LGBTQ+ Friendly & Transgender Safe Space ​ Life can be hard sometimes, but we don’t have to do it all alone. ​ Opening yourself up to someone you do not know is hard, but I strive to make that part as comfortable as possible. ​ I work from an integrative (e.g., psycho-dynamic, emotion-focused, cognitive-behavioural) perspective that is trauma-informed. I always cater therapy to whomever I am working with in order ensure that we are working towards the goals you would like to achieve. The therapeutic relationship is important to me. I strive to create an environment that is warm, open, and non-judgmental. I am open and accepting to any and all of your identities, whether that be religion, race, sexuality, beliefs or even if you have a lifestyle that is different. ​ Individual (Adults and Adolescents) ​ During our first session, I will orient you to what therapy is and how we should be progressing through it. I will also be sharing a bit about myself and how I work. During our first session, you will have a chance to discuss the concerns that have brought you to therapy. We will also get a chance to map out your goals and come up with a plan as to how we will address them within our sessions. ​ A psycho-dynamic perspective will help me understand your past and how it’s influenced your current state, an emotion-focused perspective will help us understand your emotions and how they play a role in your distress and how to alleviate them if they ever feel overwhelming. Lastly, the cognitive-behavioural perspective will help us hone in on maladaptive behaviours and work towards undoing them with a systematic plan. I understand that no two people are the same, so I do my best to be open to learning about a person’s context (religion, culture, race, gender, sexuality, etc.). I believe that these are important aspects of who you are and should be taken into consideration to make therapy more meaningful. Couples The ones who say that relationships are easy are probably the ones who aren’t in relationships. In my work with couples, I strive to equally take both (or more) partners into consideration as we work towards creating a healthier relationship. The journey is ongoing, but it’s worthwhile. Together, we will be tackling communication issues, misunderstandings, triggers, hostility, and more. Sometimes you feel like you’re stuck in an endless cycle with your loved one. But taking the step to address your concerns can alleviate tensions. I will be implementing tools and interventions that pertain to strengthening partnership whilst incorporating what I’ve learnt throughout my education. I have an M.A. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Ottawa. I have experience working with marginalized populations (e.g., Planned Parenthood Ottawa, Family Services Ottawa), in addition to working in private practice. I have worked with a variety of presenting concerns throughout my career (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, interpersonal conflict, burnout, sex addiction, self-harm, panic disorder, etc.).