Training, Experience and Qualifications:

I completed my Masters in Social Work in 1993. Since then, I have continued my professional development by regularly attending workshops and conferences.

Over the years, I have gained experience in individual, group, couples and family psychotherapy with youth and adults on a variety of issues including drug and alcohol use, sexual orientation, gender identity, childhood trauma, loss, relationships, cultural/ethnic identity, self-esteem, low mood and dealing with oppression. I have supervised other therapists and have provided training to service providers in group work and working with marginalized groups including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transsexual (LGBTT) communities. I have also done academic writing on this latter topic.

I have done volunteer work in LGBTT, Muslim and South Asian communities, including volunteer counseling, co-facilitating a support group, and co-producing a documentary.
 

Overall Perspective:

I work from anti-oppression, client-centred and psychodynamic perspectives.

This means that:

-I respect the goals, perspectives and pace that you bring to 
             therapy.

-I work to understand you and your experiences in the context of your relationships (past and present) and the society in which we live.

-Although I will not always stress the political, I do see external systemic oppression (sexism, racism, heterosexism, genderism, classism, ageism, ableism and sizeism) and the ways that we internalize oppression, as important areas of exploration in therapy.
 

Approaches:

I use a variety of approaches in working with clients, depending on what they request and what I think might be helpful in the specific moment. This can include gestalt, interpersonal, brief solution focused, cognitive-behavioural, motivational counseling and mindfulness. I have completed training in Clinical Hypnosis.

I also see the dialogue that we have during sessions to be an important part of the therapy process.