How I Work With Clients

At Portage Counselling, services are delivered through trauma-informed and evidence-based modalities like EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and polyvagal theory. These approaches align with the belief that healing and transformation occur when we turn inward and connect with the parts of ourselves that are sending us messages indicating that we are in need of attention, love, and healing.

Using IFS as a framework, I support you in understanding how your different parts have tried to protect you or meet your needs—sometimes in ways that haven’t fully served you. We’ll work together to find new pathways toward self-compassion and self-understanding. EMDR is a powerful tool I use to gently access and reprocess past experiences that may be shaping negative beliefs about yourself or how you connect with others. Through this process, we can shift those old narratives and strengthen your inner voice—your positive "I am" statements—even if they’re faint right now.

An essential part of my approach is recognizing that our body and nervous system also hold important clues to our mental wellness. Our physical responses—hunched shoulders, racing heart, or tense muscles—often tell us when we’re not feeling safe or okay. Through attentive practices, we can learn to support and regulate our nervous system, helping to calm our inner alarm bells and bring our mind and body into a restful state to facilitate healing.

Whether you’re seeking quick strategies or ready to explore deeper patterns, I work at your pace, always committed to guiding you toward meaningful change. My goal is for you to live a life that feels connected, genuine, and full of peace and joy—because you deserve to not just “get by,” but to thrive on your own terms.