My Story – The second oldest in a family of four girls, I was born and raised in The Netherlands and immigrated to Canada in my teens. I have also lived in Sweden and in a variety of places in the U.S. I am particularly attuned to the feelings of being an outsider as well as the specific challenges that women in our culture experience. In addition, I have personal experience with depression and anxiety and with family members with addiction and mental illness.
With a rich life experience and after 20 years as a librarian I went back to school to learn more about why one of my passions, theatre arts, was such a healing presence in my life. I recently completed a Master of Arts degree in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS in San Francisco). Now I understand why my many years as an actress was such a lifeline for me. As I played many different characters I learned to work through their emotions and life challenges all the while building my own resilience, role repertoire and emotional intelligence to work through mine. Now, I use my experience and training to guide clients to explore and discover their stories and work towards changing their old narratives in becoming who they want to be.
In my free time I can often be found in nature. I love to hike, bike, swim, garden, cook, make flower arrangements and go on adventures like white water rafting in Idaho. Spending time with friends and family is always at the top of my list.
I specialize in guiding clients who are navigating new life phases such as: student life, motherhood, career changes, empty nest, menopause, divorce/separation and retiring & aging. I support clients to obtain clarity and forward momentum around identity issues, relationships, addictions, trauma, anxiety and depression.
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