ABOUT ME
In 2007, I graduated from the University of Michigan School of Social Work with an MSW and a specialty in Child and Family Counselling. I joined an infant mental health program as a home-visiting therapist in the city of Detroit, supporting the city’s most vulnerable parents, infants and young children. My position there inspired a deep passion for helping families through the early years of parenting, and a strong belief in the innate desire of each parent to do the best they can for their children.
After moving to Hamilton, I began working with families in Halton Region and spent the next decade providing psychotherapy at a local children's mental health agency, where I continued to work with parents of infants and young children, while also providing therapy to school-age children and their parents.
During this time, I provided mental health screening and therapy to women through the Breastfeeding Clinic at the Burlington EarlyON, the first breastfeeding clinic in Canada to offer walk-in therapy sessions in addition to lactation consultation. I also received training in perinatal mental health, narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment-focused therapies (including Circle of Security Parenting) and complex trauma treatment. As I began to meet more and more Moms who had experienced birth trauma, I completed my training in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), a form of therapy which assists with the healing of traumatic experiences. I also have completed my Canadian Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health (CC-PMH) as well has my Canadian Certificate in Birth and Reproductive Trauma (CC-BRT). Developing both breadth and depth in my clinical practice is very important to me, so I have continuously attended trainings on a variety of topics ranging from dream analysis, to play therapy, to the use of psychedelics in trauma recovery.
In addition to my work with clients, I have been a Walk Leader for Flora's Walk for Perinatal Mental Health in Hamilton for the past three years, a community event that raises funds for local perinatal mental health agencies and for the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, the national advocacy group for perinatal mental health. It has been my great pleasure to appear as a public speaker at many events in the community, as well as multiple appearances on the Honest As A Mother podcast with Amanda Gurman.
I am a registered member in good standing of OCSWSSW (the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers) and CASW (the Canadian Association of Social Workers).
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my three children, my husband, and my friends, long distance running on local trails, and drinking a warm cup of tea.
