About

I love my work: it is an honour to support people in creating positive change.

Education and Experience

I am a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario (#2790). I have 15 years of experience counselling adults, and a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle.

Since 2004 I have counselled adults with concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, addictions, relationship issues, and grief and loss. I have worked with agencies including:

Volunteer work has included:

Body-centred and creative therapy interests

My interest in body-centred work developed in massage therapy school and subsequently through work as an acupressurist. I ran a business called Body Mind Works, combining counselling with body work between 2004 and 2007.

I have trained under supervisors and teachers with Somatic Transformation, Focusing and Hakomi expertise. As of 2017 I am studying an approach called Internal Family Systems and I continue to participate in Hakomi workshops and ongoing supervision. I have a personal practice of using Focusing with art (much of which I explore in the article mentioned below).

I practiced meditation regularly for much of my 20s and 30s and believe in the value of integrating mindfulness in daily life. I have taught meditation to groups and clients alike.

Since 2017 I have been training and playing a little as a theatrical clown and look forward to bringing these playful approaches into therapeutic groups in the future.

Scholarly writing

  • My Masters thesis explored the experience of attunement in the relationship between client and therapist, and was published as a book.
  • Navigating the Waters of Early Motherhood: Somatic Awareness, Creative Exploration and Being Held, published in Everyday World-Making by Demeter Press, 2018. (peer-reviewed)

Roots

Prior to immigrating to Canada in 2002, I worked in community development in both the UK and Nepal. I acquired a Bachelors degree in Social Anthropology and Comparative Religions (University of Manchester, England) and grew up in London, England.

Personal

I thrive on doing work I love, dancing (swing dance), performing (stilts, theatrical clowning), biking around town, growing vegetables (especially garlic), and in being in authentic, lively connection with others.

In 2013 I gave birth to my lovely son Theo. A wildish ride postpartum has led me to further training so I can support others in their transition. I have experience fostering kin and this experience opened my eyes to attachment disruptions and the daily lived impacts of early childhood trauma, as well of course as the joys of building family. I live with my son in the Locke St area of Hamilton.

What I bring as a therapist

I bring my heart-ful presence to each encounter.  My intuition and my humour follow.

I consider myself an ally of LBGTQ folks – I have counselled people of all ages who describe themselves as trans, gay, lesbian, bi as well as many people questioning their sexuality. I come from a place of enquiry and openness – staying away from assumptions and being opened to learning about each individual client. I seek to foster a world that is safe and welcoming for all people.

Since I was in my early 20s I’ve been an active user of counsellors so I know what it’s like to sit in the client seat. I’ve done a lot of inner work myself, both with counsellors and alone and with meditation and movement.

I like to think I’m fairly straight-forward. Sometimes this means naming my experience and being transparent if I see it as being in the service of my client. It might involve calling a spade a spade, or challenging you, or indeed telling you when I think someone else might better be able to help you.

I tend to be diligent. This means I often follow up with clients after sessions with resources. I will advocate for you if called.

If you think we might be a good fit, great! Let me know!

Testimonial

Working with Stephanie, I have been able to discover a whole world of possibility to heal inside of myself.

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