My experience spans clinical support, school mental health leadership, research, consultation, and collaborative work with educators, multidisciplinary teams, and system leaders on mental health initiatives. These experiences continue to shape my work as a psychologist and reinforce my belief that mental health is deeply connected to identity, relationships, systems, access, and belonging.
I have worked across community mental health, private practice, and education settings, supporting individuals and groups through psychotherapy, single-session therapy, psychological and psycho-educational assessment, and school-based mental health initiatives. My work has also included leadership roles, tragic event response, consultation, protocol development, and collaborative projects focused on student voice and participatory action research. Through it all, I continue to value practical, collaborative, and human approaches to care — with room for both the hard stuff and the hopeful stuff.
Professional Background + Experience
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Ed.D. in Counselling Psychology, University of Toronto (2024)
M.Sc. in Counselling Psychology, University of Calgary (2011)
Additional training in psychological assessment, school-based interventions, cognitive behavioural therapy, emotion-focused skills training, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, humanistic solution focused coaching, single session therapy, brief therapy, narrative therapy, and mindfulness approaches.
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College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO) - 2020 to present
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) - 2014 to present
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
Ontario Psychological Association (OPA)
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Check out the publications section of my website for information on publications, podcasts, and collaborations (linked here)
My Approach
Direct support
I use a blend of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy in my approach to providing support. These are two evidence-based modalities that emphasize personal values, strengths, and practical action-oriented strategies and elicit forward momentum - whether that means aligning actions with values, figuring how to do more of what's working, or increasing psychological flexibility.
In addition to therapy, I also provide psychological assessments for children, adolescents and young adults. My approach to assessment is also collaborative and strengths-based with the goal of understanding what feels difficult and why - whether at school, at work, or in daily life - and to identify practical strategies and recommendations that can truly make a difference. In you are interested in psychological assessment services please visit Riverwise Psychological Services for more information.
Importantly, I value creating spaces where young people from diverse identities, cultures, and backgrounds feel respected, supported, and able to show up as themselves.
I have experience working alongside queer, trans, non-binary, racialized, Indigenous, immigrant and newcomer young people as well as those with neurodivergence - recognizing we have multiple and intersecting identities.
My approach is grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and cultural humility. I also understand that each person’s experience is shaped not only by who they are, but also by the communities and systems they move through each day.
Collaborative Work
Some of the most meaningful parts of my work have involved learning alongside young people and supporting initiatives focused on equity, belonging, student voice, advocacy, and meaningful change within schools and communities. Throughout my career, I have worked collaboratively with students from diverse backgrounds on projects related to mental health, school experience, identity, inclusion, and system change. I continue to feel inspired by the creativity, honesty, and insight young people bring to conversations about mental health and wellness.
My doctoral research explored student voice in school mental health and the ways educational systems can move beyond tokenism toward authentic collaboration and youth-led processes such as youth participatory action research (yPAR). I contributed to the development of the student engagement toolkit with School Mental Health Ontario, including the integration of yPAR principles and research.
Alongside Dr. Leila Angod from Carleton University in 2024-2025, I was a co-applicant, researcher, and facilitator on a federally funded school-university partnership project entitled: Youth Co-Research for Student Voice: Anti-Racism With and For Black and Racialized Students.” Together, we have presented this work provincially and internationally on this topic.
These experiences continue to inform and guide my approach to both my personal and professional work, keeping me grounded in authenticity, responsiveness, collaboration, and a deep respect for the lived experiences and insights of young people. Together, we can explore difficult questions and conversations, make space for both strengths and struggles, celebrate moments of joy, and sit with the messiness of being human.
About me
So now that you’ve read all the very important professional details about my background, training, and experience, I thought it might be nice to share a bit more about the human side of me - the pieces that shape how I show up in my work and in the world.
I grew up here in Simcoe County. In high school and early university, I spent summers working at a camp on Georgian Bay and the school year lifeguarding and teaching swimming lessons. These early experiences sparked my love of working with young people and being part of their growth and independence.
My first role after completing my undergraduate degree in psychology was as a 911 operator and dispatcher. Supporting people in moments of acute crisis was meaningful and formative work, and it ultimately led me to pursue graduate training in counselling psychology so I could support people not only in urgent moments, but through the many challenges, changes, and transitions that are part of everyday life.
I completed my master’s degree at the University of Calgary, where I studied hard and soaked up everything Alberta has to offer - snowboarding in the mountains, hiking, camping, and plenty of adventure. With family back in Ontario, I eventually made my way home to settle into my professional life here in Simcoe County. I returned to school (again) in 2020 to complete my doctorate in counselling psychology at the University of Toronto (while working full time, being a mom, and during the pandemic!).
I’m a mom to two wonderful kids, and we share our home with June, our much-loved family dog. Weekends often find us at the local ski hill, exploring outdoors, playing sports, or enjoying cozy time at home together.