The pandemic disrupted more than routines - it reshaped identities , relationships and the way many of us relate to our bodies, boundaries and beliefs . For me COVID-19 wasn't just a global event; it was a personal reckoning. Isolation bought clarity, loss revealed what was unsustainable . In my own life I had to re-evaluate what safety meant, how I showed up in relationships an what parts of me were worth preserving - not just performing, especially during a time of great changes.

I started struggling with anorexia, OCD, depression, and anxiety as a teenager, which led me to outpatient and inpatient treatment before college. Drinking entered my life around 19 or 20 and, at first, it felt like it helped ease my eating issues and anxiety. I didn’t see myself as having a problem, even when I dropped out of college after two years. Through my twenties and thirties, alcohol became a crutch I would return to, especially when life got overwhelming. Being a stay-at-home mom in a place I didn’t love, feeling isolated and stuck, made things worse. By 2016, my drinking was out of control again and my mental health was spiraling. In 2019, after a move to Florida and a month of drinking alone, I looked at myself in the mirror and realized I was done. I got sober that May and have stayed sober ever since. Art, writing, and connecting with others in recovery have helped me heal. Today, I lead a large online sobriety support group and love helping others find their way to a better life too.

I’ve lived with bipolar type 1 for over 25 years and have navigated many dark and overwhelming moments in my life. Through therapy and developing coping skills, I’ve learned how to find balance, manage anxiety, and reconnect with myself. In this session, I bring that experience to support you in regulating your nervous system, grounding your energy, and reconnecting with self-love. I provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where you’ll be heard, supported, and guided through practices like mindfulness, creative exercises, and reflective tools tailored to your needs. We’ll focus on helping you feel centered and emotionally clear, even when life feels heavy or overwhelming.

Sometimes, we just need to be heard. This session is a safe, non-judgmental space to vent, process emotions, and feel truly understood. As a certified mental health peer support specialist, I’ll meet you with empathy, validation, and practical tools to help you move forward. I have the type of personality where I feel much better after talking through what's bothering me. Some people can do this on their own or with journaling, but for me--processing with someone is very helpful. Book this when you want a supportive ear and gentle guidance through life’s challenges.

I know firsthand what it feels like to ride the highs and lows of a mood disorder. I was diagnosed with Bipolar I, Rapid Cycling with Psychotic Features in my early 20s, after an involuntary hospitalization. At first, I struggled: going off medication, landing back in the hospital, and feeling like a shadow of myself. That was my turning point. From there, I committed to a wellness plan that truly supported my life. I’ve immersed myself in wellness and mental health education, including multiple college and university courses. I actively practice and teach skills from CBT, ACT, and DBT—tools that help me navigate challenges every day. Because I’ve been there, I can go there with you too. Together, we can talk openly about the ebb and flow of living with a mood disorder, whether you need validation, new coping strategies, or just someone who truly understands. This is a safe space where you don’t have to explain yourself: you can simply be heard, supported, and met with empathy.

I am no stranger to stress! My background in health psychology and experience with the therapeutic process can help you achieve your goals of managing and coping with stress, in addition to regulating emotions. The mission isn't to rid our lives of stress - which is impossible - but to develop a healthy relationship with life's challenges and ourselves, and feel comfortable facing unpleasant emotions.

I grew up surrounded by emotional chaos—parents struggling with alcoholism and depression, and a childhood full of absence, confusion, and pain. I witnessed and experienced physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and for a long time I believed that love had to hurt. Those early wounds followed me into adulthood, shaping my relationships, my decisions, and the way I saw myself. I experienced miscarriage, divorce, and unhealthy romantic partnerships that echoed the abandonment I felt as a child. For years, I felt unlovable, constantly questioning my worth. But eventually, I chose healing. Through therapy, education, holistic work, and deep personal reflection, I began to break the cycle. I’ve now built a life rooted in healthy love, both for my children and for myself. My journey wasn’t easy, but it showed me that healing is possible, even when life is still messy. If you're feeling stuck in old patterns or questioning your worth, I want to walk beside you as you begin to reclaim your story.

I know how hard it can feel when it feels like your mind is working against you 24/7. I’ve been in those dark places myself. That’s why I believe recovery isn’t about perfection but about small steps, compassion for ourselves, and knowing we don’t have to go through it alone. With me, you’ll always be met with empathy, because I understand what it feels like to struggle and to have to fight your way back. Drawing from my lived experience with depression, bipolar II, BPD, and substance use recovery, I speak to the realities of mental health with both honesty and hope. Over the past five years of sobriety, I’ve developed not only personal tools for resilience but also a deep commitment to supporting others on their paths.

