Are you ready to heal for real?
Compassionate and transformative trauma therapy to help survivors heal deeply, rebuild trust in themselves and others, and move forward with resilience and hope.
Please note: I can only accept therapy clients who reside in Ontario.
Registered Social Worker (RSW), B.A., B.Ed. and M.A.—Ontario
15+ years supporting survivors and families through trauma and recovery
Author and educator on restorative justice and long-term healing
Court-experienced clinician for reports and testimony (as needed)
My Mission
My mission is to provide transformative trauma therapy that fosters healing, resilience, and post-traumatic growth. I’m dedicated to advocating for my clients’ rights, supporting their justice journeys, and helping them find their voices again. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the complexities of trauma and mental health, I create a safe, supportive space where individuals can explore their emotions, develop coping strategies, and move toward lasting change. I believe deeply in the power of therapy to bring about healing and growth—and I’m here to walk beside you on that journey.
Who I Help
I work with clients ages 9 to 99+ who are ready to do the work of healing, including those who are:
- Recovering from sexual assault or sexualized violence
- Living with PTSD or CPTSD
- Processing the impacts of childhood abuse or neglect
- Charged or convicted of a crime and want to take responsibility for the harm they’ve caused—while also healing from the hurt in their own lives
If that’s you, you’re not alone—and you’re not “too late.” Healing is possible at any age and stage.
How I Help
I use a variety of therapeutic modalities to meet each client where they are—including talk therapy, compassion-focused therapy, art therapy, bibliotherapy and writing, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Every person’s healing journey is unique, so our work together draws on the approaches that best support your needs and goals.
EMDR Therapy
Eye movement desensitization & reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a fast and permanent neurobiological treatment that helps people process & heal from traumatic/distressing experiences. It was developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has since gained recognition as a highly effective treatment for PTSD & other trauma-related conditions.
EMDR therapy is based on the idea that traumatic experiences can become stuck in the memory processing part of the brain, leading to ongoing distress, emotional reactions and negative beliefs. The goal of EMDR is to facilitate adaptive processing of these memories so that they become less distressing and emotionally charged. In short, after EMDR treatment, you can remember bad things that have happened but you no longer relive them.
What is Trauma
Trauma is an event or series of events that crack and crumble the four pillars of our lives: people, places, routines and rituals, threatening our physical and psychological safety. When thoughts and memories of the traumatic event(s) don’t go away or get worse, they may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can seriously disrupt a person’s ability to regulate their emotions and maintain healthy relationships, keeping them in “survival mode”.
In survival mode, the nervous system is in a constant or near-constant state of activation, ready to fight, flight, freeze or please to achieve a sense of psychological safety. When the nervous system doesn’t have a chance to “rest and digest”, serious health consequences can emerge. Trauma can also trap a whole family, organization, community or country in survival mode.
The good news is that with treatment and support, PTSD can go into remission and be kept there, so that people and communities can move from surviving to thriving. That’s my mission.
"Big T" Trauma
This type of trauma occurs when a person experiences (or causes) a significant, distressing, life-threatening or life-changing event. “Big T” trauma might include sexual assault and abuse, natural disaster, car crash, death of a loved one (particularly if sudden), medical emergency or serious diagnosis, job loss, violence (enduring, witnessing or perpetrating), betrayal or breach of trust.
"little t" Trauma
This type of trauma is often overlooked or unrecognized. It occurs when a person experiences multiple, smaller distressing events. They may not immediately threaten a person’s life, but over time, they can seriously interfere with emotional functioning. Picture a woodpecker steadily tapping the same spot on a tree. Eventually, it can bring the whole tree down. “Little t” trauma might include bullying, troubled relationships and breakups, poverty or money worries, social exclusion, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of chronic oppression.
Services
I provide comprehensive, trauma-informed therapy designed to meet your individual needs. Drawing on years of experience and evidence-based approaches, I help clients navigate life’s challenges and work toward emotional well-being. As a registered social worker, my fees are tax-exempt and are often covered by extended health benefits.
