Classic schools of thought teach that in order to be effective and ethical, helpers must show up as blank slates and refrain from self-disclosing. While I have the skills to foster an ethical therapeutic relationship that serves those who find their way to me, I do not believe stripping myself of my individuality or positionality is beneficial to our work. Clients deserve to know who is sitting with them in their hardest moments. Especially when systemic inequities such as race and education level impact the relationship. So if you’re interested, let me tell you a little about me and where I come from and what brought me here.
Originally from the Midwest USA, I immigrated to Quebec in 2012 and began to plant my roots. In addition to my professional competencies, my own experiences with deep grief, unhealthy intergenerational patterns, and various forms of trauma have given me a foundation that fuels my empathy, presence, and ability to hold people’s stories with the respect and attention they deserve.
As an ex-evangelical, queer, neurodivergent woman, I know firsthand that the impact of systems on our suffering is not simply theoretical. As a bereaved parent and daughter, I have an intimate understanding of the scope and depth of grief and the many emotions it can evoke. In fact, the loss of my first child, Senna, is the reason I plunged myself into the helping field. Her name is the inspiration for my logo here, and he presence shines throughout my practice.
I know what it is like to feel like your lived experiences make you unhelpable, like your grief and hurt are too much for someone to carry. Because I know tremendous pain and suffering, I can witness tremendous pain and suffering without othering or diminishing. In this way, my experiences are not separate from my skills. They are what brought me here. Together, they allow me to show up as a human to support other humans in their most vulnerable moments.
In addition to being a social worker, I am a parent, writer, partner, oldest sister, devoted friend with a chosen family, and lover of rambunctious dogs. If you feel my approach and experiences resonate with you, I would be honored to walk alongside you in your healing journey. Together, we can create a supportive, grounded space for you to explore your story, your strengths, and where to go from here. The first step is to contact me with some basic information to schedule a free 15 minute introductory call where we can explore how I can support you.
Training & Experience You Can Trust
My training, education, experience and licensure includes: Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec, Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, Crisis & Trauma Research Institute, McGill University, Wilfrid Laurier University, and The Association for Psychological Therapies.
You can find more information on my ethos and approach on my services page.
Written Work
Undefining Motherhood
“Dear Rainbow Baby” is a touching reflection on parenting after pregnancy loss. I share the emotional experience of welcoming a baby after miscarriage or stillbirth, highlighting that a rainbow baby is not a replacement and is not responsible for healing past grief. Instead, the child is celebrated for their own unique life and the hope they bring. The article offers gentle support for families navigating grief, healing, and new beginnings after loss.
Undefining Motherhood
In “Parenting After the Loss of a Child,” I reflect on what it’s truly like to raise a living child while grieving the one I lost. I share how I carry deep guilt, intrusive thoughts, and flashbacks alongside everyday parenting moments, and how those intense emotions shape my experience of motherhood. I talk honestly about how joy and grief can exist together and that parenting after loss means living in both the present and a parallel world of what could have been.
Undefining Motherhood
In “Losing a Child,” I share my personal experience with stillbirth and the complicated emotions that shaped my pregnancy after loss. I talk about the fear, anxiety, and grief that followed me into motherhood, and how bonding with my baby looked different after losing a child. I describe how love and grief can grow together, offering honest insight and comfort for anyone seeking stillbirth support, pregnancy loss resources, or guidance on parenting after loss.