Then my mom was diagnosed with an atypical presentation of Parkinson’s that included dementia and the loss of the ability to talk — and my world changed. I experienced grief in a way I never had before. At first, I didn’t even know it was grief. I was devastated, exhausted, living in a fog, and my brain was constantly trying to make sense of something impossible. We didn’t know how to ask for support, and those around us didn’t know how to offer it. Eventually I found the term, “ambiguous grief” – when someone you love is there, but not there.

That experience deepened my commitment to creating a space where people can be real — where grief and the grief that comes with dementia can be spoken about honestly, without pretending or minimizing. This isn’t about sugar-coating life. It’s about honouring the hard truths and finding ways to live with them.

I work with support, authenticity, and compassion at the core of everything I do. Self-compassion and mindfulness are often part of my approach, along with grief-specific tools, Internal Family Systems, and strategies for anxiety and self-care. Clients often tell me they feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for in our work together — and that means everything to me.