I live and practice on lands that have been tended, lived upon and in intimate relation with its Original Peoples since time immemorial.
 

Where I live now, in a place (that has relatively recently in history come to be) called Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, other nations lived and thrived prior to the invasions of colonialism. This land is the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabek, the Mississauga, the Neutral and the Attawonderan peoples. The relationship and primacy of these Nations with this Land are both historic and present. Treaties and agreements have been made and inadequately upheld by colonizing peoples; this land and its inhabitants are the subjects of the Haldimand Treaty and Simcoe Patent (Treaty 4). Learn more here and here.

Coming into relationship
 

I and my ancestors migrated to and throughout Turtle Island for shelter and new beginnings via colonialism. Immeasurable harm has come to this land, its peoples, and its other-than-human kin through the impacts of colonialism.

It is my conviction that my practice/offerings serve to tend the living threads of history that have contributed to colonialism, genocide, alienation, and violence. Some such threads are overt and explicit in their connection to the work of therapy, while in others, the connection is more subtle.

Coming into good relationship with the land, its original and current entitled carekeepers, and having impact that supports this direction communally is very important to my practice and motivation of wellness for all.

Coming into feeling is a necessary ingredient of healing. This is a rich and complex subject. For the purpose of situating the work I offer: gaining the ability to feel what has not been felt as a function of existing in our social structure makes coming into feeling both subversive and necessary for individual and collective change. Learning to feel where we have been numb or cut off allows us to build the necessary capacities to actually engage with the complex realities woven into our social fabric as well as our individual and close relationships.

Direct action is required toward reparation and toward decolonization. One action I take is to redirect a portion of the financial income from my work to Indigenous organizations engaged in healing and culture nourishment and to lend my voice to political and other movements that strive for resourcing of Indigenous communities and accountability by the settler state/communities in the process of reconciliation. I have chosen to direct funds to the Unist'ot'en Healing Centre and  the Healing of the Seven Generations.  

Further, I offer the option of reduced fees for clients who are Indigenous to Canada and/or part of the global majority. If you identify as such and prefer reduced fees, I encourage you to mention this at the time of intake.