Adopted since birth, I carried with me the belief that I was unworthy of love. I grew fearful of rejection and abandonment to the point that I would sabotage relationships, hurting the ones I loved most. My peers could taste this fear and they used it against me; bullying and abuse made me feel even more rejected and unworthy. Growing up in an invalidating household, I learned that negative attention felt better than no attention at all. But somehow, through these fears, I also learned great strength and resiliency. I started working at a very young age and learned that I have a very unique ability to connect with those who were also suffering.

I have been working in the mental health and helping field for almost 2 decades now. Even from a very young age, I fostered and grew my connection with others and developed a very strong passion for helping. Growing up, I struggled to find my voice in the crowd and used this experience to teach others how to speak up for themselves. At age 14, I started working at the Boys and Girls club doing programming with underprivileged youth. By age 18, I had a full-time job in Child Welfare, working with children who had been removed from the care of their parents. Throughout high school, I volunteered at homeless shelters and advocated for low-income children and families. I could feel that my actions were making a difference, fuelling my passion for helping others and healing my own wounds along the way. Alongside my passion for helping others is my passion for the natural world, building awareness and connection with nature that I now use in my daily practice.

Currently I am a **Registered Psychotherapist; **I have found a way to combine my life experience, my education, and my passion for nature into a professional practice that meets the unique needs of individuals. Every one of us has a different experience in life, and I believe that this should be fostered in the counselling relationship. I work with a range of ages, presenting concerns, and co-morbidities.

I specialize in working with those who are struggling to overcome difficulties, and have experienced trauma and other adverse life events; offering services and interventions such as: Trauma and PTSD, Child and Youth Counselling, Adolescent Counselling, Gender Identity, Depression and Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation, Anger, ADHD/ASD; other spectrum disorders, Addictions; including Eating Disorders, Relationships and Couples, Personality Disorders, Vocational Counselling, Ecotherapy, EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, CBT, CPT, REBT, Emotion Focused Therapy.

We are all on a journey through life and my goal is to foster resilience and growth so it doesn’t have to feel so hard. I would love the opportunity to talk with you to see how we can work together. I look forward to talking with you in a FREE 15-minutes consultation.

Adopted since birth, I carried with me the belief that I was unworthy of love. I grew fearful of ... Read More

Struggling with self-doubt, I felt adrift in life, often questioning my self-worth. I hit rock bottom, feeling lost and unsupported, unsure of my future. In a moment of desperation, I took a courageous step and reached out for help, seeking a lifeline. This pivotal moment ignited my passion for helping others, leading me to my true calling as a therapist. —With the guidance of a family friend, who offered basic life coaching skills, I began to uncover my strengths and rebuild my confidence. This experience taught me that the right support can illuminate a path through even the darkest times. Determined to make a difference, I pursued higher education, earning a Master’s degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy. My journey through Medicine Hat College and the University of Lethbridge was transformative, equipping me with the skills to navigate real-life counselling settings and solidifying my belief that with dedication, even the most daunting goals are achievable. At Roca Counselling, I am committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their feelings and experiences. I specialize in helping children, youth, and adults in the areas of: Regulating child and youth behaviours Emotional regulation Addictions Child and youth Development Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) ADHD & ADD Autism Other areas My goal is to help clients in managing their emotions and navigating the complexities of their feelings, achieve personal growth, and embrace a brighter future. I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to discuss how I can support you on your journey to healing and empowerment.

Struggling with self-doubt, I felt adrift in life, often questioning my self-worth. I hit rock bo... Read More

As a child I had many significant losses in my life. This created a negative impact in my self-esteem, psychosocial well-being, sleep, stress levels, sadness, mental health challenges.

For many years I felt lost and the years of therapy that I attended helped me to get to know me, to improve self love, acceptance and empowered my confidence.

My school referred me to a psychologist when I was 9 years old, and this helped me through my grief and provided me with different strategies to copy with my anxiety.

This early experience of trauma during my young life, I understood the meaning of living with depression and supporting loved ones that suffer mental health challenges.

This life experience woke up my passion for psychology, discovering the importance of connecting, support and compassion.

I finished my Master’s in Psychology, allowing me to walk side by side with people who have been through a traumatic/stressful experience, dealing with PTSD, depression, addictions and complex mental health, creating a safe and nonjudgmental environment for over 20 years, offering therapy in both English and Spanish.

I believe that everyone has the possibility to growth and heal. Please allow me to guide you to embark on a transformative journey toward empowerment and self-discovery. I invite you to a free 15 minute consultation.

As a child I had many significant losses in my life. This created a negative impact in my self-es... Read More

I didn’t know how to deal with my childhood trauma. I needed to understand what happened, that I wasn’t to blame, and I wanted to love myself again. So I completed a Bachelors in Psychology where I learned to empower myself, set healthy boundaries, and become aware of my “trauma brain” which programmed me for self-sabotage and suffering.

In trying to protect myself and prevent from being hurt again, I believed it was easier to push people away and sabotage relationships to prevent my “expected” suffering. Do you resonate with some of this?

After several years of therapy and completing a Masters in Social Work I have learnt that life is full of happiness and it can be SAFE to allow myself to be happy. I have also learnt to accept myself, to vanquish self-sabotage, and allow my relationships to grow.

With over 20 years of counselling and personal healing experience, I know this is possible. I can lead you through the process and help you through your trauma, anxiety, and depression.

I strongly believe no one needs to suffer unnecessarily. Sometimes, even after the traumatic event is over, we continue to torture ourselves needlessly with intrusive thoughts, worst case scenarios, and not trusting people around us. I am here to help you through all of that and more.

You are supported every step of the way. You don’t have to do this alone. Trauma is isolating. We feel no one understands what we have gone through, but I get it and you are not alone. You have been extremely courageous.

I am asking you to continue to be courageous and do the trauma work so you can truly live a happy, loving life without the suffering from your past trauma. When we temporarily escape and avoid dealing with the trauma, it keeps us in a state of non-recovery, meaning we continue to suffer for years or a lifetime after the trauma has ended.

By doing the work you are:

freeing yourself from the trauma and trauma symptoms to live your life the way you want to

Reducing or eliminating trauma brain so your thoughts aren’t hurting you or creating suffering

• disempowering the perpetrator

• embracing the power you have had all along

• have loving and fulfilling relationships

• and allowing yourself to be happy.

I would love to talk with you. Call me or schedule a 15 minute consultation so we can discuss how I can help you along your journey of recovery.

Contact me today to embark on a path of healing and transformation. You deserve a life filled with purpose, joy, and well-being.

I didn’t know how to deal with my childhood trauma. I needed to understand what happened, that I ... Read More