Areas of Focus
My work has primarily focused on working with survivors of trauma and individuals experiencing difficulties with depression, anxiety, stress, and relationships. I also specialize in perinatal mental health and pediatric sleep consulting. Feel free to read more about my areas of focus below.
PERInatal Mental health
Parenthood and the journey to get there can be life-changing. Millions of people will experience mental health struggles while trying to conceive, during pregnancy and postpartum, including depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress. These challenges can impact the whole family. Whether the symptoms you are experiencing are severe, or you are just adjusting to life as a new parent, I am here to help. You do not need to go through this alone.
Trauma
Our lives can feel completely turned upside down after experiencing a traumatic event. A trauma may be a one-time incident, such as a motor vehicle accident, a natural disaster, or a discrete act of violence. Or it may be an ongoing trauma, such as exposure to war, an abusive relationship, or childhood sexual abuse. Even after the trauma is over, it is common to still feel on edge, to question our part in the incident, and to feel as if we are reliving it over and over again. Trauma-focused therapy can help you to feel safe again, process the traumatic memories, and make meaning of the trauma in your life.
Depression
Some signs you may be experiencing depression include persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and worthlessness. Experiencing depression can also include loss of pleasure and interest in activities you used to enjoy, changes in sleep and weight, and difficulty concentrating. As your therapist, I can help you to identify unhelpful thought patterns and resulting behaviours and replace them with more helpful patterns to improve your mood.
Relationship Issues
We begin learning about relationships from birth, from our own relationship with our caregivers, followed by witnessing adult relationships as a child. Based on our earliest experiences, our adult relationships may be challenging. Perhaps it is a difficulty maintaining relationships or a difficulty communicating at work. Therapy can be a space for you to explore what you learned about relationships throughout your life, make connections, and learn new tools to improve your current relationships with others and yourself.
Stress and Anger
It is very common to have difficulty managing stress or anger. Sometimes it can feel like we have no control, which can lead to reactions we later are not pleased with. In therapy, you can learn more about your experiences of stress and anger, and the tools to manage those emotions in a way that is more helpful to you and those around you.
anxiety
If you are experiencing anxiety, you may find yourself worrying excessively. Other difficulties can include difficulty sleeping, feeling restless, irritability and difficulty concentrating. These difficulties can impact our day-to-day, also because anxiety can lead to avoiding many parts of life, whether it be school, work, and social situations. Therapy can help you to learn about your experience of anxiety and regain control.