Intake and Needs Assessment (for new clients only)
If you’re not sure how therapy works or which therapy service you need, you can book a 90-minute consultation to establish your needs and your goals, and to make a plan. I’ll ask questions & listen deeply & compassionately to your responses. The results may include a biological, psychological and social history (BPSH) write-up, results of clinical measures, social work diagnosis, and a recommended treatment plan and a vision for your health and healing that helps you feel empowered with next steps. I’ll also discuss what resources or advocacy you’ll need and the changes you can make right away.
Price: $350
Individual Therapy
Many people are afraid to try therapy because of social or cultural stigmas, because they’re afraid of how they’ll feel, because they believe that their trauma is too big to overcome, or that healing might dishonour past loss. But the truth is, therapy is about working through trauma so that you can stop reliving painful experiences and instead be able to remember what happened with reverence and respect. You will gain insight, find your voice, learn to communicate in new ways and take the reins of life. In other words, you’ll learn to let your negative experiences shape your life without controlling it.
Price: $230/hr
Intergenerational Trauma Healing
I provide intergenerational trauma healing therapy for Indigenous clients, rooted in respect, allyship, and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. With years of experience working alongside Indigenous people in both urban centres and on-the-land settings, my approach integrates trauma-informed care, restorative practices, and cultural safety. My services are fully covered under the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program, funded through Health Canada.
Price: Generally, the NIHB program covers one intake session and 20 hours of therapy each year. I apply for your benefits and we get started.
Relationship Therapy & Restorative Dialogue
Communication is at the heart of every relationship, be it a couple, a parent and child, a whole family, friends, colleagues or employer-employee, or neighbours. When trauma strikes or difficult times arise, many relationships come under stress and strain. Communication may change shape, become tense, or break down completely. Based on the principles of restorative justice, I work with individuals to prepare to come into dialogue with each other and then we facilitate healing dialogue. Whether the relationship renews or comes to an end, we help both/all parties feel more peaceful about the outcome.
Price: $250/hr with two people involved. Each additional person is $30/hr.
Community Healing
What happens after trauma? It can (literally and figuratively) change the landscape of a community. If you think of your workplace, neighbourhood, family, school or even your country as a tree, trauma has a ripple effect that can influence everything from the roots to the outermost branches, impacting every aspect of a group’s identity, communication, connection and health. Work with me to reverse that negative ripple effect and make it positive. This service can help after a specific traumatic event has occurred, such as a death, an incident of violence, a natural disaster, or when the undercurrent of the culture has made people feel unsafe, alienated or isolated through inequity, power and privilege imbalance, and more.
Price: Custom pricing depending on needs
Restorative Justice
Restorative justice is an alternative approach to conventional criminal justice, which often focuses on retribution and relegates victims and survivors to the outskirts of the process. Originating in First Nations in Canada and the USA and the Maori in New Zealand, RJ is an approach that aims to get people who have offended to take responsibility for their actions, understand the harm they have caused, build empathy, and seek to make amends. For victims, its goal is to give them an active role in the justice process, the chance to ask all of their questions and share the impact of the harm. This results in reduced feelings of anxiety & powerlessness. I prepare both parties and their support people to come together in safe and facilitated dialogue. I take self-referrals as well as referrals from judges and lawyers.
Price: Case-by-case basis, please inquire
Justice Journey Companionship & Advocacy
No matter how you came to be on a justice system journey—whether you were hurt, someone you love was hurt, or you did the hurting—it is a roller-coaster. I know, because I’ve been there. And I didn’t have anyone to help me navigate the logistics or the emotions. I bushwhacked my way through, gaining knowledge, empathy and insight. Now I offer the advocacy and support that I needed to others.
In addition to mental health therapy, my services include counselling and education about criminal, civil and restorative justice processes, referrals to legal or other supports, preparation to make a police report or appear in court, drafting and reviewing court documents (i.e. victim impact statements, offender statements of accountability and apology), expert witness testimony, restorative justice facilitated dialogue, facilitated family dialogue, media relations, and any other assistance you may need to navigate this challenging time.
Price: In-court or mediation $350/hour + travel expenses, minimum 4 hours (regular sessions are the same as therapy, $230/hour)
How Therapy Works
My approach is steady, practical, and deeply human.
