Lived Experience Blog
The Cost of Care: Reflections on Holding a Community Space
There’s a kind of support that doesn’t always look like “help” — not at first glance. It happens in a small room, a circle of chairs, a soft conversation. It’s a steady presence, a grounding exercise, a moment where someone breathes a little easier. No fanfare. No waiting lists. No clinical forms.…
The Power of Being Underestimated
The Power of Being Underestimated: Walking the Road Less Travelled My dad would often joke - “If there are two options, you always choose the wrong one first.” Maybe he was right. Or maybe it wasn’t wrong – just different. From the early days, when I was considered “furthest from the labour…
Lost and Found – Memory, Love, and the Body’s Hidden Stories
May 14th holds a unique weight in my heart, a day stitched together with the threads of loss and love, echoes of the past that still ripple through my present. In 1977, at just seven years old, I stepped into a new life in Zambia, eyes wide with wonder and a heart full of adventure. Our family’s…
Trauma Informed Communication in Healthcare: Why It’s Not Optional
Why Trauma-Informed Communication in Healthcare Isn’t Optional As a trauma-informed counsellor, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of poorly delivered medical news. I once worked with a client who had a profound fear of dying. Every time they visited their oncologist, they would call me in…
The Power of Words: How Language Shapes Safety and Connection
While working as a counsellor in a school, I came across a fire drill memo that left a lasting impression. It included strict, bolded instructions: “You MUST remain SILENT at All TIMES”. The forcefulness of this language struck me immediately. It felt more about control than safety, and I wondered…
Passion and Purpose
There’s a profound difference between simply doing a job and pouring yourself into something that truly speaks to your heart. When your work is driven by purpose, the hours pass unnoticed. You find yourself lost in the flow of creation – writing, thinking, building – crafting something you believe…
Choosing Connection
Choosing Connection in a World of Criticism “The true measure of leadership is not in how much authority we hold, but in how much safety we create.” For many people, success is defined by money, possessions, fame, or superiority. For me, success looks very different.…
Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say
Why Language Matters in Healing Words don’t just land in our minds, they land in our bodies. For those of us who’ve lived through trauma, language can be a trigger or a balm. Words hold weight, tone, and intention, and when they’re used carelessly, they can feel like little paper cuts to the…
Healing Belongs To Everyone
“There is no greater expert on your healing than you.” So when did healing become a product? I’ve been reflecting lately on the amount of gatekeeping that happens in the world of healing. Take tapping, for example — a simple, natural tool. No one owns it. No one invented the act of tapping on their…
Remembering Edna
Edna - Who sang through her sorrow and loved through her pain. You taught me more about strength, softness, and spirit than words could ever capture. Thank you for trusting me with your truth. This is for you. I met Edna in an unusual way—though for her, it was everyday life. I’d just become…