LEGACY COUNSELLING
ABOUT ME...
If there's one thing you'll learn about me, it's that I've never taken the straight path to anything.
From wanting to be a pediatrician, a nurse, a parole officer, an addictions counsellor, a psychologist, a business owner, and eventually landing in sociology, I've always known one thing: I wanted to help people. I just hadn't figured out how yet.
After high school, it took me a little while (okay... a lot longer than I planned) to really figure out what my niche was. My four-year degree somehow became an eight-year project—which, in hindsight, probably should've been my first clue. I spent those years flipping back and forth between what felt like half the careers in the college calendar until I landed in Sociology. I knew I had found something I truly loved. The study of people, relationships, and culture fascinated me, and for the first time, everything just clicked.
After graduating with my Bachelor of Sociology, I worked in the non-profit sector with the Red Deer Housing Team for several years. There, I worked with people experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, physical health issues, and addictions. It was one of the most rewarding, and challenging, jobs I've ever had. I never knew what I was going to walk into each day. We shoveled needles out of apartments, repaired bullet holes in walls... you name it, we probably did it. It was messy, unpredictable, heartbreaking, and incredibly meaningful work.
Then I had my first child.
As much as I loved the work, I found myself thinking differently. When your toddler starts playing with your shoes after you've spent the day in apartments where there could be drug residue everywhere... well, your priorities shift pretty quickly. I decided it was time for a bit of a safer route.
From there, I went into government programs and worked with AISH for about four years. Somewhere in there, I did a nine-month stint with Children's Services, which I quickly realized was not for me, and happily found myself back at AISH.
Then COVID hit, and the world as we knew it seemed to fall apart.
Like so many others, I was laid off. Looking back, it was the push I needed. I'd spent years in government, but I'd never really loved working for someone else. I've always had an entrepreneurial streak, and being laid off made me realize I didn't want my career—or my ability to pay my bills—to depend on someone else's decisions. More importantly, I wanted to do more than determine whether someone qualified for financial assistance that month. I wanted to be part of people's healing.
So... I applied to the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology program at Yorkville University.
During my master's, I worked as a contact tracer for AHS for about a year before (you guessed it!) ending up back at AISH for a third time while I finished school.
Those few years were insane! I was working full-time, raising two little kids, and studying most evenings after they went to bed. I was completely exhausted... but I was also absolutely in love with my studies. For the first time, I truly felt like I had found my calling.
Then practicum arrived.
A friend already working in the counselling world graciously helped connect me with an amazing supervisor, and I hit the ground running. I still remember thinking, Finally... this is what I was meant to do.
After finishing my practicum, I jokingly told my friend she was stuck with me now. I counselled part-time while keeping my "safe" government job part-time for about a year, until one day I decided it was time to stop dipping my toes in and jump into private practice with both feet.
Terrifying? Absolutely.
Worth it? One hundred percent.
It's now been over two years since I opened my private practice, and it has been one of the best decisions of my life.
Then came the plot twist I never saw coming... although those around me probably did.
At almost 40 years old, I was diagnosed with ADHD.
Suddenly, my entire life started making sense. The eight years it took to finish a four-year degree. The bouncing between what felt like half the careers in the college calendar. The million ideas. The entrepreneurial spirit. The constant curiosity. Wondering why my brain always seemed to work just a little differently than everyone else's.
Turns out, I wasn't flaky, unfocused, or someone who couldn't make up her mind. I was navigating life with undiagnosed ADHD.
Honestly, receiving that diagnosis was one of the most validating experiences of my life. It didn't change who I was—it helped me understand who I'd been all along. It also deepened my appreciation for how powerful it is when someone finally has the words to make sense of their own story.
Today, I have the privilege of working with adolescents and adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, life transitions, and all the wonderfully messy parts of being human.
My approach is warm, down-to-earth, and authentic. I don't believe therapy has to feel cold or clinical. Some sessions are heavy. Some involve laughter. Some involve tears. Often, they involve both. I believe healing happens through genuine connection, and my goal is to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are—messy, funny, overwhelmed, heartbroken, hopeful, or all of the above—without fear of judgment.
If my story has taught me anything, it's that life rarely goes according to plan—and sometimes that's exactly how it's supposed to be. Every job, every detour, every challenge, every leap of faith, and yes... even an ADHD diagnosis at almost 40, shaped the therapist—and the person—I am today.
Because if there's one thing my own journey has taught me, it's that our stories aren't meant to define us—they're meant to shape us.
I'd be honoured to help you make sense of your story, heal from the chapters that have hurt, and start writing the ones still waiting for you.
My Credentials
I’m a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a Certified Adolescent Trauma Professional (CATP), and a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP). I’m also registered with the Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (ACTA) as a Counselling Therapist.
All of this simply means I’m trained to provide evidence-based, trauma-informed, and holistic support — while keeping therapy approachable, collaborative, and focused on your unique needs.
Who I Work With
I’m especially passionate about working with individuals and adolescents (10+). I also have a strong focus on men’s mental health concerns and women’s issues.
Outside the Office
When I’m not counselling, I’m usually spending time with friends and family or enjoying the outdoors. I love camping, playing slo-pitch, snowboarding, and traveling — these are the things that help me recharge and stay grounded.