I’ll meet you where you are and help you move forward with tools you can actually use.
What you can expect:
Safety First
We go at your pace and build capacity before digging deep
Clear Goals
We’ll agree on what “better” looks like for you
Evidence-informed methods
Trauma-informed, strengths-based, and
collaborative
Real-life integration
Skills you can take into your day to day
Sessions are 50 minutes and offered virtually. If you’re placed on the waitlist, I’ll keep you updated and share
first-step resources you can use right away.
What I don't take on (right now)
Although I love working with couples who are committed to improving their communication, maintaining respect, improving their parenting, and deciding between joyful reconciliation or peaceful parting, I do not do conflict resolution or argument mediation. As a trauma therapist, my work with couples is focused on understanding past hurts before or during the relationship and resolving “triggers” and “overreactions” using EMDR and compassion-focused therapy. If you are seeking individual therapy during or after your separation/divorce, you are welcome to join my practice.
Also, if you are living with bi-polar disorder, OCD, ASD, DID, or BPD, you may be best served by another clinician with those specializations.
What I don't take on (right now)
Although I love working with couples who are committed to improving their communication, maintaining respect, improving their parenting, and deciding between joyful reconciliation or peaceful parting, I do not do conflict resolution or argument mediation. As a trauma therapist, my work with couples is focused on understanding past hurts before or during the relationship and resolving “triggers” and “overreactions” using EMDR and compassion-focused therapy. If you are seeking individual therapy during or after your separation/divorce, you are welcome to join my practice.
Also, if you are living with bi-polar disorder, OCD, ASD, DID, or BPD, you may be best served by another clinician with those specializations.
Availability & Eligibility
Ontario Only
Due to licensing, I can only provide therapy to clients who reside in Ontario.
Waitlist
If there are no immediate openings, you can join the waitlist and I’ll be in touch as soon as a spot becomes available.
Quick Pre-Questionnaire
The waitlist form includes a brief set of questions to help me understand your needs and fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer in-person sessions?
Yes. In-person sessions are available at a comfortable home office located in Toronto’s West End, near Jane Subway Station. Virtual appointments are also offered for clients across Ontario. Both options provide a safe, supportive space for healing—choose what feels most comfortable for you.
Do you offer sliding scale?
I am not able to offer a sliding scale at this time. My lower-cost sessions are reserved for Indigenous clients through the NIHB program.
Can you be my therapist if I live outside Ontario?
Because I’m registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, I can only provide therapy to clients who reside in Ontario. If you’re located elsewhere, I can’t offer therapy—but I may be able to recommend trauma-informed practitioners in your area.
Do you work with teens?
Yes, I love teenagers! Earlier in my career I was a high school teacher and guidance counsellor. I specialized in working with teens who needed support through traumatic experiences and who faced other adversities. If you have a teen or are a teen considering therapy with me, know that you’ll be met with acceptance, understanding and genuine care.
What can I expect in my first session?
Our first session is about building comfort and clarity. We’ll discuss your goals, what brought you here, and what a supportive path forward might look like. You’ll also have time to ask questions and learn about the therapeutic process.
How often should I come for therapy?
Frequency depends on your goals and needs. Many clients start with weekly or biweekly sessions, then move to less frequent check-ins as progress continues. We’ll decide together what feels most supportive.
What is EMDR, and is it right for me?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people process and heal from traumatic or distressing experiences. You can learn more about it in the “How I Help” section above—we’ll discuss whether it’s a good fit during our first few sessions.
What if I’m in crisis right now?
If you’re in immediate danger or feeling unsafe, please contact 911, go to your nearest emergency department, or reach out to a 24-hour crisis line in your area. Once you’re safe, you can reach out to explore ongoing support.
Do you provide reports or letters for court or other purposes?
Yes. I can provide clinical summaries, letters, and court reports when required. Fees for these services vary depending on scope and complexity; details are listed here.
Crisis & Safety Notice
If you are in crisis or unsafe right now, please don’t wait for an appointment. Call 911, go to your nearest emergency department, or contact a 24-hour crisis line in your area.
You've carried enough on your own.
When you’re ready, I’m here.