About Melanie

Once upon a time, there was a little girl, shy to those other than her immediate family. She grew up learning to face those fears and training to be a professional dancer!  Life paved a different path though; the twists, turns, and curves led me on an incredible journey of torrential storms, uphill battles, and glorious sunshine. The colours were filled with dancing in the rain moments, shining brightly across the sky. No rainbow comes without its storms, however. There were moments of drowning, treading water, choking back tears, and screaming to be heard. But these too, did pass, and helped me grow as an individual. There will be more storms along my journey, but they sure do make the beauty brighter.

Who am I? Who is Melanie?

I am a dreamer.

I am a feeler, a worrier, a thinker, a lover, a compassionate human.

A human being, just like you.

I am rediscovering myself after all the intensities and beauties life has thrown my way.

The adversity built my resilience and crafted my experience as an individual, an educator, and a counsellor.

I am a mother.

I’m a creator, a mover, a busy body, a perfectionist, a procrastinator; someone who cares so much it hurts deep within the depths of my soul; it perspires out my pores, if that’s even possible.

I’m a storyteller to my six-year-old son. The words that once cradled me to sleep now wrap themselves around him at night.

I am inspired by everything around me: the love, the nature, the people, the music, the movement, the energy shared, and the atmosphere.

I embody it all, somehow.

I am a hopeful inspirer to those in need of inspiration, love, confidence, and belief.

My ultimate goal is for children and their families to feel safe enough to be their truest selves and to feel comfort and safety from the moment we meet.

My space is professional, confidential, and homey. You will be in a place where compassion and support can foster and grow.

I use principles of Behavioural Skills Training, Cognitive Behavioral and Solution Focused Therapies while integrating elements of Education, Co-operation, Art, Play, Dance, Yoga, Nature walks, mindfulness and sand play. My little and often nervous, chihuhuaha, Tuko, can become apart of therapy sessions. My mode of therapy is individually tailored and dependent on the needs and interests of each specific case. We work in real time and in the moment to determine needs, focus and strategies. I utilize these strategies to help develop appropriate coping skills and outlets in children. I believe that children are resilient and incredible little sponges; they have so much to learn about the world and themselves. I believe in providing a warm, encouraging, positive and very supportive environment where children can feel safe to be themselves and work through, not only their emotions, but the highs and lows that come with it. Together, we work through the challenges and difficulties they face and celebrate the successes too!

I believe that a consistent and open dialogue with parents help foster progress; and such, I will often provide suggestions, activities, or simple homework to initiate growth.

As a parent to two young children, I come from a place of personal understanding. I get it. Raising children is the most difficult job there is! When we add work and regular life on top of it, it can feel very overwhelming. It can also be the most rewarding 24/7-hour job; a labour of love. It’s all about perspective. We are learning to be parents too, just as our children are learning to be kids. Many of us are also breaking barriers, shifting former family-systems pattern, and overcoming generational or transgenerational trauma. How incredibly challenging! Our kids are blossoming, learning how to fit in this world, how to “be,” and how to “live.” We are all navigating new waters and we all play a role in keeping things afloat. Let’s all work together to continue building loving connections to both foster emotional awareness and create resiliency and understanding in our next generation of children.