Empowering your inner resilience
As a transformative facilitator I create a balance between process and tasks in order to empower my clients to move through difficult experiences and feelings; and to empower group members to support one another toward a common goal.
20+
Years
About Catherine
Emotional Suffering to Transformational Change
I am inspired by the power and process of healing the parts of ourselves that need it most.
Through engaging with my own journey of transformation with my experiences of grief and trauma, I am the person I am today, a deeply compassionate, resourceful warrior.
The metaphor of climbing a mountain really speaks to me.
In addition to cycling many mountains including the Canadian rockies, I have climbed many mountains inside myself that have led me where I am today.
At the age of 21, I faced my own grief after the death of a close friend, and so I understand the cost to our wellbeing of sudden death at a crucial age and stage. This led me to co-facilitate sudden-death groups for students, solidifying my decision to become a social worker.
Many years later my deep desire to have my own children was challenged by fertility issues. This mountain included difficult decisions, intense resourcefulness, and a fertility journey with many disappointments along the path. Luckily, in the end I was blessed with two beautiful children. My role as a Mom of twins is my most rewarding and challenging job.
At every stage of my journey whenever I have faced difficulties I have sought support, which has carried me through. This has included skilled therapists, medication, and my own village of loved ones.
I am forever grateful for all of the personal and professional support I have had to date and have a deep desire to pay it forward. Every part of me lights up when I see my clients make shifts by facing hard feelings and areas of their life that need attention. It is especially rewarding for me to see the ripple effects of the work I do with my clients on their relationships, families, children, work, and community.
I am most passionate about impacting the lives of children – by healing the child within; by working with parents/couples/families; and by counselling young adults/children themselves.
My Experience
I have been in private practice for 10 years.
I am a certified Emotionally Focused Therapist (EFT) and am trained in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP). I have additional training in trauma and grief/loss. In helping clients, I draw on my 23 years of experience in the field of social work, having worked primarily with mental health and addictions in both community and hospital settings.
- Children over 7
- Teens/young adults
- Couples wanting to work with Emotionally Focused Therapy: https://www.greatertorontoeft.com/
- Individuals living with mental health challenges including depression/anxiety/PTSD; and addictions
- Anyone dealing with trauma and/or grief/loss
- Individuals/couples dealing with fertility issues; going through pregnancy and postpartum difficulties
- Parents needing support
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Parents/siblings of young adults with mood disorders
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Individuals with disordered eating
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Young adults dealing with technology overuse
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Adults with problem gambling
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Students who developed mental health programs in their schools
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Educators/Administrators seeking to develop a mental health strategy within a school board
What I Offer
I offer a safe, welcoming, non-judgmental environment for you to unpack, explore and work through challenges, enabling lasting transformation and personal growth.
Individuals
- I support clients dealing with PTSD/Anxiety/Depression/ADHD
- I help adults with narcissistic parents individuate from their parents and develop security within themselves
- I support children (over 7) who are dealing with trauma or grief
- I support university students who are struggling with a traumatic event, grief, and/or are dealing with mental health challenges
- I work with people who have lost someone close to them who has taken their own life
- I support family members of someone with a mental illness to find support for themselves and their loved one
Couples
- I am a certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist https://www.greatertorontoeft.com. I support couples to develop a safe, secure attachment with each other
- My work with couples includes a collaborative care model where I consult with the other care providers to provide coherent treatment
- I love working with couples with children. Their work typically has a direct impact not only on their relationship, but also on their children/family
Parents
- I work with parents to support them to enhance their skills to develop a safe, secure attachment with their kids
- I work with parents who have a child with a mental health issue or diagnosis navigate the system, develop skills in dealing with their child, and take care of themselves
- I support parents who are contemplating alternate methods of creating a family, as well as people who are going through fertility treatment
Are you ready to book a free session and connect?
Feel free to contact me for an initial free 15 minute virtual consultation via email.
