About me
I was born in Hull Qc, but I lived in Quebec City during my childhood. I do have to say that I have great memories growing up in Old Quebec City! In my early 20’s, I moved to Ottawa, as I wanted to experience something new and challenging. After a challenging relationship, I needed a change, and I was looking and hoping for a “new start” for my personal life and career-wise. I was not afraid of the unknown; on the contrary, I was excited about a new adventure!
Shortly after moving to Ottawa, I met my husband. We are two very different people in every sense of the word, but it works! Life went on, and like anybody else, we had our “ups and downs” moments. But, over the years, we are learning how to deal with life and grow together as a couple. I am a mom of 4 children. I have three girls and one son. Family is so important to me, and I am always on the look for ways to improve, strengthen relationships within the family. I have to admit, and it is one of my life mission to make family life, loving, and peaceful environment. As a mother, I have been through all the “good, and bad” about raising children like everyone else. I do understand the joy of being a parent and also the challenges that we may face as parents, in each stage of childhood.
I became a Christian in my 30’s, and I can tell you, “it rocked my life.” Did it change my life? Did it change me? Yes. For the best? Yes. I have been asked if it affected the way I see or help people. All I can say is that I feel blessed and that becoming a Christian has given me a bigger heart to help people while they are suffering. More than ever, I am committed to accompanied my clients in the midst of their struggles. Please ask me about my faith, and I would love to share it.
Like many people I meet, I have experienced traumatic situations. I understand and can relate to the pain. Trauma can bear on someone’s life, and I know that. It took me some personal investment and courage, but I walked my healing journey like many of you do. I can now tell you truthfully that I have learned how to accept the things I have been through and how to live peacefully with these past situations. I can also say that these challenging experiences have changed me; I am not the same person. My hardships have allowed me to grow as a person, to become more and more resilient, to tolerate stressors better, to appreciate simple things, to see life through different lenses, and to understand better what others are going through.
Few things that I love..
I love to spend time with my family.
I love to travel.
I love to learn new ways to care for mental well-being, and I love to share what I learn with anyone who needs support.
I love anything that has to do with art, I am totally a dog lover!
Education
I was young when I experienced hardship in life, and it had shaped the way I live, the way I see life, and interact with people. I knew deep in my core that I wanted to work with people facing life challenges. I felt that I could understand them and relate to them. I did not know exactly how I would do that, but I knew that my work would have to do with supporting people going through tough times. I was always curious about what other people go throw and how they were able to “move on” with life. Many times in my life, people would just come to me and would say that I am easy to talk too and that I make them feel safe enough to share their struggles with me. I just liked to help people, and I thought it came naturally to me. So, I decided to study social work at the University of Ottawa, with the goal in mind of obtaining my Master’s degree in Social Work so that I can help people through my private practice one day.
I started in college with Gerontology Social Work in 2003.
Then, I attended the University of Outaouais and completed my Bachelor in Social Work (BSW), 2005.
Finally, I went to the University of Ottawa and obtained a Master’s degree in Social work (MSW), 2009.
Work & Training
My work experience has given me invaluable opportunities to acquire knowledge and abilities to help people where ever they are in their walk of life. I provided counselling in:
Hospital Settings (Ottawa hospital, CHEO, Elizabeth Bruyere, St-Vincent hospital)
Brain Rehabilitation Center
Elementary and High schools
Community housing & services
Rehabilitation Center for young offenders, and Child Society Aids (CAS)
Taught at La Cite Collegiale, in Gerontology Social Work program
Clinical Supervisor for Eye Movement Integration Therapy (EMI)
This work experience has allowed me to help individuals, couples, and families facing challenges that life brought to them.
While working, I never stop learning better ways to help and support my clients. Being the most effective in my approaches with my clients, and give them the best care, was and it is still is very important to me. Beyond my formal training, I continued to study various psychological approaches to support my clients. I have trained in:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Impact Therapy
Mindfulness
Trauma training
Couple Counselling (Gottman Method)
Eye Movement Integration (EMI).
These approaches are valuable tools, and I value very much what they bring into the therapeutic process.