About Me: I am a registered psychologist with competencies in clinical work with children, adolescents, and families, as well as forensic work with adolescents. I focus on working with those struggling with dysregulation (big emotions and big behaviours), self-harm, attachment, and sexual behaviour issues related to histories of adversity, complex developmental trauma, adoption related issues, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, high-conflict parenting dynamics, and involvement with the child welfare, family court, and criminal justice systems. I regularly provide consultation and trainings in the areas of child development, parenting, trauma, attachment, trauma-informed approaches, and high-risk, complex youth. I have expertise in conducting forensic assessments (e.g., Parenting Assessments, Juvenile Forensic Risk Assessments, Secure Treatment Assessments, Expert Opinion for civil and child welfare matters).

Who I Work With:
• Children
• Teenagers
• Parents
• Caregivers (including kin and foster)
• Families
• Juvenile offenders
• Child welfare agencies, group care providers
• Lawyers

My Approach:  I aim to create a sense of safety for my clients through my warm, humorous, and straightforward style that forms the foundation from which we collaborate in healing and growth. My interventions are trauma-informed, somatic, and neurodevelopmental. I have a particular interest in offering parenting interventions and family therapy because I believe parents are the most influential people in their children’s lives. Children and adolescents have a better chance of improvement if the whole family is supported.

How I Can Help: I help children, teens, and families find healing, connection, and regulation in themselves and their relationships. I assist educators, health professionals, frontline workers, legal professionals, and child welfare, juvenile justice, and group care agencies to be trauma-informed through training and consultation. I provide litigation consultation to lawyers in criminal, family, child welfare, and civil matters involving children, youth, and parents which can include assistance in theory of case and questioning of mental health professionals.

Tools I Use:
• Somatic Experiencing Practitioner™ (SEP)
• Circle of Security (COS-P)
• Attachment, Regulation, Competency (ARC) framework for complex trauma
• Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART)
• Adoption and Permanency Curriculum for Child Welfare & Mental Health Professionals (ACT certified therapist)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• 3-5-7 Model™
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR, Basic Training)
• EMDR Child and Youth Specialist (Level 1)
• Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT, Level 2)
• Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
• Theraplay