MEd., PhD.
Registered Psychologist and Registered Play Therapist (APT)
I am a Registered Clinical/Counselling Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists (#4246). I am also a Registered Play Therapist (APT). I have specialized training in assessment, child/teen therapy including sand tray, art, and play therapy, and trauma therapy.
I have worked as a psychologist, consultant, and mental health therapist in school, community, and clinical settings. I have also been fortunate enough to gain experience in infant and preschool mental health. I have a special interest in working with preschool and school-aged children (ages 3-16). I believe that children do well when they can and that with strong relationships and coping skills, any child can succeed.
I most often integrate Cognitive-Behavioural, Dialectical Behavioural, “parts work” (IFS) and Narrative approaches, with play, art, and sand tray activities to help children and teens learn and grow from the difficult events and feelings experienced in their life. I also frequently incorporate resourcing from trauma-based therapy protocols such as EMDR to help strengthen children’s adaptive neural networks and to support their coping with challenges faced in their world.
In addition to working individually with children, I work collaboratively with parents and schools. I help caregivers gain insight into their child’s underlying areas of difficulty and support them in using therapeutic, attachment, and neurobiological (polyvagal) principles to promote child resilience and adjustment.
Although I use an integrative approach, my foundation is always relationship-focused, strength-based, neuroaffirming and trauma-informed. As well, I consider not just the individual child, but the surrounding social contexts and the influence these have on child functioning and development.
I additionally complete psychoeducational assessments in order to help understand and address the learning needs of children and teens (ages 4-16). I aim to provide recommendations that can positively impact their success across home and school environments.
“We are always in a perpetual state of being created and creating ourselves.”
— Dan Siegel
Helping resolve challenging life experiences and give space for healing.
