I chose to become a Parent, Teen, and family Counsellor because I understand the challenges parents face and I have seen firsthand the struggles children can experience.

I find fulfillment in helping parents and their children to re-connect and re-build their relationships.

I have helped lots of parents to look inwards to find the solutions they need to fix the struggles that they are experiencing with their children.

I have helped many teens transform their lives to improve their overall health and happiness.

I have helped many children, parents and families heal and overcome their struggles since 2006.

Prior to Creating Life Upgrade, I ran a Level 5 Specialized Treatment foster home for six years where I parented teenaged youth.

These youth that moved into my home were involved in the youth criminal justice system, gang involved, not in school, had addiction issues, and had experienced significant trauma in their lives.

These youth that I parented had diagnoses including ADHD, ODD, FASD, PTSD, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, and they all displayed significant aggression and tendency towards violence when first entering my foster home.

It was this, six-year long experience, where I was able to put my education and training to use, and where I learned the most about parenting.

The first year was a challenge, but once I was able to gain awareness of what the actual issues were for these youth, as well as awareness of how parenting was affecting me, the work became easier (still not easy though).

After my time fostering, I worked in a K – 8 school where I worked with younger children who required additional learning and behavioral supports. Most of my days were spent de-escalating young children who were being removed from the classroom due to significant behavioral issues.

As well, just to let you know, I started my career as a Juvenile Counsellor working in a youth correctional facility. That is why I opened a foster home and became a foster parent, was to prevent youth from ending up in jail. As you can see, I have always been on a mission to help children upgrade their lives!

I work with parents who desire to be healthier and happier.
I work with any parent who wants to make the hardest job in the world easier.
I work with parents who are ready to put the hard work in, towards having a healthier and happier family.
I work with parents who realize that themselves and their family deserves better – they deserve a LIFE UPGRADE.
I work with parents who have a child diagnosed with ADHD, ODD or other Complex Needs.
I work with parents who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or trauma.
I work with parents who have a child with a diagnosis.
I work with teenagers, who need mentorship and guidance.
I work with Teens who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or trauma.
I specialize in addressing toxic masculinity, teaching young males to address their emotions, and helping them to remove violence and aggression from their life.
I work with parents, teens and families who are struggling with addictions.

• Behavior problems: effective ways to address issues such as yelling, arguing, aggression, sibling rivalry, and defiance.
• Stress-related parenting issues: Find ways to take care of yourself and manage your stress.
• Best parenting practices: Assist you in following through with research-based best practices regarding issues such as homework, electronics, and exercise.
• Developmental activities: Strategies that support your child’s physical, emotional, and social development.
• Parenting during transition or crisis: Help you be the best parent you can during a crisis or hardship, such as divorce, co-parenting, or loss of a loved one.
• Parenting questions: I can answer a variety of questions regarding best parenting practices.
• Practical problems: Help you create a plan to address childcare issues or educational problems.

Counselling Sessions: Option of in-person or Virtual, Sessions are 60 minutes in length.
I specialize in Teen, Parent and Family Counselling.
I also offer something unique and is a game changer for families:
12-week Empowered Parenting Program that educates, supports, and helps you as the parent to remove the issues and problems from your home.
If you are willing to invest 3 months of your time, you can change your family’s destiny.
I have taken all my knowledge gained through my education, training, research and working with families since 2006 and designed a program to solve your family’s problems.
This program will transform your parent-child relationship and equip you with practical tools to solve problems right now, or any problem that arises in the future.
You will have 12 weekly Counselling Sessions with me, that are 60 minutes in length, as well as consistent e-mail support as you need it between our counselling sessions.
These sessions can be a combination of scenarios that include one parent, two parents, the child (age based) or the family together.
You will be provided with Weekly Modules that will breakdown how to effectively parent through any challenge that you may have with your child.

Week 1- Family Check In
Week 2- Exploring Parenting Style
Week 3- Providing a Secure Attachment and Building Connection
Week 4- Learning to Effectively Communicate and Establish a Teamwork Approach
Week 5- Stress Management
Week 6- Teaching your Children about Emotional Regulation and Brain Development
Week 7- Pause and reflect Week
Week 8- How to Effectively Discipline
Week 9- Emotional Intelligence
Week 10- The ‘Scary Teenage Years’
Week 11- Children with Complex Needs
Week 12- Program Wrap Up

*Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Criminal Justice and Conflict Resolution from University of Winnipeg
*Certified Coach Practitioner
*Certified Wraparound Facilitator
*Formally trained in Culturally Competent Counselling
*Formally trained in Gordon Neufeld’s Attachment-Based Parenting
*Formally trained in Circle of Security Parenting
*Formally trained in suicide assessment and intervention, crisis intervention, and mental status examination

I have also learned a lot from my personal experiences as well, being:

*a father who parented a daughter following divorce
*a (step) father parenting a tween daughter
*a partner to a wonderful woman who is also a therapist
*a partner and parent navigating the intricacies of a blended and interracial family
*a son who experienced the family impacts after my father died from ALS
* overcoming stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD and chronic pain