I am a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and am registered with the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW). I hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) from York University, a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Toronto Metropolitan University (previously known as Ryerson University) and a Trauma Certificate from Wilfrid Laurier University.
As a daughter of Jamaican immigrants, I grew conscious of the sacrifices my parents made to afford me better opportunities, and while appreciative, it was a huge burden to carry. I had to ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain. But I could not explain the pressure of such an obligation and its impact on my mental health to my parents.
How could I, given the sacrifices they had made? This experience, while challenging, has been the reason for my passion in working with Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC). These communities are far less likely to seek care, although statistics show that they experience poorer mental health outcomes.
We provide a warm and welcoming environment, and our team is committed to creating a culturally sensitive and supportive space for all of our clients.
We should not keep our mental health a secret as it only exacerbates the problem. As such, I value the importance of culturally integrative and trauma-informed care in the therapeutic experience and thus, practice from an anti-oppressive/anti-black racism approach.
To date, my most rewarding title is being a mother. Being a single mother for much of my son’s life has resulted in me experiencing anxiety, depression including postpartum, low self-esteem, relationship problems, and more. Through education, I became my first client, leaning on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness.
Now I aim to create a space for others to feel safe and supported so that they too are also gaining resilience overtime and experiencing growth.
