- anxiety/social anxiety
- trauma
- “addictions” (desiring a different relationship with alcohol or other drugs)
- shame/guilt
- panic
- anger
- self doubt
- feelings of “not measuring up” (to measuring sticks which may or may not even interest you)
- the “something is wrong with me” feeling
- anxiety/social anxiety
- depression
- grief
- eating “disorders”
- chronic pain
- the effects of psychiatric diagnoses
- gender identity & gender transition
- polyamory & non-monogamy
- uncoupling
- self-harm
- parent/youth conflict
- suicidal thoughts
- people who use violence in relationships
- incarceration
- the effects of colonialism, racism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism (and their intersections) on identity and mental health
My work is guided by a commitment to social justice and is informed by narrative therapy, anti-racist, anti-colonial and intersectional feminist frameworks. What this means in terms of what you can expect:
- Collaboration. I will check-in with you at the beginning of each conversation to find out what the hope is for the conversation, and throughout every conversation to ensure that we are still on track with what is important to you to be talking about.
- Transparency. I will share my notes with you after every session (no secret file practices!) and I am happy to share the intention behind any question I ask.
- The person is not the problem, the problem is the problem. I will not pathologize or individualize your suffering. The concerns you bring will always be seen in the broader social context which may be implicated in your suffering.
- You are the expert of your own life. I will never assume that I know better than you do about how you ought to respond to the difficulties you are facing. I will always assume that you have skills, knowledge, values and purposes that have guided and sustained you through difficult times, and will be curious to learn from you about these skills, knowledges, purposes, etc.
- People always resist injustices. You can assume that I will assume that you were not a passive recipient of the trauma/injustices you have lived through. You can count on me to be curious about how you responded/resisted, and what this says about the people/relationships/purposes you have for your life.
- You can count on me NOT to offer advice, analyze, cheerlead, evaluate, label you/your actions, try to teach you, or try to talk you into thinking about something the way I do. You CAN count on me to be curious about the meaning that you give to your own experiences, to ask questions that invite you to take a position on how you want to relate to the problem or dilemma you are facing; and to ask questions that help you to think through dilemmas you are facing.
- In recognizing people as the experts of their own lives, and in asking questions that unearth the skills, knowledge, ethics, commitments, purposes, etc. that guide people in life, people often reflect at the end of a therapy or supervision conversation that they are leaving with a greater sense of agency over the problem or concern about which they came to consult.
As a white, cisgender, able-bodied woman, married to a cis man, with professional and class privileges, I pay close attention to the privileges that I have and benefit from, and take seriously my responsibility to address power differences in the relationships I have with the people I consult (both in therapy and clinical ‘supervision’). To learn more about my approach click here.
In addition to my independent practice, I offer clinical consultation & a non-hierarchical approach to clinical supervision/consultation at Breakaway Community Services, a harm reduction agency in downtown Toronto, and in my independent practice I work with Registered Social Workers, Registered Psychotherapists and community workers. If you are interested in learning more about my philosophy of ‘supervision’ click here.
I am on faculty at the Narrative Therapy Initiative in Salem, MA, Re-Authoring Teaching, in Vermont and at the Narrative Therapy Centre of Toronto. For a list of upcoming or recent workshops/training click here. Or contact me if you are interested in having me provide training/workshops/consultation at your agency.
To learn more about my services, fees and space click here.
I am a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) and my services are covered by many health benefit plans.