Counselor and Licensed Mental Health Counselor
I currently serve as the principal of Morfee Elementary School, counselling has always been the passion that has guided my career. Throughout my professional journey, I have consistently sought opportunities to support individuals facing significant mental health challenges, and I have found the greatest fulfillment in helping people navigate trauma, adversity, and personal growth.
My counselling experience has been shaped by working with at-risk youth in remote and underserved communities throughout British Columbia and Saskatchewan. While serving as principal at Dease Lake School, I frequently found myself acting as the school's primary counsellor due to the limited availability of community mental health services. Many students presented with complex trauma, PTSD, substance use, grief, anxiety, depression, and the effects of intergenerational trauma. Supporting these students required patience, sound clinical judgment, strong therapeutic relationships, and close collaboration with families, Elders, community agencies, and multidisciplinary teams.
Prior to my work in Dease Lake, I served as Lead Teacher at the Community Learning Centre in Merritt, British Columbia, where I worked alongside the Take a Hike Foundation supporting youth who had experienced significant adversity. Many students struggled with trauma, addiction, school avoidance, mental illness, and involvement with child welfare and the justice system. Through relationship-based practice, land-based programming, and individualized planning, I worked to help students rediscover hope, resilience, and confidence in their ability to succeed.
My years in La Loche, Saskatchewan had perhaps the greatest influence on my development as a counsellor. After beginning as a senior English teacher, I transitioned into the role of guidance counsellor. Following the tragic school shooting in 2016, our school community faced extraordinary challenges surrounding trauma, grief, and healing. During this time, we developed the Dene High Outdoor School, an immersive land-based education program rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing and healing. Working alongside Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members taught me invaluable lessons about culturally responsive practice, resilience, and the importance of connection to land and community in supporting mental wellness.
Across each of these roles, I have developed extensive experience working with individuals experiencing complex trauma, PTSD, addictions, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, family instability, and crisis situations. My approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration, cultural humility, and trauma-informed practice. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to move toward their own goals.
My experience as both a counsellor and educational leader has strengthened my ability to remain calm under pressure, communicate effectively during difficult situations, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, and advocate for those who often struggle to advocate for themselves. While these leadership experiences have been invaluable, they have also reinforced that my greatest professional fulfillment comes from working directly with individuals in a counselling capacity.
I hold an Honours BA in Philosophy, a bachelor of education and a master of education in school counselling. I am a registered clinical counsellor in British Columbia and a Canadian Certified Counsellor.
- City University of Seattle in 2025
