Hello/Tan'si

 

I had the rare opportunity to begin working with Indigenous individuals in 2014 in remote communities in Northern Quebec. Our goal was to understand how ancestral cultural identity is associated with academic achievement in youth and emotional well-being across the lifespan. As I completed my Master of Arts, I travelled to Alberta and continued to work with Indigenous communities; I learned that the struggles to access support and services reasonably are not limited to Indigenous individuals strictly in remote communities. 
 

I provide counselling, strongly emphasizing flexibility and safety and maintaining a client-centered approach. My focus is to work with clients as they work to overcome their challenges and pursue their goals. As we work together, we may engage in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Self-Regulation Therapy. Most notably, it is to establish a framework that focuses on the fundamentals of counselling. Assessments and therapy are effective tools, providing cultural safety, respect, power imbalances, and rapport have been firmly addressed. 
 

I work to remain mindful of my responsibility when working with individuals who have experienced significant challenges in accessing services and require trauma-supportive support that is culturally congruent and consistent with an individual’s ways of knowing. Regarding Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals, my secondary focus is supporting individuals with atypical developmental profiles, autism spectrum disorder, and behavioral challenges. This includes emphasizing rebuilding foundations, meeting clients where they are, and breaking down large challenges into achievable tasks. 
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Areas of Practice: Addiction, Anxiety, ASD, Behavioral Challenges, Depression, School, Self-Esteem, Stress, Trauma-Informed Care 

Qualifications and Training: McGill University - M.A. School/Applied Child Psychology – Education & Counselling Psychology, CPI - Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training & Suicide Prevention, Indigenous Awareness Canada - Indigenous Awareness Training , Assessment Training: Psychoeducational assessment, Capacity Assessment, Court Assessment, Refugee Assessment, ADOS/ADIR Clinical Certificate.