Everything I do is to empower others to see their own greatness. I believe everyone deserves to have someone special by their side to offer support, guidance, hope and encourage self-empowerment when someone dear to them has died. From this heartfelt space is where I shine, naturally uplifting those grieving a loss.

Through my life’s journey with moments of joy and deep despair I know I am no different than many of your clients or yourself. Now, I define myself by the courage and strength it took me to get to where I am today. Many others saw this in me long before I believed in myself.

I did not start out in this spot. By 2004 my heart had stopped singing and I had lost myself. After 29 years of marriage I started my life over. I truly believe I have been guided to where I am supposed to be.

First receiving a diploma from college as a Social Service Worker, and being a registered member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) ever since, I kept going to school.

Graduating from the university at the age of 54 in 2010 with a 4-year degree in Thanatology; which is the study of death and loss, I opened my private practice “Healing a Heart’s Loss” as a grief counsellor. I am a Psychotherapist through the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. I also describe myself as a Grief Counsellor; which is a generalized term for supporting grieving individuals.

Throughout my life’s journey I have experience with supporting those with codependency and addiction concerns, abortion, traumas, spirituality, loss of self, child loss, murder, Indigenous and multigenerational losses, suicide loss and much more.

Life is said to be a journey you go through, not a destination. For myself it is a process of self discovery, and trying to stay in my own lane; not taking on other people’s problems. Being there to care and not carry what is not mine.

I have been told that when talking about death and loss that, “This is were I shine”.

In the past several years while doing counselling and supporting individuals who have had someone die by suicide and noticing the steady increase of those needing supports; I became overwhelmed and frustrated.

Counsellors, teachers, hospital staff and more call me to help them support their clients with grief and loss. What the heck is going on? I asked a few if they had the basic skills to ask questions and listen effectively; to which they responded with YES.

I then asked them what was stopping them from talking about death, grief and loss. The main response I heard was; “I don’t know how to start the conversation and what to say next”.

THAT WAS IT! I HAD A REASON AND AN ANSWER TO WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I now offer programs to empower counselors to confidently support their clients who present with grief and loss scenarios.

Are you ready to shine bright for your clients?