Willing Path Counselling

Feel-Good Counselling for Real-Life Results

Most people who end up here aren’t new to struggling.

They’ve been holding things together for a long time — on the outside, at least.

Underneath, it’s heavier. Messier. Harder to explain.

Sometimes it’s patterns that keep repeating, even when you know better.

Sometimes it’s feeling off and not understanding why.

Sometimes it’s just a quiet, persistent thought:

“I can’t keep living like this.”

I’m someone who can sit with that.

The intensity, the contradictions, the parts that feel uncomfortable or hard to say — I don’t rush past them, and I don’t get thrown off by them.

A Bit About Me

My own journey has been wonderfully messy — full of growth, detours, and making changes while personally struggling. I’ve navigated my own experiences with neurodivergence and recovery, and I understand what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, out of place, or like the systems around you just weren’t built with you in mind.

That lived experience shapes everything about how I work. It’s not something I set aside when I sit with a client — it’s part of why I can actually be present with what you bring in.

My work is rooted in lived experience, warmth, and a deep respect for the many ways people move through the world. I offer both traditional and non-traditional approaches to therapy that are unique in Stratford — including text-based counselling, phone and video sessions, in-person support, and flexible brief or single-session options. These choices let people connect in ways that feel natural, safe, and actually doable in real life.

I support adults navigating perimenopause, ADHD and autism-affirming neurodivergent experiences, substance use and process addictions, general mental health concerns, and the feeling of not quite fitting or finding one’s place.

My style is easygoing, collaborative, and grounded in meeting you exactly where you are — with no pressure to perform, impress, or pretend. We’re all perfectly imperfect, and that’s what makes us amazing humans.

I welcome clients of all genders, identities, and backgrounds, and strive to create a space that feels inclusive, empathetic, and genuinely supportive.

The Mantra

I am worthy.

I am whole.

I am willing.

Not perfect. Not finished. Not fixed.

Willing.

That’s usually where things begin to shift.

But I’m Not Passive in the Process

I’m action-oriented, and I work best with people who are willing — even in a small way — to start making real-life changes.

Not perfect. Not fully ready.

Willing.

I’ll work with you to see:

The places you minimize.

The patterns underneath.

The moments where something real almost gets said — and then pulled back.

We slow those down — and then we actually work with them.

What Working Together Is Like

First Session

We start where you are. That might feel clear, or it might feel scattered and hard to explain.

We’ll get a sense of what’s bringing you in, focus on what feels most present, and begin noticing patterns or themes. There’s no pressure to get it “right.”

Ongoing Sessions

This isn’t passive, but it’s not forced either.

You can expect real conversation — not just nodding. Moments where I slow things down instead of letting them pass. Patterns being pointed out, including subtle ones. And space to say what’s actually there.

Real-Life Change

What we talk about doesn’t stay in the session.

We look at what shifts outside of it. What you stop or start tolerating. How you respond differently. What you try, even if it feels uncomfortable.

Not overwhelming change. Real, seeable movement.

Pace

Some sessions feel steady. Some feel uncomfortable. Some feel like something finally clicked.

All of that is part of the process.

This is a space for people looking for something real, genuine, grounded, and authentic.

More than just a place to vent.

And not a rigid, one-size-fits-all process either.

Benefits & Risks of Counselling

This part matters.

Potential Benefits

Over time, counselling can lead to:

•      Clearer understanding of patterns and decisions

•      Feeling more grounded in yourself

•      Less internal pressure or confusion

•      A stronger sense of what actually fits for you

•      Meaningful, real-life shifts

This isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about living in a way that feels more aligned and sustainable.

Potential Risks

Counselling can also be uncomfortable at times. You might experience:

•      Difficult or unexpected emotions

•      Increased awareness of things that aren’t working

•      Frustration, grief, or uncertainty

•      Shifts in patterns or relationships

•      Moments where you want to pull back or avoid

Growth can feel unsettling before it feels clear. We move at a pace that respects that — but we don’t avoid it completely either.

Professional Registration

I am a Registered Social Service Worker (RSSW) in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Member of the Ontario Social Service Workers Association (OSSWA).

Formal Education

•      Social Service Worker Diploma — Durham College

•      Addictions Careworker Diploma — McMaster University

Additional Training & Continuing Education

I continue to build on this through focused training in areas closely connected to the work I do:

•      Perimenopause and menopause and mental health, including integrative approaches using ACT, DBT, and CBT

•      Perimenopause training through Wilfrid Laurier University

•      Neurodiversity-affirming practice, including ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, learning differences, executive functioning differences, and similar neurodivergent profiles

•      ADHD-focused learning, including work by Gabor Maté and Terry Matlen

•      Suicide intervention and crisis response (ASIST, CPI)

•      Financial literacy and practical life skills support, with training through McGill University and Prosper Canada

Services are provided by a Registered Social Service Worker (RSSW) in good standing with the OCSWSSW. Receipts are provided for all sessions.

You don’t need to have everything figured out. But there usually needs to be a part of you that’s willing. Book a free Discovery Consult today!