As I was growing up, mental health was never a topic of discussion. It only was a topic of prejudice, sometimes pity and was used to label people. I often wondered what these people were being labelled for. For not fitting in like the others? These questions existed within me and got amplified through my own experiences. That is what prompted me to enter the field of mental health and become a counsellor. To understand what mental health is and what it is influenced by. As I went deeper into my training, I began to find language that allowed me to speak of my own experiences, understand the nuances in mental health and the impact social constructs have on our mental health. Now, as a mental health professional I wish to create safe and accessible spaces to talk about mental health.

Creating safe spaces in collaboration with people coming from different intersections where they can talk about their lived experiences.

I hope for my clients to feel heard and seen in a space that is safe, collaborative and attuned to understanding their stories.

Choosing to seek therapy is an important step and one that can also be difficult for a person because of a multitude of reasons. I would encourage clients to take it slow, take time to understand what they need and what they want to talk about in therapy, to ask questions to their therapist and make informed choices to prioritize what they need.

I would like to build a therapeutic relationship that is collaborative, warm, provides space for vulnerability and is attuned to the knowledge clients have through their lived experiences. I wish for the client to know that as a therapist I am not an expert on their lives, but I am a fellow traveller who is here to listen and walk with them on this journey. Before beginning sessions, I invite clients to have a conversation where they can ask questions and we can discuss their rights in the therapeutic space.

While there have been many learnings along the way, the one that stays with me the most is that conversations around mental health cannot be restricted to the margins. They need to be front and centre with greater focus on shared community knowledge and lived experiences of persons.

My ability to listen, empathize, hold space for people and their vulnerabilities and keep learning and building up my skills as a practitioner

Reading, listening to music (often sticking to familiar songs and playlists), some kind of artwork (including random scribbling!), trying out new food and going back to comfort food options, catching up with my people and taking naps.

I use a person centered, strength based and trauma informed approach. This means that in my work I prioritize the needs of my clients, their lived experiences, and their stories. I also bring in an intersectional, queer affirmative and neurodiversity affirmative lens in my work which means I recognize the impact of dominant social structures and narratives on people and their lives.

I am trained in queer affirmative work and continue to keep myself informed about the knowledge being shared by queer and trans* persons about their experiences. I make sure to be vocal about my stance, use inclusive language in my work and keep resources ready that I can share with my clients.