Hi There
I am Jeanette and I can relate to life being hard. My losses have not only shaped me to be a compassionate counsellor, they also ignited a desire within me to be that support for those who feel overwhelmed and despair when coping through an intense loss.
Feel free to contact me directly. Simply fill out the contact form here, and I will reply shortly.
All About Me
2016 was a monumental year for me. I experienced several losses that year in which one loss compounded to the next in what seemed a never ending cycle. It was like my life was on repeat - just when I thought I was rising out of the darkness, I’d face another loss, this time more emotionally exhausting, hurtful and devastating than the last. I would label that year as my “rock bottom” year of life. And yet, when I reflect upon that year I also remember it being a year of strength and personal growth with support from key individuals in my life. I learned how to cope in the face of despair, how to be patient with myself on days that nothing seemed to work, what I was capable of accomplishing, and what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
Today I look back at the last 6 years of my life and can say that I experienced 2016 for a reason. It shaped me to be a compassionate counsellor for those experiencing various differing types of loss and ignited a desire within me to be that support for those who feel overwhelmed and despair when coping through an intense loss. There are many different losses that individuals experience, but the commonality is that grief can be debilitating, lonely and isolating. I am dedicated to accompanying individuals through their journey of grief and acknowledge that grief does not only occur from the death of a loved one. Grief is a natural response to many unspoken losses such as divorce, fertility issues, unemployment, suicide loss, chronic sorrow from a disability or illness, and pet loss.
When I am not completing virtual counselling sessions or travelling to see clients in-person, I enjoy a quiet simple life with my husband and bernadoodle dog, “Frankie”, in our small country hometown. Gardening, cooking and digital memory books are a few of my favourite activities, as well as music and campfires.
​
My experience includes:
-
Registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers in good standing.
-
MSW (Master of Social Work) graduated: 2020
-
5 years of social worker experience in grief group facilitation and individual counselling
-
Volunteer experience with the Alzheimer’s Society, Sakura House (hospice care) and St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre (poverty)
Life is a roller coaster. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. You never are given more than you can handle. These sayings have the same message - life can be hard.
If you are reading this page, I applaud you as you have taken a difficult step: determining that you need support and have decided to reach out! My desire as your counsellor is for you to feel safe and supported to explore what challenges and difficulties are influencing your day to day living so that you can regain the joy and excitement of living.
My passion is providing bereavement services to individuals who are grieving death and non-death losses. There is no guide book as to how to grieve and the unpredictability can be so unsettling. I work collaboratively with my clients to identify their specific symptoms of grief and implement effective coping strategies. My goal, as you begin to process your loss, is that you also begin to believe it is possible to be happy again in your new life.
I also am available to provide support to clients in a counselling capacity specific to mental health concerns (anxiety, depression, self esteem, family conflict).
