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About Em (she/they)

Registered Psychotherapist #15917

MA Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy

Integrative Somatic Therapist, CYT500

Embodied Birthworker & Educator

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I work with: Individuals (16+), Couples, Relationships, Groups

My approach is: Somatic (body & nervous-system based), Trauma-Focused, Compassionate, Spiritually-Integrated, Anti-Oppressive & Justice-Oriented, Queer/Trans-Affirming, Nature-Based, Arts-Integrated, Client-Centred, Gentle, Strengths-Based, Holistic/Transpersonal

I have trained in: Integrative Somatic Therapy™, Trauma Yoga, Trauma-Informed Childbirth Education and Full-Spectrum Birthwork, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Somatic/Energetic Bodywork for Nervous System Resilience, Queer & Justice-Oriented approaches, Anti-Racist Eco-Spirituality and Ancestral Healing​

I draw from: Somatic trauma therapy, experiential therapy, parts work, arts and play based modalities, polyvagal theory, spiritual/ transpersonal/ancestral therapies, somatic eco-therapy, grief work

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My story & lineage of practice:

My Story & Lineage

Professionally, I am a Registered Psychotherapist with a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy from Wilfrid Laurier University and an Honours Degree in Human Rights and Gender Studies from Carleton University. I am also a Somatic Therapist, certified birthworker and childbirth educator, and trauma-informed movement educator, with over 10 years of experience leading community somatic practice. In my personal life, I am an artist and musician, a parent, a nature-lover, an Earth-based ancestral spirituality practitioner, and a neuro-spicy nerd who loves all things magic, fantasy, and folklore.

 

In my practice, I love to work experientially with my clients to support them in connecting to their body as a key source of wisdom and healing. I have completed over 1000 hours of training in body-based approaches to healing trauma, including 500 hours of yoga and several years of intensive training in Integrative Somatic Therapy Practice (ISTP™). I also study eco- and ancestral therapies, expressive arts, and somatic modalities such as NeuroEffective Touch, Polyvagal approaches to healing trauma, BrainSpotting and The Flash Technique, with a key focus on ecological and ancestral attachment repair. I am inspired by creative and embodied ways of metabolizing trauma, and love to work collaboratively with my clients to incorporate gentle arts, play, spiritual, and nature-based approaches in my somatic therapy work.

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Somatic therapy is a body-based and trauma-informed approach that centers the experience of the body and nervous system in therapy. This approach seeks to invite more safety into the body by growing our capacity to be with emotions and sensations. A somatic therapy session might include noticing and processing emotions or sensations through the body using breath, gentle movement, sensorimotor processing, creative expression in the form of art or play, or talking and making meaning of our experiences. Sessions are offered online, in-office, or outdoors via walk-and-talk therapy.

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My approach is gentle, client-centred and naturally holistic. By inviting the body, breath, and creative expression into session, some clients may also wish to invite spiritual or ancestral/cultural practices which feel meaningful for them. I seek to create space for clients to explore all aspects of their identity as desired, including spiritual, cultural, ancestral or transpersonal dimensions.

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Prior to completing my Master’s degree in Psychotherapy, I was a full-spectrum birthworker and somatic childbirth educator specializing in cyclical consciousness and supporting survivors of trauma and their families through all stages of the perinatal experience. In this work, I developed a special appreciation for working with 2SLGBTQ+ folks and families as they navigate experiences of conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting. I love to work with families navigating experiences of gender transitioning, coming "out", family-building, meaning-making in the context of queer identity, and finding and embodying queer joy.

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I am a settler here on Turtle Island, currently living and working in so-called Guelph on the traditional home of the Chonnonton (Attiwonderon) and Haudenosaunee First Peoples. I am of Irish and Scottish descent and have strong eco-spiritualist values that root me deeply into loving and reciprocal relationships with my ancestors and their traditional practices, as well as the land I am currently on. I seek to do this work with humility, love, and justice, and my core values are compassion and collective liberation for all. I believe that by healing our bodies and our nervous systems, we can move toward deeper, more intimate expressions of our selves, which will support us in dreaming new futures for the world we want to build together. It is my honour to walk alongside you in this work.

