About Me
I’d like to acknowledge my personal background and relationship to this land and community. I am a 2nd generation English settler on my maternal side, and a 5th generation Scottish/Dutch/English settler on my paternal side. I grew up in the territories of the Haudenosaunee, Anishnaabe, and Lenape peoples in what is now known as London, Ontario, and moved to the traditional territories of the Lekwungen peoples in 2013 to pursue a career in midwifery. Since moving my relationship to the land has developed in a way that calls me to acknowledge my settler privilege as a homeowner on the territories of the Swenghung Family group (North Park). I’m grateful to call this beautiful place my home, and commit to continued examination of my settler-colonial privilege.
As a registered midwife I can say that witnessing hundreds of births has been a true gift. I am not currently attending births or providing prenatal care, however I remain connected to the midwifery and birthing communities. My own midwifery journey changed when I became an intentional solo parent, and subsequently experienced intense perinatal mood and anxiety disorder during my kiddo’s early life. This experience called me back to school to study social work, social justice, and the impacts of systemic oppression on mental health.
I currently hold registration as both a midwife and a social worker. My practice focuses on midwifery-led counselling, and counselling from a psychodynamic, somatic, and attachment theory perspective. Additionally, I am an adjunct professor in the Midwifery Program, University of British Columbia.
I completed the Masters in Social Work through the University of Victoria in 2023. As a final degree requirement I completed a practicum of supervised counselling under Cora Bilsker of Nested Heart Counselling. Nested Heart specializes in non-monogamy, kink, sexual orientation & gender identity journeys, sex work, and psychedelic integration.
I’ve completed certifications and additional training through:
Bringing the Body into Practice: Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy 2 Year Training
San’yas Anti-Racism Indigenous Cultural Safety Training
The Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy
Perinatal Mental Health Certificate from Postpartum Support International
Certificate in Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies with Linda Thai.
U of T Continuing Studies DBT: The Basics
-ACT for Women’s Mental Health
-DBT for Perinatal Mental Health
Pregnancy, Birth, Postpartum, and Parenthood
During my time as a midwife I’ve supported hundreds of pregnant people and their families in navigating the mind/body changes that happen during pregnancy and the early postpartum – all I can say is that it can be a pretty wild time. I often provide clients with education on the transformative and deeply biological experiences of this time. I often provide clients with a listening ear. I often work with families to make postpartum support plans. I often work with clients to build skills to manage intrusive thoughts, relationship hardships, and many other unexpected experiences.
I would like to acknowledge my special interest in supporting folks who may consider themselves on the margins of parenting, ie. gender-diverse and trans parents, neurodiverse parents, parents who have lived and are living with experience of substance use, parents who do sex work, and/or parents who belong to polyamorous, kink/BDSM communities. As a personal ally, friend, and/or member of each of these communities, I am committed to providing a safe and secure container in exploring these identities.
Methodology
Through an embodied, somatic perspective informed by attachment theory, I hope to help you untangle the ways your past, present, and future affect your whole being. Through my practice of midwifery, I have a unique attunement to life’s challenges from witnessing countless families go through one of life’s biggest transitions. I can help you make sense of this - be it a traumatic pregnancy, birth or postpartum experience, difficult career change, family conflict, or whatever else life hands you. Society’s silence when your journey doesn’t go in a positive direction is deafening and can create lasting shame.
If you are pregnant or within 6 weeks postpartum, as a registered midwife I can bill for our work together through MSP as follows: 3 hours of sessions in pregnancy, 4 hours of sessions in the postpartum. I am available for in person, online, or phone appointments. To receive the MSP-covered counselling I require a referral from your primary care provider (Midwife or Doctor), or from your Public Health Nurse.
In addition to the above, I am available for private-pay services at the rate of $165/hr. Some extended health benefits plans will cover social work services, check your individual plan.
I am an approved care provider under First Nations Health Authority and Pacific Blue Cross, which allows me to provide free counselling to Status First Nations peoples through the Mental Health and Wellness Support benefit.
