I am a Clinical Social Worker with a passion for helping children and families improve their emotional health and strengthen relationships. This passion led me to gaining specialized training through the Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy and incorporating Child and Play Based Therapies as my primary area of practice. I started my social work education in 2003 when I enrolled in the Social Service Work Diploma program through Niagara College in Welland, Ontario. During this program I worked directly with an adult population accessing community mental health services through the Canadian Mental Health Association Niagara. This led me to the Bachelor of Science in Social Work Degree through Niagara University in Lewiston, New York. While completing this program I gained direct experience working with children, youth, and families in both inpatient and outpatient mental health settings in the Niagara Region, Ontario. One of my mentors connected me with the Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy and my interest became peaked in the area of Child Therapy and I subsequently completed the Child and Play Therapy Certificate Program. After achieving my B.S.W and becoming a Registered Social Worker, I gained employment as a Long Term Protection Worker with the Department of Community Services - Child Welfare in Kentville, Nova Scotia where I worked for four years before enrolling in a Masters of Social Work Program at Memorial University in St. During the Masters program I gained clinical experience providing therapeutic services to children, individuals, and couples at Family Service Association in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I also completed a Masters thesis titled: Is Ignorance Really Bliss? Child Welfare Workers Speak Out About Their Understanding of Best Practice when Working with Children Exposed to Domestic Violence. I returned to Child Welfare for one year before beginning in Private Practice in 2012 at Bower Jacquard Psychological Services in Coldbrook, Nova Scotia. While there, I provided individual, couples, family, and child therapy and started a Co-Parenting Plan development process for separated and divorced parents. My primary area of practice is providing therapy to children and youth between the ages of 2.5 to 16 years of age however, my scope spans across all ages within the family and I have experience providing individual therapy to those well into their 80's. I continue to gain new knowledge and skills through professional development in a variety of areas and am continuously reviewing research and articles related to best practice as a social worker. My clinical social work practice is governed by the Canadian Association of Social Workers and the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (formerly the NSASW). Based on my professional Code of Ethics, I am required to respect confidentiality and engage in services which adhere to these standards. When I am not engaging in my work I am at home with my two children and husband, with whom I have been in a relationship with for over 12 years. Since having children I have been driven to create a healthy work/life balance and I work part-time. After having my second child I decided it would be a good opportunity to begin my own Private Practice and when opportunity presented itself, I took the leap!
