How I approach my work...

Originally from Montreal, I have lived in Stratford, Ontario since 1987. After a 14 year professional acting career, living and working across the country, I made a career change and returned to university studies. My clinical training is grounded in cognitive behavioural therapy and I have taken specialized training in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitve Therapy. Other therapeutic certifications and modalities used include  EMDR for stress, anxiety and trauma, and Internal Family Systems.

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My recent professional development has focused on anti-oppressive practices, training in racialized and systemic trauma, being queer informed and offering effective allyship and therapeutic practices with 2SLGBTQ+ community members.

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Yoga and and meditation have been an essential part of my health and well-being and I have participated in ongoing trainings and workshops over the past 25 years with inspiring local and international teachers. I integrate these teachings into my clinical work. Amy Weintraub's innovative work in Yoga For Depression and Yoga Skills for Therapists led me to train with her and I am a certified LifeForce Yoga®-Level 2 Practitioner, am on the Faculty of the LifeForce Healing Institute and a mentor and trainer.  (see: yogafordepression.com) I have assisted and co-facilitated workshops and trainings with Amy in Arizona, Cape Cod, Ottawa and Toronto. 

 

I am very grateful and acknowledge the privilege I have had in being able to access enriching learning resources. Essential to mental health is acknowledging and engaging the body and spirit.. we cannot grow and change via the mind only - both the physical and subtle body are in a constant dance with our conscious and unconscious mind creating our lived experiences, hence this integrated approach to healing.

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Credentials:

Masters of Social Work, MSW

Registered Social Worker, RSW with CCSWSSW

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Certified Yoga Teacher-200hr

LifeForce Yoga® Practitioner, level 2, teacher and mentor

 

Advanced training in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for the Prevention of Depression Relapse

 

Mindfulness in Education, Thich Nhat Hahn

 

EMDR for trauma and anxiety

 

Yoga and meditation: well over 500 hours of intensives and trainings in yoga and meditation



Member of the Ontario Association of Social Worker​


 

Beyond our ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase 'each other' doesn't make sense any more.
--Jelaluddin Rumi