ABOUT

Education & experience

I am a Master's level registered Social Worker. I have been working with adults, families and youth since 2005. I am trained in Solution Focussed Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Relational Family Therapy. Expressive Arts Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy and I integrate Somatic Experiencing® techniques.

What I believe in

I believe in resilience and our ability as human beings to thrive, create and heal. I believe in the importance of relationships without which, as a species, we would not be here. I believe that the kind of  relationships we have with ourselves, one another, all living beings, and the living planet that supports us determines our wellness. I believe in beauty, humour and the value of critical thinking. I believe that we are all works in progress, and that it is important to pay attention to, and work with, the transitions in our lives because we are all on our way to becoming something else and/or, returning to some essential values and essence that define us and have the potential to place us in the context of who we truly want to be in the world. To quote the poet Sally Atkins, I believe that "We are all in this story together...pay attention: We are all listening each other into being". ("Tell Me, She Said").

who I am...

I'd like to tell you bit about myself as it may help you to decide if I'm the kind of person you'd like to work with.  I'm a 53-year-old woman who lives in Nanton, Alberta in Treaty 7 territory.  I grew up in a densely populated, noisy, diverse working class neighbourhood in Toronto. In my home and in my community, I learned to appreciate the power and beauty of our stories. I was privileged to bear witness to the stories of my parents, siblings, friends, neighbours, schoolmates, elders and mentors. My childhood landscape also included the rural near north as I was fortunate to have a family cottage to go to. My parents made friends wherever they went and because of this, I became a part of that community and I carry the lake country with me always. 

I have always sung, and music and writing have always been important forms of self-expression. In fact, all forms of art and crafts have been a lifesaving force for me. 

I moved to southern Alberta in the early 1990s as I had fallen in love with the landscape, the spirit of the place and the people, some of whom would turn out to be lifelong pals and absolutely essential to my wellbeing. 

I fell in love with a guitar wizard/farmer and I try my best to help out on our organic mixed farm but sometimes I leave a gate open and daydream when I'm supposed to be weeding. I've had the good fortune of being a stepmom to a remarkable young woman who has been doing her part to teach me how to be a better, more compassionate and heart-centred person since our first meeting at her 6th birthday party.

I'm a member and the Women’s President of the National Farmers Union and currently I serve on the Editorial committee and the International Program Committee. Just in case this all sounds seamless and idyllic, please know that I am no stranger to mistakes, tragedy, disappointment and trauma. I am no different than any other human being in that regard, and it has been my relational dance with the "rapture of life" that has informed who I have become, who I am becoming and brought me to the work I do.