I OFFER PSYCHOTHERAPY, SUPERVISION AND CONSULTATION ACROSS ONTARIO.

What is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the interactions between your thoughts, feelings and behaviours and how these can lead to feeling stressed, anxious or down. Sometimes your thoughts may not reflect the evidence in your life – CBT can help identify and change your patterns of thinking and the meanings you give to situations so that you gain perspective and feel less distressed. CBT also looks at changing behaviours that may have once worked well for you but may now lead to difficulties or cycles that maintain your concerns. In CBT I can help you learn and use both cognitive and behavioural tools and strategies to help you gain perspective and feel better.

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy is collaborative, goal-oriented and often short-term in nature, and is well supported by research as being at least as effective as medication, and as a way to reduce your vulnerability to distress in the future. My goal in CBT is to help you learn to be your own therapist!

What is Solution-Focused Therapy?

Solution-Focused Therapy looks at solutions instead of problems. Problems (even ongoing ones) aren’t always happening or are sometimes less severe – looking for positive behaviours that you have engaged in when your problems have subsided and implementing these successful strategies in the present can help you feel more hopeful and better about yourself, which can in turn increase your motivation for change.

What is Strengths-Based Therapy?

All of my clients have strengths that they bring to our work. A focus of my practice is uncovering your abilities and existing supports. Together we can learn about your strengths and potential and what you are doing now that is working, and how we can use these to make change in your life.

What is Anti-Oppressive Practice?

Some people in our culture have privilege based on aspects including biological sex, ethnicity, economic status and ability, while others experience multiple oppressions due to these and other factors – some, in turn, are both privileged and oppressed. In my life and work I acknowledge my own privilege and oppression and that of my clients, and together we can explore how power is granted to some and denied to others and how society maintains this status quo. In my practice I recognize that we all have intersecting identities and that our experiences of privilege and oppression are as varied as we are.

I am a Settler. Currently a visitor on land stolen from indigenous peoples. I work and live on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, and Métis Peoples, and recognize that I am situated on Treaty 3: between the Lakes Purchase territory, the traditional territory of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Guelph is situated on treaty land that is steeped in rich Indigenous history and home to many First Nations, Inuit and Métis people today.

One truth about this land is the broken and breached treaties with indigenous people of the Six Nations by the Canadian government. This is only one of many truths to tell about the historical and current injustices of colonial practice which currently affords me unearned privilege not shared with most Indigenous peoples who for hundreds of years were stewards of this land. It is with great humility and gratitude I aim to care for, and respect both the land and stewards of the land.

Do you offer therapy via Phone? Email? Skype? Face-Time?

I offer fully secure online video therapy.

What types of payment do you accept?

I accept payment by e-Transfer.

Please read my Fees and Policies page to learn more.

What is your training?

I have a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia. I trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as a teaching assistant in CBT courses for clinicians at The Hincks Dellcrest Centre, and I achieved an Advanced Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I then trained as a counsellor at the Ryerson University Centre for Student Development and Counselling before becoming a member of their staff. Throughout my career I have engaged in ongoing continuing education including upgrading of my Cognitive Behavioural Therapy knowledge and skills, exploration of other therapy modalities (aspects of which I have integrated into my practice), and extensive training in gender and sexuality-related therapy.

Please read my About Me page to learn more about my background.

Where are you located?

I have office locations in Downtown Toronto and in Guelph, Ontario.

Is my information kept private?

I protect the privacy of your Personal Health Information in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (“PHIPA”) and all other applicable privacy legislation, including the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”).

Your Personal Health Information and/or Personal Information may be shared with healthcare professionals involved in your care; individuals that you identify as contacts, such as family members and other persons, as permitted by law. I am required by law to disclose Personal Health Information, in certain circumstances such as:

1. If I have a reasonable suspicion that a child (presently under the age of sixteen) has been or is being physically, sexually or emotionally abused or neglected.
2. If I have a reasonable suspicion that a resident of a long-term care or retirement home has been or is being abused or neglected, has been harmed or put at risk of harm, or their money or funding has been misused or misappropriated.
3. In an emergency situation, including but not limited to if a client presents as a danger of violence to others or is likely to harm himself/herself/themself unless protective measures are taken.
4. If a client reveals that he/she/they have been sexually abused by a healthcare provider who is practicing under the scope of the Regulated Health Professions Act. This report may result in the disclosure of confidential information.
5. As otherwise mandated or compelled by law including but not limited to a court order or other judicial process (for example, reporting requirements pertaining to certain communicable diseases and auditing activities as required by professional licensing bodies or health insurance providers).

Except for as stated above, your Personal Health and Personal Information will not be disclosed without obtaining your prior consent.

How long is each therapy session?

Each therapy session, although it is referred to as a therapy “hour”, is 50 minutes in length – this allows me to review notes and prepare for your session. The 50-minute session is considered standard in the therapy profession.

You can also read about me on Facebook or at Psychology Today.