Katy is a settler of English and French ancestry who grew up on the shared lands of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat peoples in Kingston, Ontario and now lives as an uninvited guest on the traditional and unceded lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən People of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Katy offers counselling to children, youth, families, and adults. Katy provides neurodiversity affirming and trauma informed counselling using a relational strengths-based approach to centre her clients as experts of self. She bases her counselling in a foundation of nervous system regulation (polyvagal theory) and based on individual clients’ needs and experiences will often integrates parts work (internal family systems), narrative, and somatic practices.
Katy seeks adventure in the wilderness wherever she can find it and values the rich narrative metaphors these experiences bring to add meaning to our lives. As an outdoors-person who values Indigenous ways of knowing, cultural humility, and decolonized practices, Katy understands the importance of unique personal contexts and ongoing learning to better support her clients and community. With movement and play in mind, she also helps clients create space for reflection, expansion, and exploration of self.
Katy brings many years of experience in youth work, wilderness therapy, and experiential education as a nature-based practitioner. Through this experience she provides engaging experiences to her clients to promote growth and learning. Katy also works as a Senior Policy Analyst for the BC Public Service and appreciates how her roles as a counsellor and policy analyst provide balance in her work. Katy is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, and First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) approved provider who holds a Masters of Counselling from City University.
Katy is a Certified Nature-based therapist, level 1.