I began my career as a child protection social worker with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), where I worked for two and a half years. This experience gave me an in-depth understanding of the complexity of the Ministry and the struggles families face when involved with it. However, I soon realized that this role wasn’t the right fit for me, as case management wasn’t the way I wanted to support families.

Afterward, I joined Quesnel Child and Youth Support Services (QCYSS) as a therapist, where I led the Sexual Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP) for three years. In this role, I supported children and youth experiencing complex emotional turmoil and helped their family members cope, comprehend, and recognize the ripple effects of challenges that arise from sexual abuse. I also guided several clients and their families through the provincial court system during sexual abuse trials, providing expert testimony in support of the client.

Following this, I spent two years working with Northern Health in the substance misuse and addiction field, supporting adults who had experienced trauma that led to various forms of addiction—whether alcohol, drugs, sex, food, or others. Through this journey, I realized that working within government organizations wasn’t always the best fit for my unique skills. I’m a creative, passionate, and innovative individual, deeply attuned to the spiritual side of healing. I believe that incorporating my authentic self is key to supporting people as they navigate challenging experiences.

I draw upon my education, theoretical knowledge, therapeutic modalities, and personal experiences to provide unconditional positive regard, empathy, and a deep commitment to “being with” my clients in their journeys.

I have always been drawn to people, in awe of our abilities to create connections and build relationships. My first few jobs were in various coffee shops, and  I truly believe that these positions were the first step towards the big picture of working with children with diverse needs and abilities. Working in coffee shops really solidified my love for working with people and in the community, as well as it gave me a front row seat to the idea that connection is crucial to our success, and something we all innately yearn for. 

I  began my career in childcare as a Behaviour Interventionist working with children with a variety of needs on the autism spectrum. I did intakes, created baseline assessments and built programming specific to each child. I also worked directly with a full caseload of children, both individualized and in a group setting on a range of skills from fine motor, communication skills and basic physical functions, to social thinking, emotional regulation and learning the skills needed to be independent.  I worked in this position for 8 months, and gained a world of experience and resources that I apply regularly to my current practices. This experience opened my eyes to the complexity of the Autism spectrum, and how a desire for connection was at the root of many of the struggles that both the child and the parents faced. 

Afterward, I worked for just three short months filling in as an Education Assistant, and although I loved the children I had the honour of working with, I knew this was not the way I wanted to support families and children. This led me to independent behaviour therapy and respite care. I worked with several families with unique situations and provided individualized, child specific care for a little over a year.

Through my own challenges and life experiences, I have learned to view others with empathy and grace, finding beauty in the growth process and have come to recognize the undercurrent that drives humanity: the desire for connection.