Background

Throughout my professional life, it has been my job to listen—first as a musician, and then as a counselling therapist. I know that it can be transformative and healing just to have your story heard. That’s why my priority as a counsellor is for my clients to feel understood and free to discuss topics with me that they might not be ready to talk about elsewhere. 

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My experience as a musician led directly to my interest in mental health. The community of classical musicians that I am a part of is filled with dedicated, passionate people, but also immense pressure to perform at the highest level. It’s no surprise, then, that we often struggle with issues like low self-esteem, substance use, anxiety, and loneliness. When I was still a full-time musician, I was troubled by how rarely we talked about these issues openly. I wanted to help break that silence, so I decided to begin a second career as a counsellor. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to work with a wide variety of clients and clinical issues, many of which have been different from my own experiences. Almost every time, however, I am struck more by what my clients and I have in common than what sets us apart.

 

Therapeutic Approach

Effective therapy, in my view, has more to do with the relationship we build together than any process or technique. So, when I say that my approach is strengths-based and compassionate, I really mean it. It’s crucial that we acknowledge your courage and resilience without ever minimizing the struggles you are facing. I know that often, people come to therapy dealing with issues that seem insurmountable. But I also know that small improvements—a bit more insight or self-compassion, for example—can make even the largest problems start to seem manageable. Therefore, I keep therapy grounded in your practical, present-day concerns, and I value tangible, incremental progress more than any far-off promise of a cure.

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In practice, I find it best to tailor my approach to each person. You might benefit most from the opportunity to process and reflect at your own pace, or you may prefer a more structured approach where we practice skills such as mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or Nonviolent Communication. If you want to explore your past experiences, including childhood, I would use an Adlerian approach, but I am equally comfortable focusing only on present-day concerns. No matter your situation, your feedback about what works and doesn’t work for you in therapy will always be our guide.

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My availability can be found here.