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• Baccalaureate of Nursing from the University of Calgary 

• Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University

• Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists

• Registered Nurse with the College of Alberta Registered Nurses

• Internship completed at Calgary Counselling Centre 

• Over 25 years as a RN supporting those during critical illness, occupational health with a large international corporation, families with life transitions, and students as a nursing instructor at Mount Royal University

• I have training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method for couples

• I specialise in past emotional traumas that present as anxiety, mild to moderate depression, PTSD, avoidance and hesitation, medically stable and sub-clinical eating disorders, unease in relationships and marital issues 

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My Counselling Journey:

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Welcome to Safe Haven Counselling and thank you for taking the time read about me! 

From childhood, I have had the capacity to listen to understand and validate the emotions of myself and others.  It was an easy decision to become a nurse and then to further extend my understanding of human behaviour in psychology, the transition has been both natural and rewarding.  I create a safe space to share your experience and an openness for you to be heard and understood.

 

I have worked in a variety of mental health roles from residential rehabilitation from substance abuse support for women, a crisis line operator, single-session counsellor, and within a community based not-for-profit counselling agency supporting adolescents, adults, families, and couples.

 

When not working or reading about a new approach to understanding human behaviour, I am a spouse to my life partner, mother of two adult men, owner of two dogs, a daughter, a sister, and a good friend of a few fun-loving gals.  I enjoy cooking for my close family and friends, taking photographs of sunsets and flowers, walking along the river with the company of my furry friends, and tending to my indoor and outdoor cherished plants (see pictures below!).

My Approach

I approach counselling in a person-centred, strength-based way that is customised for you.  I respect and have compassion for the vulnerability needed to seek counselling therapy.  I strive to create the safe space you deserve to share your inner thoughts, feelings, and experiences.  I incorporate mindfulness into the therapy space and walk along with you to untangle your unease, charter a new path away from just surviving and toward thriving in a life of ease and comfort with yourself and others. I use principles from DBT, CBT, strength-based, solution-focused, and EMDR tailored according to your needs.

 

Culture and Diversity

 
I aim to attend to my clients without judgement by listening with an authentic welcoming of your uniqueness as I believe that no two lives are the same.  I believe in the inclusion of diversity, an anti-oppressed world, with expression of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual identities, and size. I have an acceptance of health at every size as a HAES-aligned therapist. I strive to maintain this openness and am always open to correction to align with you more accurately.