I started self-harming at 13. For years it was my go-to for any overwhelming feeling — a secret crutch that led to many severe episodes and multiple psychiatric hospitalizations. Gradually I made small changes that made life more manageable, but urges still come up; I’ll probably always be a person who needs to manage cravings. I’m not perfect or “cured,” I’m in recovery — not a destination but ongoing work: learning gentler coping skills, unpacking why I turned to harm, and facing the grief, guilt, shame, isolation and emptiness it left behind. Over time I found deeper reasons to keep going: building a sense of self, pride in growth, and joy that outlasts the temporary relief of hurting. I’m here to listen, to explore what your journey looks like, and to support whatever steps you want to take — or simply hold space for your triggers, urges, and pain.

I spent two years of my young adulthood in and out of psychiatric hospitals, sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not. During that time, I felt swallowed by depression, anxiety, and the aftermath of painful relationships that left me unsure if I’d ever feel free again. I was constantly cycling through crisis, often misunderstood, and sometimes silenced in the very systems that were supposed to help. Then I discovered Psychiatric Advanced Directives (PADs), and everything started to shift. I’ve used PADs to express my wishes, protect my rights, and bring my care team—my psychologist, naturopath, even legal support—into alignment. I’ve rewritten my PAD more times than I can count, especially after triggering experiences, because I’ve learned how powerful it is to state clearly what I need before a crisis hits. Creating a PAD has helped me not only stay safe but also stay connected to who I am, even in my hardest moments. Now, I want to help others do the same. If you’re navigating mental health challenges and want to build a plan that supports the practical imagination of frameworking for your own #ThisAbility, I’d love to walk you through what PADs are and how they can support your freedom, safety, and care.

I see or hear something that displeases me; there’s an immediate surge of energy in my gut. I feel like cursing or striking out. Or I feel like crying and hiding as when I was a child and anger wasn't allowed. Sometimes anger simmers unconsciously below the surface, waiting for a moment to erupt, most often at an inappropriate time bringing guilt or shame. It might translate into passive aggression, a biting comment or icy silence. Sometimes it morphs into something entirely different – anxiety or sadness or fear. Without psychoanalyzing, developing awareness of unrecognized anger can put us in control of it. Anger manifests in many ways. It often masquerades as insomnia and food disorders. Understanding how it manifests, acknowledging its presence, exploring it's origins and recognizing this consciously helps us better navigate it's various forms and respond in ways that are constructive rather than destructive. Giving help with such exploration is the work of a Warmer Expert.

Resilience, the ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity, is an essential skill in the modern world. Some people appear naturally resilient. If that's not you, the good news is you can cultivate resilience through conscious effort and intentional practices. Building resilience enables you to navigate setbacks, grow from challenges, and maintain a sense of purpose in the face of uncertainty. Growing resilience requires self-awareness, self-regulation, optimism, self-compassion and a growth mind-set to name a few. I have gone through the twists and turns that life presents: family disintegration, child-estrangement, physical challenges , job and career loss. Though it was rocky, I survived and ultimately thrived. Certain practices strengthen your ability to cope with stress and to recover from setbacks. They foster growth and adaptation. Let’s navigate your current setback(s) together. Let me be your co-pilot in discovering skills you don't yet know you have.

In my early adulthood, I had very intense emotional reactions to things that may have seemed small to others. It would often feel as though I was not in the driver's seat of my own emotions and behaviors. I was often scared of my own responses to things and found myself frequently withdrawn because of this. Through my schooling in psychology and years of therapy, I started to understand what was under the surface of my big emotions. It wasn't about the small things; these reactions were a response to my past experiences. Now that I understood that behavior is often shaped by trauma, I was able to take a step back before externalizing and trace the emotion to its root. This and other therapeutic approaches allowed me to manage my emotions more effectively, which in turn allowed me to help those close to me going through similar things. I'd like to offer that same understanding and guidance here. Reclaiming emotions is possible with the right support.

Life doesn’t wait for you to catch your breath, it barrels through like a freight train, throwing deadlines, people, and chaos at you all at once. I’ve been there, drowning in the noise and pressure, feeling like my brain and body were stuck on overload. Stress isn’t some polite visitor; it’s that relentless storm you can’t switch off. I’ve learned the hard way that trying to push through only burns you out faster. Managing overwhelm means slowing down enough to notice what’s really breaking you, giving yourself permission to say “no” or “not right now,” and finding fierce but gentle ways to survive the madness. No BS, no fake cheerleading, just real talk and space for your tired soul. Come, rest, weary traveller.

