Find a Therapist in Victoria, BC

I am dedicated to helping and supporting clients with the highest degree of care and respect, believing that increasing self-compassion, acceptance, and personal growth empowers my clients to lead more meaningful and fulfilling lives. I truly believe we all have the capacity for “change” in all aspects of life, and that as human beings we have the power to change our world and our future. My perspective is always to look at people through a positive lens, seeing your personal strength and potential to change and grow in all aspects of life and in every moment, trusting in your ability to grow and make resourceful, healthy choices when given the opportunity. My approach is collaborative and egalitarian one that creates a safe and accepting atmosphere, allowing my clients to recognize and make sense of their experience. I incorporate evidence-based techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Person-centered Therapy and Narrative Therapy. I offer counselling in English and Farsi.

The journey of recovery from trauma can be an isolating and terrifying thing to endure. Our bodies carry the emotional wounds of the past into our present form, and glimpses of that pain can appear unexpectedly. But we do not have to be prisoners to our histories. If we learn to release this pent up energy; to sooth our inner children that have experienced so much suffering, and coach them through finding safety, worthiness, and love in the world as it is right now, we can learn to walk through our lives as our own leaders, no longer prisoners of the traumas of our past. One of my goals as a therapist is to build a totally unique, safe, healthy, and boundaried bond with each of my clients. I am strongly influenced by attachment theory, family systems, somatic awareness, mindfulness, and art. I am also a queer counselor, and a counselor of the queer! I believe in building meaningful relationships with my clients and sharing in their journeys of self-discovery and healing. If you are looking to get through your pain and find peace and playfulness in your life again, I may be a good fit for you. I believe it is possible to heal even our most sacred attachment wounds and free ourselves from the binds of trauma. And by caring for our relationships with ourselves and others, we can begin this journey.

My approach is warm, supportive, and personalized, combining techniques like Solution-Focused Therapy, CBT, Gottman's Couple Therapy Method, Internal Family Systems, Gestalt therapy, Emotionally Focused Individual and Couples Therapy, and EMDR therapy for specific trauma work. I’m here to help you navigate challenges, whether you're an adult, youth, family, or couple, and create a path toward healing, growth, and balance in your life. My goal is to offer a safe and compassionate space where you can explore your feelings and experiences, working together toward the changes you want to see.

My clinical approach is driven by my belief that people have the right to be themselves and lead fulfilling lives according to their values and culture. People know best what works for them and have the innate power to discover solutions for themselves. I also possess a strong faith in the ability and resiliency of people to make the necessary changes to flourish in their lives. Since therapy involves a major commitment of self, time, money, and energy, individuals should be very thoughtful about the therapist they select. I encourage people to make sure they feel comfortable with me and my approach in order to begin therapy. Throughout our time together, I will elicit feedback on how the therapeutic process is working for you. Therapy starts with an examination and evaluation of the presenting concern. I then work with clients to establish their personal goals. Therapeutic change occurs by helping people express and own their painful emotions and experiences within the safety of a therapeutic relationship. A safe therapeutic relationship also provides a non-judgmental environment where people are safe to express their deepest thoughts and emotions. I help people better understand their feelings, thoughts, interpersonal patterns, values as well as the past familial roots of their current difficulties. In addition, I actively seek out the fundamental strengths in each individual. I also address the impact of internalized oppression on our daily lives. As an African American woman, I understand the harm societys preconceived ideas can have on the individual spirit. I strive to ensure all therapy is culturally appropriate. I believe these factors help people move beyond their current challenges and experience hope, healing and growth. The ultimate goal of therapy is to remove the barriers which are preventing you from living your best life. My style is to take an emphatic, active, honest, non-judgmental, and direct approach. I am here to help people flourish, take action on the things which are important for you, move in a direction that is valuable and worthy, identify values and experience a powerful sense of strength and vitality.

**Accepting New Clients** (Updated 7.1.25). Are you going through a difficult life transition? You may feel confused, disoriented, uncertain about the future, and grief for what was. You've been through something major-- and it seems like everyone expects you to just move on. But you feel stuck. How do you move forward when your vision seems blurry? Or when you haven't yet moved through the grief? How do you begin to believe in yourself and see possibilities again? You can find meaning, direction, and joy again. You can find a way forward, and create a life deeply aligned with your values and interests. You can move through the grief, and begin to trust yourself and the world again. Even with all that's been lost, you can find contentment now, and begin to see the possibilities for your future. I'm here to help. I'm a Licensed Therapist and Certified Life Transition Guide, and offer tools for every step along the way. Having a guide can make all the difference in where you end up next, and how long it takes to get there. Visit my website to set up a free 20 minute phone consultation.

