities. Course consisted of 400 tutor contact hours, 100 hours of personal therapy, 120 hour supervised practicum, and 200 hour self development program.
2022 - 2023
B.A. (Hons) Arts, Liberal Studies
Minoring: Medieval, and Religious Studies
University of Waterloo
Bachelor Degree focussed on various subjects with a heavy focus on Classical, Medieval and Religious studies. Other topics included various counselling and further social work coursework, cultural studies, english and philosophy.