Hi, I’m Courtney. Stressful and traumatic experiences impact our day-to-day lives in a variety of ways. These feelings can leave us feeling stuck and isolated. My passion is working alongside people who are seeking to heal from past trauma and manage all of the ways it is affecting their lives. As a mom of two young children, I like to integrate my experience as a clinician and as a parent into my practice. 

Why Work With Me? 

I use a client-centered, trauma informed approach. This means that we will work together to address your concerns and determine how I can best support you in your journey. Becoming a parent can feel overwhelming and isolating. I strive to create a space in which you can explore any feelings that may be coming up for you.

My Approach 

My therapy approach focuses on helping you explore your history and determine how it may be impacting your present. We will work together to identify thoughts and behavioural patterns that are preventing you from feeling your best. I want you to be more in control of your emotions so you can feel more confident as you navigate through life’s challenges.

Through exploring emotions and behaviours, we can begin to see the ways in which certain thought processes and behaviours have acted as protectors and coping strategies, often stemming from early life experiences. Making these connections can often leave us with more understanding, compassion and an ability to grow and transform our lives and show up the way we want to for our kids.

Techniques Used 

I am a Registered Social Worker with a Masters in Social Work from Lakehead University. My primary and preferred therapeutic approach is Trauma Incident Reduction (TIR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Exposure and Response Therapy for OCD.

Education 

• Bachelor’s Degree (B.A) in Gender Studies (Honours)- Queen’s University

• Bachelor’s Degree (B.A) in Social Worker (Honours)- Lakehead University

• Master’s Degree (M.A) in Social Work- Lakehead University

Certifications / Training

• Clinical Traumatology Certification- Traumatology Institute

• Perinatal Mental Health Certification- Postpartum Support International

• Traumatic Incident Reduction Certification- Traumatic Incident Reduction Association

• EFT/TFT Tapping Master Practitioner Certification- Graham Nicholls

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trained- Niagara Stress and Trauma Clinic

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory: a New Tool for Improving Health Outcomes for First Nations, Metic and Inuit peoples- Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Violence & Children

• Trauma-Focused CBT- The Medical University of South Carolina

• Trauma and IFS: Releasing Personal and Legacy Burdens- Mission Empowerment

• Navigating the Nervous System: A Polyvagal Approach to Clinical Work- Deb Dana

• Sandplay Therapy Training Level I- Canadian Association of Sandplay Therapy

• Mastering EMDR Therapy: A Practicum Experience- Kathleen Martin LCSW

• Life Stress Reduction- Case Planning Workshop- Applied Metapsychology International

• Treating Trauma Master Series- NICABM

• Cognitive Behaviour Institute- Exposure and Response Therapy for OCD

Professional Memberships

• Licensed Member of The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)

• Licensed Member of The Ontario Association of Social Worker