Kat’s Out of the Bag: Facing Fears, Taming Tempers, and Parenting Like a Pro

Hi everyone! My name is Kat, and I am a Certified Canadian Counsellor with the CCPA. I am not a fan of long walks on the beach, but I do love curling up with a good book. Before I took the leap to become a counsellor, I worked in almost every field you can think of: from non-profits, to managing a busy warehouse, to Indigenous legal claims. Everything I did before psychology made me realize that helping others was my true calling, and here I am today, living my dream!

My approach to counselling is to collaborate with each person who comes into my office, knowing that they are the expert in their own life. When someone works with me, they can expect to experience a strengths-based approach in which their existing skills are emphasized and used in the development of any treatment or management program.

Studies show that the best predictor of the outcome of therapy is the therapeutic relationship. In other words, when you feel safe and comfortable with your counsellor, you are more likely to succeed. That is one of many reasons why my office is a safe, judgment-free zone. I encourage everyone who meets with me to speak up if they ever feel as though we’re veering off track or if they feel uncomfortable. I am here to support you.

I have experience supporting people from all walks of life, including: anxiety, depression, panic disorder, grief, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. My specialty areas are anger management, phobias, parental support both pre- and post-partum. In my office, I work with people through any issue and validate them through their experience. At my computer, I like to write about things that I have lived experience with - phobias and postpartum issues at the forefront. You may also experience glimpses of my sense of humour throughout my articles - consider yourself warned.

If you follow along with me through this blog and our social media, you’ll see a lot of information about those topics in particular. I like to share coping strategies for people who are on Google late at night looking at their symptoms and trying to figure out where they belong and what they can do about it. So if you’re out there looking for a safe place to land, you may just have found it here. Stay tuned for coping strategies, background information, and support in the form of a blog post. Oh, and lots of long-winded explanations (kidding - sort of).

So if you’re reading this, follow along with me as I navigate the world of therapy. Learn some new tips and tricks, or be reminded of some that you may have forgotten. If you enjoy what you read here and you want to explore more about yourself and your mental wellness, book in with me and we can go one step further together. These blogs are just a glimpse of what you can expect in my office. I also offer free 15-minute consultations if you want to make sure that I am the right fit for you before committing to a full session.