My top three favourite acts of self-care are spending time with my loved ones, going for long walks and grabbing some snacks and watching a bingeable tv show.

Growing up in my community, there had always been stigma around mental health. Talking about it was considered taboo, and many times, mental health challenges or struggles were brushed under the rug. As I grew older, I started to realize that those who did find the strength to talk about their mental health challenges did not have anyone to turn to or a space where they felt seen and supported. I came to see that there were still hurdles to accessing mental health resources, whether that was affordability, language and cultural barriers, or a lack of providers. My desire to become a counsellor stemmed from the need to be a pillar and a system of support for the community, and help reduce those barriers and stigma. I wanted to become the change I wanted to see in the world.

As a child of immigrants, I am the first person in my family to attend University and attend postgraduate school. My grandma never had the opportunity to attend school, and my mother was unable to complete her schooling. Therefore, I am proud of my perseverance and the opportunities I have had to pursue higher education, dismantle generational barriers for women who look like me and create a future that my mother and grandmother were never given the chance to have. 

A detective! I loved solving mysteries. 

I am spending time with my friends and family, travelling to new places, reading fiction, watching crime thrillers or true crime documentaries, and trying new restaurants. 

That counselling is collaborative, that you and your therapist are a team. If there is something that is not working, you are allowed to share it. If you feel like something else will work better, we can try it together. Counselling should always tailor to your needs, and that type of support looks different for everyone, since we all heal and grow differently. Don’t be afraid to voice how you feel. 

Seeing the growth of my clients when we compare the first session to the last, and sometimes, to the sessions in between. It’s knowing that I have been able to make a positive impact on their well-being and have been that supportive and guiding hand they’ve always needed to help them heal and move forward. 

Kind, non-judgmental, understanding and supportive. I want to create a space where you feel seen, heard and cared for. 

“I hope you live a life that you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald 

This quote resonates with me because it highlights that we can always start over and we are allowed to evolve, change and grow. This is something I like to tell my clients as well; we can outgrow our past, reframe how we view our old choices, and become that version of ourselves that we will be proud of