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My journey
My name is Laurie-Anne. I am a proud Franco-Ontarian settler of this beautiful Anishinaabeg land we now call Ottawa. I came to the work of psychotherapy in a rather roundabout way. My childhood dream was to work with animals as a veterinarian (still an animal-lover!), which evolved to studying and working in nursing for 9 years and eventually transitioning to social work nearly 18 years ago. The truth is, I have a profound respect for the complex life stories of human beings and other-than human beings that has enriched and sustained my sense of compassionate curiosity for over 25 years. For the last 9 years, I have worked in private practice providing one-on-one psychotherapy and counseling with adults.
Like so many others, my personal and familial experiences of human suffering, illness and loss have deeply impacted my approach to working with people who are struggling to find their own way in this journey called life. I am a proud mother of an incredibly curious and deeply feeling child, and a voracious life-long learner. I have also been an avid believer in mind-body-spiritual connections to wellness, and love to collaborate with other practitioners to enhance holistic health.
I work with a variety of clients from a wide range of backgrounds. I have completed additional training and specialization in perinatal mental health and parenting stress. I also work with military members and veterans who are seeking therapy for traumatic stress, anxiety, depression or relationship difficulties. In addition, my experience working in health care and end-of-life care has also provided me with skills and knowledge that help to address burnout, health anxiety, grief and chronic illness.
Educational background
I have an undergraduate degree in Nursing Sciences from Dalhousie University and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Ottawa. I am also registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and I am in good standing.
I have also taken additional training in psychotherapy approaches such as Brief Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Internal Family Systems. I have also received perinatal mental health certifications with Karen Kleiman’s Postpartum Stress Center and the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings. As someone who loves to learn new things, I am also continually participating in conferences, workshops and trainings in order to provide the best care possible.