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Hello and thank you for being here! I am a Registered Psychologist who focuses on the treatment of trauma and complex loss. I find that so much of my practice is based on the idea of the shattered vase (Dr. Stephen Joseph). Trauma and loss have a way of making us feel as though we have been broken, perhaps into thousands of little pieces, but I want my clients to recognize that even with this, they now have a choice. They can throw those pieces away and see themselves as missing parts, they can attempt to recreate the vase knowing it will never be what it once was, or, they can use these pieces to create a mosaic: something different than what we anticipated but beautiful none the less.
I have a bachelor of Science majoring in Biological Sciences (why yes I am a bio nerd, thank you so much) and a Master of Counselling Degree through City University of Seattle. As mentioned, my area of practice focuses on trauma and complex grief. The vast majority of my clients are either first responders or perinatal individuals (pregnant and/or postpartum) however, I am happy to consult to see if I could be a fit for your needs. I am a behaviour based therapist (which often means I am more directive in session) who is heavily influenced by attachment theory and existential perspectives. My clients will often get some mixture of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, the Grief Recovery Method, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with flavors of attachment based, existential, and narrative processing.
Simply put, my personal philosophy is to provide a space where I sit with, support, and at times, guide other individuals to rediscover their most balanced selves. I specifically choose the word balanced because I understand that we cannot strive for things to be successful, or even happy, all of the time. Unfortunately, life will always present challenges but I work to help my clients find the strength to meet those challenges when they arrive, to cope and find recovery when those challenges knock us down, and to soak up the moments and sense of contentment that exist when the challenges are not present (or at least are less present).
I truly pride myself on authenticity so you will always be getting an honest and real version of me. I tend to kick off my shoes when I feel I need to really focus and you will often see me with a cup of tea in hand (I can’t drink coffee after noon). I also really enjoy research and reading and will happily rattle off “fun facts” whenever one comes to mind.
Please feel free to contact the clinic to learn more about services we offer or to connect with Sam and determine if her style of therapy could be a fit for you. We look forward to the opportunity to learn more about you and your goals!
Ready to take the next step towards better mental health? Contact us to schedule a consultation or learn more about our specialized services. We're here to support you on your journey to healing and well-being.