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As a therapist, it is important to me to build collaborative therapeutic relationships with all of my clients. My role in the counselling experience is to provide a safe, accepting environment where clients feel genuine support, empathy, and nonjudgement. I believe in using trauma-informed, evidence-based practices and an integrative strength-based client-centered approach with clients through their personal growth and healing journeys.
My interests and future areas of specialization are trauma, religious/spiritual trauma, sexuality, couples counselling and sex therapy.
I am sex-positive, fully LGBTQIA+ affirming, and also specialize in helping individuals who have experienced religious trauma or spiritual abuse. As someone who grew up in fundamentalist religion, I am passionate about deconstructing any harmful indoctrinated beliefs based in religious supremacy, and working to heal from harm caused by “purity“ culture. I have expertise in helping individuals free themselves from values instilled by more high-control religious groups and identified cults or cult-like practices. I take a non-judgemental approach to helping individuals and couples explore a healthy, comprehensive, accurate, inclusive, consent-centered, pleasure-based, shame-free sexuality and spirituality.
I like to use integrative approaches with clients and often draw from Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy.
I believe in the wisdom of lived experiences and view clients as resilient and having the capacity to grow and explore new meaning in life.
In my down-time I like to practice self-care and spend quality time with my partner and our rescue dog.
Karla, when did you know you wanted to become a psychologist?
I had interest in becoming a psychologist since high school but did not seriously pursue psychology until I learned more about my own mental health. I knew I wanted to become a psychologist when I personally experienced how helpful counselling and therapy can be. My therapist helped me work through trauma from losing a close family member to an incurable disease (which was impacting my adult relationships), religious trauma, sexual trauma, and anxiety. I became passionate about helping other individuals and couples because counselling helped me to process my past, focus on my present, and create meaning for my future.
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
Bachelor of Arts (Major: Psychology, Minor: Counselling)
Anxiety, Trauma, Religious or Spiritual Trauma, Sex Industry Workers, Sex Compulsion/Out of Control Sexual Behaviours, Sexual Arousal Issues, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Sexual Offending Behaviours, Sexuality and Intimacy Issues, Gender Identity, Female Sexual Issues, Alternative Sex Behaviours, Cult and High Control Organization Recovery
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Grief Work, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Gottman Couples Therapy, Sex Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, BITE-Model
Abuse, Adolescent and Teen Issues, Blended Family Adjustment, Child & Youth Depression, Child & Youth Stress and Trauma, Coming Out, Handling Chronic Illness & Chronic Pain, Cross Cultural Issues, Death or Loss of a Pet, Depression, Emotional Abuse, Emotional Regulation, Family Therapy, Food or Eating Issues, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Grief and Loss, Intercultural and Interracial Relationships, Dealing with Infidelity, 2SLGBTQIA+ Issues, Life Transitions and Adjustment Issues, Loss of a Loved One, Major Depressive Disorder, Male Sexual Issues, Couples Therapy, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Parenting Issues & Support, Physical Abuse, Pornography Issues, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Premarital Counselling, Relationship Dependence, Self-Esteem Issues, Self-Harming, Suicidal Thoughts, Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder), Weight & Eating Disorders, Couples Counselling, Seniors and the Elderly Issues, Problematic Sexual Behaviours in Children and Youth
