Whether a dandelion is a weed or a flower is entirely a matter of perspective.
–Julia Tagliere.
I started my career as a Registered Nurse, graduating with a BSc. in nursing in 2004 from the University of Victoria, Langara Campus. I began working at Women’s Hospital and Health Centre in Vancouver. I was privileged to have a wide range of experiences there, including attending over a hundred births and caring for women with high-risk pregnancies and substance use disorders during the perinatal period. After this, I started working in Public Health in Burnaby where I continued to care for families during the perinatal period. My work included breastfeeding counselling, prenatal classes, and parenting support.
I moved to Vancouver Island in 2007 with my husband and started my own family. Working as a Public Health nurse on Vancouver Island I was able to provide the same support for perinatal families, as well as facilitate a postpartum support group. Through my work in this group, I help new mothers find their own capacity to change and meet their own goals. The experiences I had with the women in this group encouraged me to expand my knowledge and learn more about how to support the mental health of my clients.
In 2022 I completed a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. I used my career as a nurse to inform the learning I received and now I can provide a unique and holistic perspective on mental health. I have expanded my abilities to help a wider range of people, including women, men, and teens. I have experience helping people navigate life transitions, childhood trauma, grief, burnout, and transitions to parenthood, adulthood, and life after work. I use practical techniques like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing, and more artistic techniques such as Existential Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy, to help individuals, teens, and couples manage life transitions and rediscover goals and values. I am a partner in the therapy process with a long history of working beside others to achieve their own needs and to reflect their own values and beliefs in a non-judgmental, safe relationship of unconditional positive regard.
All the above I use with humour and kindness to make the difficult road a little easier to navigate.
As an individual, I love to read and enjoy music. I play the fiddle best in a group and sometimes you might see me in a local play or two. I dance ballet for fitness, and love a cup of hot tea. I have two children, a husband, two cats, and a dog.
I am looking forward to learning about you and seeing you for a session!
Book online for in-person or virtual sessions. https://dandelionseed.janeapp.com