Ever since I was a child, my dream was to be a stay-at-home mom. When I finally had kids, I loved them deeply, but I quickly realized parenting was much tougher than I had imagined. I carried high expectations into motherhood, shaped by a culture where achievements were praised and kids were often compared to others. I expected a lot from my children and, without meaning to, placed a heavy burden on them. This led to frustration, tension, and a lot of anger that I didn’t know how to manage at first. Over time, through self-reflection and a real desire to change, I learned to recognize the harm my anger was causing and worked hard to rebuild trust and connection with my kids. Our relationships are so much stronger now, and I am grateful every day for the second chance I created by showing up differently. I’d love to walk alongside anyone else who wants to repair and strengthen their bond with their children.

The pivotal point in my healing journey was when I was hospitalized with suicidal ideation at age 33, and hospitalized again after a suicide attempt at age 35. Along with clinical depression, I struggled with panic attacks and anxiety from complex PTSD as well as ongoing abuse from my toxic family system. I thought I wouldn't live past age 45 until I found support from trauma-focused talk therapy and peers at age 40. Peers understood and believed me about the abuse I survived and were living proof that a different life was possible. This was vital to my healing journey and inspired me to become a Peer Support Specialist. I have spent years in trauma-focused talk therapy, consistently talking with peers, learning coping skills and practicing good self-care. I am now in my 50s. I am happy, and my lifestyle supports good mental and physical health and I have separated myself from the abusive people of my past and have healthy relationships with friends and chosen family.

During my healing journey, there were moments when words just weren’t enough. I needed something deeper—something that could express what I couldn’t say, process what I couldn’t name, and bring beauty into the parts of me that still felt broken. That’s when creativity became my medicine. Through therapeutic art and connecting with nature, I found a way to transform pain into purpose. Singing, drawing, cooking healthy meals, writing, walking in nature—all of it became a sacred release, a return to my authentic self. I discovered that you don’t need to be an artist to heal through creativity—you just need to be willing to express yourself in new ways, even if you are an artist. These practices continue to support my emotional wellbeing, reduce anxiety, and help me stay grounded. I now guide others to reconnect with their inner child, tap into their intuitive voice, and use creativity as a bridge to deep transformation.

There is stress, and then there is "overwhelming, I do not recognize myself, everything irritates me" stress. There came a time when I was going to therapy and learning all of the coping skills, and for some reason, I could not implement them. I finally realized that I was not safe with me and that progress was better than perfection. It took time and apologies to my loved ones and myself for me to realize that I get to choose what works for me in my times of stress, depression, and anxiety. I have enjoyed a variety of things from tapping, reiki, mindfulness, life coaching, a what works list, implementing boundaries, a nervous system reset, and much more. I would love to support you in finding out what works for you when you are triggered, tired, stressed, or feel like giving up. Together we can explore what works for YOU.

When I was in college, I lost a close friend to suicide during the height of the pandemic. The shock of it, combined with the loneliness of that time, hit me harder than I could have imagined. I was eventually diagnosed with major depression and felt completely stuck, questioning my own worth and purpose. Over the past five years, I’ve poured myself into healing, studying psychology, and creating self-regulation tools to move through sadness, anger, and guilt. I learned to honor my friend's memory without letting grief define me. I also worked to rebuild my confidence, leaving behind toxic relationships and embracing sobriety in 2021. Through all of this, I realized how powerful it is to have someone walk with you through healing. Now, as a life coach and mentor, I’m passionate about helping others find their footing again after loss.

I have worked as a nanny and sleep trainer for over 20 years, caring for more than 80 children, many of whom were neurodivergent. I am neurodivergent myself and understand firsthand how much having the right systems at home can impact a child’s emotional wellbeing. I once supported a parent whose child struggled with intense emotional outbursts. Together, we created simple, respectful home routines that worked with the child's brain instead of against it. I also coached the parent on how to communicate in ways that made their child feel heard and safe. Over time, the tantrums decreased, and the bond between the parent and child became stronger. I never approach challenges with shame—I believe that emotional maturity, intentional boundaries, and understanding each brain’s unique needs are the keys to a peaceful home. I would love to help you build a nurturing environment where both you and your child can thrive.