How I Found This Work
I founded Block House Counselling & Psychotherapy because of a deep interest in people, relationships, and the emotional struggles we all carry. My path into this work began through undergraduate psychology courses at the University of New Brunswick, then continued at the University of Toronto, where I pursued graduate coursework in psychoanalysis, sociology, sexuality, and equity studies.
For many years, I imagined myself becoming a full-time university professor. I loved teaching, writing, and helping people think differently about themselves and the world around them. Eventually, though, I realized that what mattered most to me was not simply studying people, but sitting with them in the room and helping them make sense of their lives.
That realization led me to complete a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and become a counselling therapist.
Although I chose not to pursue a career as a full-time professor, teaching remains a large part of my life. Over the past 15 years, I have taught at the University of Toronto, the University of New Brunswick, and St. Thomas University. I currently teach part-time in the Counselling Psychology program at UNB.
What Therapy With Me Is Like
My style as a therapist is warm, relational, and conversational. My work is influenced by relational and psychoanalytic approaches, which means I pay close attention to the ways our past experiences, relationships, and unconscious patterns continue to shape how we see ourselves and others. Clients often tell me they appreciate that they feel accepted and not judged in our work together. I believe that each of us is shaped by our relationships, families, culture, identities, and experiences. Because of this, I do not tend to see people in simplistic terms or as “good” or “bad.” I am usually more interested in understanding why someone thinks, feels, or behaves the way they do.
I work particularly well with people who tend to live in their heads. Many of my clients are thoughtful, bright, self-aware people who analyze themselves constantly, struggle with uncertainty, or feel stuck trying to think their way out of anxiety, panic, or emotional pain. While insight can be valuable, I also help clients move beyond overthinking and toward greater acceptance, emotional awareness, and self-compassion.
Who I Work Best With
I have a particular interest in anxiety, panic, identity, relationships, sexuality, spirituality, and the ways our past experiences continue to shape our present lives. I also enjoy working with people who feel “stuck” in repeating patterns in their relationships or who are trying to make sense of who they are and how they want to live.
A Personal Perspective
My own experiences with anxiety, panic, and depression have shaped the way I approach therapy. I know what it is like to become trapped in your thoughts, to search for certainty, and to want relief as quickly as possible. Because of this, I often draw from approaches that emphasize mindfulness, acceptance, and learning how to make room for difficult emotions rather than constantly fighting against them.
I also understand that struggles around faith, spirituality, and identity can be deeply personal and complicated. Having grown up around Christianity and the church, I know that religion can be both meaningful and painful. For some people, faith remains important. For others, part of the work involves questioning, leaving, grieving, or redefining what spirituality means to them.
My Background & Training
Alongside my counselling training, I also hold a Master’s degree and completed all coursework toward a PhD in Sociology and Equity Studies at the University of Toronto, in collaboration with the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies. This background has given me extensive experience working with issues related to sex, sexuality, gender, sexual identity, relationships, sexual health, and diversity.
I am a Licensed Counselling Therapist with the College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick and a Certified Canadian Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. I have also completed advanced training in interpersonal psychoanalytic psychotherapy through the William Alanson White Institute in New York and am currently a Fellow with the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy.
Ultimately, I see therapy as a place where you can slow down, feel understood, and begin to make sense of yourself in a deeper way. My hope is that our work together can help you feel more connected to yourself, more accepting of your humanity, and more able to move through life with a greater sense of freedom and clarity.