My first experience of grief and loss came at the age of eight when my grandmother, who was second mother, passed away from a stroke. My own experience of grief created a powerful sense of connecting to both myself and others on a deeper level. This loss compounded by other losses of family members and animal companions in my life were a paramount driving force for me to work in a helping profession.

As a social worker, I practice from a heart-felt and authentic framework and deeply value creating a safe space for people to explore their feelings. I see grief as a human experience that requires self-compassion in the healing process and that it manifests uniquely for each individual. I truly feel blessed that so many people have allowed me to be a part of their journey through various forms of grief including death of people/pets, loss of job, separation/divorce, substance use, financial changes and loss of meaning in life. I have also worked in palliative care settings where I have been able to offer comfort to individuals and their families during life’s transition recognizing the many challenges of losing a loved one.

In my spare time, I enjoy being with my two boys, my pets and keeping active. I have a deep spiritual connection with nature and spend much of my free time in the woods or traveling to the mountains.

For more information about my professional training and background, click here.

My first experience of grief and loss came at the age of eight when my grandmother, who was secon... Read More

Like many sojourning, my early life experiences of trauma and grief accumulated to the point that pain and anxiety were affecting my ability to thrive. When my brother-in-love died from lung and brain cancer in 2018, the tools, training and experience I had through the Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute and facilitating grief group processes through Alberta Health Services, did not take me through the depth of processing I needed. I heard so many great things about the Grief Recovery Method® that I enrolled to process my brother-in-love’s death. The second day into the training my lovely dad died. When I enrolled a second time, I was doubly invested in experiencing more of the heart healing that had begun. I was relieved I could share how my experiences with these deaths felt, without others’ cliches, correction or avoidance. At the end of it, my heart felt so much lighter and peaceful.

My own healing journey and life experiences assist me in offering counselling support with integrity, empathy and compassionate presence in an atmosphere of shared knowledge and hope. I see healing as a sacred process, deserving honour and witness, and growth as partner of healing. I am especially passionate about walking people through the pain which accompanies losses, trauma and grief and what we might call the “dark night of the soul” into illumination that brings transformation. I may often be found saying, “May you recover all (that was stolen from you)!”

I enjoy working from a trauma informed and holistic approach to wellbeing that includes the soul, body and spirit. Our body is often the first signaler of our distress, and our spirit influences our healing and thriving. My future plans include applying the learning and experiences I have gained within the niche of Equine therapy, as horses have been a primary source of learning about attunement, grounding and self-regulation in my early and later years.

In my personal time, I enjoy soaking up time with my family who are the loves of my life, trying varieties of flavoured coffee, adventuring outdoors, and creative arts. I stay centered through my faith experiences and enjoy singing with the team of my church.

For more information about my professional training and background, click here.

Like many sojourning, my early life experiences of trauma and grief accumulated to the point that... Read More