There are a number of reasons people choose to seek out therapy: grief and loss, an unexpected crisis, or a difficult life transition just to name a few. Whatever your reason for seeking out therapy, my goal is to create a safe, supportive space for you to gain a fresh perspective, explore paths out of "stuckness," and build hope that change is possible. My approach involves providing support and challenging individuals and families to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behavior to make lasting, meaningful changes. I have additional training in Medical Family Therapy and am passionate about helping individuals and families navigate the complex road of chronic and acute physical health conditions.

I consider therapy to be an alliance in which you and I work together to relieve unbearable aloneness, discover your strengths, encourage your innate strivings toward health and build new confidence in feeling and being in relationship. Every person has a need to be known and heard in an authentic, non-judgmental way. Every person has wisdom about themselves and what is needed to heal their lives. And fundamental to this, every person has the natural capacity for healing, for love and self esteem. In our work I may use a variety of tools and techniques to help move the therapy process but I recognize that change comes from the freedom to be and find oneself in the company of a trusted Other. There have been many influences on my thinking about therapy, most prominently my own life journey of healing transformation. Along the way Existentialist thought, Buddhist practicality, Relational, Experiential & Humanistic therapies have all made their marks. Participating in Nature?s cycles of change and renewal through gardening has profoundly influenced me. My experience as a parent, as a partner, as an artist has illuminated for me the endless horizons of human possibility. I will always talk with you about exercises or techniques I think might be helpful and, because our work is a collaboration, your agreement, choice, input and feedback is a necessary part of the dialogue of working together. Finding a therapist can be an intimidating process. If you would like an in-person meeting to decide whether I might be a good fit for you, I am happy to offer a 30 minute meeting at no charge. When you call make sure to specify if you are requesting this.

I specialize in helping adults who struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, complex trauma, codependency, and grief. My therapy style is relational, trauma-informed, and grounded in systems-oriented psychodynamic work, with additional training in object relations, mindfulness-based self-compassion, and CBT. I grew up in the American South, where cultural fractures and early experiences with loss, addiction, and mental illness shaped my deep respect for boundaries, self-awareness, and the need for ongoing care. In our work together, I offer warmth, honesty, and practical insight to help you untangle old patterns, strengthen your sense of self, and build more connected, fulfilling relationships.

My goal as a therapist is to help clients create lives that express who they truly are as whole and complex human beings. When we feel cut off from others or from ourselves, our innate sense of wholeness can get lost beneath unbearable aloneness. But psychotherapy can integrate the many parts of our brains and ourselves. This is a collaborative process that can heal old wounds by inviting us to experience ourselves in new ways, within the relationship we build with a warm and compassionate therapist. Therapy is a partnership, built on safety and acceptance. It invites us to rediscover the parts of ourselves we had to disown as children in order to keep our caregivers close; to learn new skills to handle grief and distress; to build healthier, more nurturing relationships; and to gain access to our own direct experience of the world, perhaps for the first time. I nurture this partnership with clients by recognizing that each individual possesses the wisdom he or she needs, as well as the innate capacity to love, to connect, and to thrive. I see the work clients and therapists do together as a celebration of and reconnection to the deep selves within us all. I know from experience that coming to rest on the true ground of our being, the amazing moments when something inside says, Yes, this is me! is the most powerful source of healing and growth.

Many of the individuals and/or couples I work with have issues ranging from trauma, depression, anxiety, addiction issues, poor communication skills, and an inability to regulate emotions effectively, trust issues, and those just looking to improve aspects of their lives. I believe people have the answers within themselves; they just need someone to help recognize their true inner strength and ability to cope with life's ups and downs. My specialities are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), somatic psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress (PTSD), as well as preparing Letters of Readiness for Gender Affirmation Surgery. I am so looking forward to working with you. Taking the first step is always the most difficult, but I am here to make the transition as smooth as possible. I welcome being a part of your journey to

I approach therapy from a relational lens, looking to help you evaluate your relationship with yourself, how it may impact your relationship with others, how you represent yourself in the world, and how it's affecting your current sense of well-being. In addition to evidence-based interpersonal therapy (IPT), I also incorporate self-compassion and multicultural therapies into my practice, which help me to tailor therapy to your unique needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. In a fast-paced world that is constantly asking us to do more or be better, it can be easy to lose sight of ourselves and our values. Even for those who are otherwise high achieving or functioning, the demands of our current culture can feel overwhelming. In therapy, we will work collaboratively to explore what's not currently working, and how to develop new ways of being that better support the life you'd like to live. Whether you're looking for someone to hold space for you, collaborate with you, or challenge you, or maybe even a little bit of each, we'll work together to help you to get the most out of therapy.

Each person is unique and has a story to tell. I will want to hear your story. I do my best to provide an empathic atmosphere where a person can feel safe to express any experience, however difficult it may be. Therapy will be different for each person depending upon their needs and temperament. For some people, I say little and provide support and encouragement. For others, I am more active speaking frequently and challenging them to think in new ways. Ultimately, change occurs through the therapeutic relationship.