As a single mother in the 1970s, I returned to school while working to support my sons, and obtained teaching certification through Malaspina College and the University of Victoria. While teaching, I continued my education, acquiring a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Victoria, then a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago and Vancouver.
My growing interest in the effects of traumatic experiences on individuals’ thinking, emotions, and behaviour led me to extended training in neuropsychology and new techniques based on this growing area of research. Specifically, techniques such as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (Francine Shapiro, PhD), Imaginal Nurturing (April Steele, MA), and Sensorimotor Therapy (Pam Ogden, PhD) have been invaluable additions to my therapeutic toolbox, and most recently, Dr. Dan Siegel’s writings on Mindfulness.
