If I had to Sum it Up...
I work with anxious adults (often millennial and Gen X women) who frequently feel like they’re not “good enough” (no matter what the receipts show).
They often feel like their problems aren’t “big enough” to need therapy, yet they’re still exhausted by the noise of expectations, outside opinions, and negative self-talk. Many of them begin therapy because they’ve decided they don't want to drown out their inner voice anymore.
The people I work with are often deeply impacted by how others perceive them
You’ve worked hard to follow the path you were “supposed” to take, but now you’re feeling the tension: physical exhaustion, a constant desire for validation, disconnection from your work or purpose, or a persistent sense of unease and dread.
You might have difficulty setting boundaries with friends or family, or tie your self-worth to your career and performance.
You may feel like you can’t fully relax. Slowing down and lowering your guard feels itchy and uncomfortable.
In a demanding career?
Many of the clients I support are in that boat.
You’ve poured yourself into your work, but now you’re questioning whether you’re on the right trajectory or if it’s time for a change.
You might have a sense of what would make you happier, but you feel stuck in a narrative that you either can’t realistically have it, or that the risks outweigh the benefits.
If that’s you, you’re in good company.
Common issues I support:
Perfectionism and overthinking
People-pleasing
Low self-esteem
Relationship conflicts
Struggles setting boundaries
Career burnout
Anxiety
Stress and fear of failure or uncertainty
Depression
Life transitions and finding direction
Learn more about my areas of expertise
Perfectionism
On the surface, perfectionism can be mistaken for high standards, ambition, or motivation. The reality of perfectionism is that it actually derails our progress and contributes to a sense that nothing you do is ever quite enough.
Burnout
Sometimes the exhaustion and overwhelm you’re feeling in your career or personal life go beyond ordinary stress or being “overworked.” If you're feeling depleted in a way that you know a vacation won’t fix, you may be experiencing burnout.
Anxiety
There’s a difference between occasional "nervous butterflies" and living in near-constant distress over "what might happen." If you often feel disproportionately nervous, worried, or fearful, and find yourself jumping straight to worst-case scenarios, the issue may be a deeper anxiety.
Depression
While it’s normal to feel discouraged or overwhelmed at times, depression is something that goes deeper than occasional sadness. When you’re depressed, your perspective on the world can change and leave you feeling disconnected from yourself, your life, or the people around you.
Stress
If you lead a busy life, have a demanding profession, or juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, it can all start to feel like too much sometimes. Ongoing pressure from work, relationships, and daily life can quietly add up and begin to take a toll over time.
Self-Esteem
We often underestimate the impact that factors such as relationships, social expectations, achievement-based environments, and media influence can have on our sense of self-worth. Contrary to popular belief, low self-esteem can affect us regardless of how confident or put-together we appear on the outside.
Relationships
Social connection and healthy relationships are central to our emotional — and even physical — wellbeing. However, navigating family, friendships, dating, and workplace relationships can be confusing and overwhelming at times.
Life Transitions
Life transitions aren't always planned, desired, or easy. Whether we actively choose them or they’re forced upon us, adjusting to change can feel overwhelming and destabilizing. If your life has recently shifted, or is about to, you’re not alone if the change has you feeling unsettled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer couples therapy or family counselling?
I only offer individual therapy to adults aged 18+, with a focus on self-esteem, identity, perfectionism, people-pleasing, burnout, stress, and anxiety.
Do you offer online therapy?
You bet! In fact, right now all of my sessions take place either virtually or over the phone, depending on your preference. The video platform I use is Doxy, and I provide clients with a link to the video chatroom prior to their first session.
How can I tell if I need to talk to a therapist?
This is a personal call, and a subjective one at that! When I think of needs, I think of food, water, sleep, oxygen, and so on. Nobody technically "needs" therapy, but I think that many people can certainly benefit from it.
If you're wondering if starting therapy is right for you based on where you currently are in your life, my guess is that you're not where you want to be.
We have a tendency to wait until things get "bad enough" before we seek help, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you're unhappy, that's more than reason enough to reach out!
What happens on the consult call?
When you book a free 20-minute consultation, we’ll get a feel for each other and see if we’re a good fit. I'll ask about your goals and discuss what you would like to get out of therapy. I'm also happy to answer any questions you may have for me.
What does a typical therapy session involve?
The content of a session can vary considerably. Sometimes you have a concrete goal or specific stressful event that you want to discuss, and sometimes you just need space to vent.
During your first appointment, I usually set aside the first 10 minutes or so to go over limits of confidentiality and address any questions you may have about therapy, privacy, and so on. After this, we’ll start building on some of the things we talked about during your consult call.
How many therapy sessions will I need?
A lot of that will depend on your goals and what kind of sessions you're looking for. It can often take around 3 sessions for therapy to hit its stride, so I generally recommend at least 6 sessions if we click well.
For people who want support with longer standing issues or want to focus on more in depth topics, there's really no specific amount or set limit. Some goals, such as exploring the underlying causes of certain patterns and behaviours, resolving emotions related to past events, increasing self-awareness, working on relationships, and overcoming depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem, will typically lend themselves to longer term therapy.
How often do you recommend that I attend therapy sessions?
As often as you find beneficial and fits your budgeting needs.
There is no "correct" answer here, but generally speaking, I find that clients see the most benefit from initially attending on a more frequent basis, such as weekly or bi-weekly. After some time, they may start spacing them out to every three weeks, once per month, once every couple of months, and so on.
The only guidance I would give here is to be honest with yourself about how you're feeling. Progress isn't linear. It's totally normal to be in a good place and go for months without therapy, followed by hitting a speed bump and being inspired to reach out again. That's just being human. Therapy is a tool, so long as it's helpful to you, use it!
Is psychotherapy covered by OHIP?
Unfortunately, psychotherapy is not covered by OHIP. However, many insurance companies do provide coverage for it, so check with your employer to see if your extended benefits include psychotherapy!
Are your services covered by insurance?
Fortunately, many extended benefits plans do cover registered psychotherapists! If you're unsure, check with your HR department to see if your plan specifically covers "Registered Psychotherapists," or "RP's." Sometimes our services will be listed under more general headings such as "mental health counselling."
In response to the increased interest in mental health services both during and following the pandemic, many insurance providers that previously did not cover psychotherapists now do. If your plan is under a provider that covers RP's but does not list them in the brochure, employers are able to update their plans by just adding in RP's to reflect the expansion of coverage. It comes at no extra cost to them, so it never hurts to ask!