Counselling & Psychotherapy
Insight-Oriented and Trauma-Informed Therapy
Hi, I'm Jennifer
I'm a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with nearly a decade of experience in the mental health field.
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Prior to offering individual psychotherapy, I worked in community mental health supporting those with concurrent physical, social and mental health issues. My experience has taught me that personal challenges or crises are easier to navigate when we don't have to face them alone. The most worthwhile things I have ever done has always been in service of connection - with myself, with my loved ones, and in helping others foster a sense of connection with their inner and outer lives.
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I am deeply interested in the details of your story, and I also believe that the answers to our most important questions lie just beyond the surface of the day-to-day; within our intuition, past experiences and personal values. My therapeutic approach is based upon creating a trusting and authentic therapeutic relationship in which you can feel safe to explore these layers of your experience with a firm sense of support. I draw upon a number of theoretical modalities to form an integrative approach that is unique to each individual.
Psychodynamic
Attachment-Based
Existential
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Solution-Focussed Therapy (SFT)
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Areas of Focus
Complex Trauma
Being trauma-informed is a cornerstone of my practice, which means I am always attuned to the wide-ranging impacts of trauma, whether from a single event or chronic and intersecting experiences. I prioritize creating a physically and emotionally safe space with you as a foundation for healing, and draw upon various practices to support post-traumatic growth. These practices range from somatic processing to inner child work, and centre around helping you feel more whole and empowered.
Mood and Anxiety
My approach with depression, anxiety and other mood-related challenges begins with understanding your unique experience of adversity. The next steps often involve helping you gain stabilizing tools and strategies you can begin to implement right away, and then seeking to address the roots of your challenges to support long-term peace and equanimity.
Attachment
The relational contexts we were raised within often inform our beliefs and expectations about our relationships in adulthood. I believe that gaining insight into these expectations and our relational histories can help us approach our relationships more effectively. I am committed to exploring these insights with you in a manner that is empathetic and non-judgemental to all involved in your journey.
Cultural & Intergenerational Identity
Those of us who identify with more than one culture have rich backgrounds to draw upon. And yet, sometimes it can be challenging to locate ourselves within conflicting sets of cultural values, or when we find our own values misaligned with cultural expectation. I aim to support your exploration of your self and values from a standpoint of cultural humility, where your experiences and knowledge remain central.
Perinatal and Postpartum
Matrescence is a word that describes the often overwhelming physiological, emotional and social changes that a person experiences when they become a parent. I believe that these seismic changes can be felt by any new parent, whether your journey began with birth, adoption or surrogacy, and whether you are a birthing or non-birthing parent. I believe all parents need to feel supported through this wildly intense and fulsome transition.
Credentials & Education
Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
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Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
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Masters of Counselling Psychology
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology