Regain resilience, self-love & trust after trauma
Trauma lives in the nervous system, and so does our capacity to heal. I help clients gently reconnect with the body, soften old patterns of protection, and rediscover the trust and tenderness that were always there.
You May be here because…
You live with overwhelm, anxiety or emotional turbulence that seems bigger than the moment
Your nervous system rarely feels at rest, even when life is calm
You sense you carry more than your own story: patterns passed down through your family line
You've done therapy and gained real insight, yet the healing hasn't fully reached your body or your daily life
You have a yoga, meditation or Buddhist practice, and you want a therapist who understands that path
You are searching for meaning, not only relief
None of this means something is wrong with you. It often means your body learned to protect you, and it is still doing its best.
Healing as awakening the heart
When life overwhelms us, the body learns to guard. We brace, stay alert, or go quiet inside. That protection was wise. It helped you get through.
But protection can become a habit. The heart stays guarded long after the danger has passed, and we forget we are allowed to soften.
The contemplative traditions I have studied for over twenty years describe our deepest nature as already awake. Like the sky, it stays clear even when clouds pass through. Modern nervous system science points in a similar direction: when we feel safe enough, the body can begin to settle and new patterns can take root.
So healing is not about becoming someone new. It is a slow, gentle uncovering of what was always there.
Our work is relational, grounded in presence and authentic connection. You set the pace, and you always have a choice about what we explore. We don't need to go into the details of painful memories for healing to happen.
We work in two directions:
Top-down: gently exploring the thoughts, beliefs and stories that shape how you see yourself and the world
Bottom-up: listening to the body, the breath and the felt sense, so the nervous system can learn that it is safe now
Spiritually integrated therapy invites your whole self into the room, including meaning, values, faith and doubt. No belief system is required, only curiosity and a willingness to listen inwardly. If you have a practice, it is welcome here. If you don't, that is welcome too.
Each venue meets our rigorous standards for safety, technology, and environmental quality.
Approaches I draw on
Every person is different, so our sessions are shaped around you. Depending on what you need, I may draw on:
Somatic and nervous system approaches, including Somatic Experiencing, in which I am currently training
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work, meeting the protective parts of you with curiosity and compassion
EMDR, a structured approach for working with distressing memories
Meditation, breath and mindful awareness drawn from yoga and Buddhist practice
Therapeutic yoga, with gentle, individual practices you can take home
Visualization, mantra and prayer, when they are meaningful to you
These are offered as invitations, never requirements.
Intergenerational healing
Some of what we carry began before us. Patterns of fear, silence or survival can be passed down through families and cultures, often without words. Together, we can begin to notice which burdens are truly yours, and which you may be ready to set down, with respect for those who came before.
A holistic approach to everyday life
Healing doesn't only happen in the therapy room. My holistic approach is grounded in the biopsychosocial model and informed by Ayurveda, which I have studied since 2006. We look at the rhythms that shape your nervous system: sleep, nourishment, movement, relationships and practice. Then we build simple daily practices that feel sustainable for your life.
Sessions
There are two ways to work together.
50-minute sessions ($165) are mainly talk therapy, offering space to understand your patterns, relationships and what gives your life meaning.
90-minute sessions ($295) are embodied, somatic and integrative. Along with talk therapy, they include individual practices and yoga sequences shaped for you.
In person in Ottawa and virtually across Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to talk about what happened? No. You decide what to share and when. Much of trauma healing can happen through the body and the present moment, without retelling painful details.
Do I need to be spiritual or religious? No. You are welcome whatever your beliefs, including none at all. We work with what is meaningful to you.
I already have a yoga or meditation practice. Can that be part of therapy? Yes. Your practice can become a resource in our work. Sometimes practice itself brings up difficult feelings, and we can explore that together too.
Should I choose a 50- or 90-minute session? If you would like mostly conversation, 50 minutes is a good fit. If you want to include the body, practices and yoga, 90 minutes gives us room. We can talk it through in a free consultation.
Is this the same as your workshops and classes? No. Workshops, classes and programs are educational and practice offerings. Psychotherapy is an individual, confidential therapeutic relationship.
What if I am in crisis? Therapy is not an emergency service. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. In Canada you can also call or text 9-8-8, the Suicide Crisis Helpline, any time.