Lilies, Locusts & Lavender

My ultimate goal and aim is to help guide people back to their own authority and inner resources while breaking all the puritanically set rules around healing and spirituality. I deeply understand the importance of decolonization. I acknowledge that all modern therapeutic roots were originally designed only to assist caucasians, particularly men and the upper class. I have seen first-hand that the white wellness culture craze has caused more harm than good. In my practices I focus on repair and conflict resolution tools as well as boundaries. Therapy at large has perpetuated a hyper individualtsic mindset. It is my hope to shift the focus back to co-regulation and community whenever there is safety and ability to do so. I try to eradicate the separation stories. I implement sliding scale prices to be able to distribute resources to all walks of life.

With all of that being said my educational roots come from an institution. When I was 18 years old (2009) I attended the institute for human services, where I worked toward my youth worker diploma over the course of two years. The program was designed to cross-train you to work with all age groups. We focused on cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and how the developmental phases can affect you later in life. I was privileged enough to attend a school where my teachers removed hierarchy and implemented humanness. I was on a first name basis with my teachers. the number one message I took from my teachers is that life experience often trumps study when working with people.

Afterwards I went on to work in a retirement home for a few years where I did many different jobs within the facility. I saw the shadow side of what happens when we shove our elders and the dying out of sight. I got extremely burnt out and thought working in a bar would be taking a break. I now understand that bars are safe consumption sites and that I never stepped away from the human services path. My 10 years of working in the service industry only added to my ability to show up in my practice, and I often used the tools I gained with my patrons.

In 2018 I obtained my death doula certification through INELDA but did not feel equipped to start practicing and in 2019 I got an add-on certification at the Willow Farm contemplative centre. "The cause to pause program" was my last missing piece. The program was largely modeled after Roshi Joan Halifax's teachings.

I've since gone on to expand what death work means to me and have aided people in support who choose to have at home abortions as well as working with people at end of life and bereavement work.

On top of my formal education I am also versed in astrology and tarot, which I often interweave into my practices.

I combine my certifications and my lived experiences while remaining rooted in my humanness when I show up to aiding others wherever they may be on their life path.