Trainings & Continuing Education

Academic Degrees and Diplomas:

  • MA Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2022-2024

  • Recording Arts College Diploma in Applied Audio Recording, The Audio Recording Academy, 2018

  • BA Human Rights and Gender Studies, Carleton University, 2014


 

Trauma Resolution and Somatics: (for providing Integrative Body Psychotherapy)​​

  • Level 3 Integrative Somatic Therapy Practitioner Training - Integrative Somatic Breathwork: Breath, Emotions, Energy and the Body; Ratha Chek RCC, 2024- Present

  • Brainspotting with David Grand, PhD: The Brain-Body Based Therapy for Treating Trauma (full day training seminar), 2024

  • The Flash Technique Basic Training; Dr. Philip Mansfield, 2023

  • NeuroAffective Touch®: Somatic Toolkit for Healing Trauma - Dr. Aline LaPierre, 2023

  • Level 2 Integrative Somatic Therapy Practitioner Training - Integrative Somatic Therapy Practice: Trauma, Emotions and the Body; Ratha Chek RCC, 2022-2023

  • Level 1 Integrative Somatic Therapy Practitioner Training - Fundamentals of Trauma: Trauma, the Brain and the Body; Ratha Chek RCC, 2021

  • Neurodiversity-Affirming Ethical Trauma Therapy - Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, 2024

  • Polyvagal Theory: Neural Exercises for Somatic Safety - Dr. Stephen Porges, 2023

  • NeuroAffective Touch®: Somatic Toolkit for Healing Trauma - Dr. Aline LaPierre, 2023

  • Somatic Approaches to Healing Trauma; Dr. Albert Wong, 2020

  • Cultural Somatics; Resmaa Menakem,  2019

  • Certificate in Trauma Sensitive Yoga; Brendon Abrahms, Ottawa, 2016

  • Significant and ongoing personal practice under mentorship of somatic therapists, coaches, and trainers

 

Additional Psychotherapy Modalities and Community Mental Health Trainings:

  • Art Therapy, Martin Luther University College, 2023

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy Level 1; Robin Blake via Martin Luther University College, 2023

  • Autism Ontario Specialized Advanced Training for Mental Health Providers, 2023

  • Radical Mental Health First Aide and Crisis Response, 2023

  • 2SLGBTQ+ Foundations Course - Rainbow Health Ontario, 2023

  • CBT/DBT, Martin Luther University College 2022

  • Family Therapy, Martin Luther University College 2022

  • Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy; Paul Newman, 2019

  • Red Cross First Aid Certification, 2019

 

Birthwork and Perinatal Wellness: (for supporting perinatal clients, parents, fertility challenges, crisis pregnancies/abortions/pregnancy losses, survivors preparing for birth, processing birth trauma)

  • Full Spectrum Doula Training - Canadian Context, Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings, 2022

  • Holistic Childbirth Educator, Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings, 2021

  • Supporting Queer and Trans Families in Birthwork, Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings, 2021

  • Crisis Response for Birthworkers, Project LETS, 2020

  • Fertility Support Specialist; bebomia, 2018

  • Full Spectrum Maternal Support Practitioner; bebomia, 2017

 

Decolonial Praxis, Embodied Antiracism, and (Re)Connecting with Land/Lineage/Eco-Spirituality:​

  • Before We Were White: Ancestral Recovery for Collective Liberation, White Awake, 2025

  • Reverence and Repair: Honouring Our Somatic Lineages, Wildbody Somatics, 2024

  • Myth and Mycellium, Sophie Strand, 2024

  • Indigenous Wisdom Methodologies, Martin Luther University College, 2023

  • Embodiment Basics - Prentis Hemphill and the Embodiment Institute, 2022 

  • Embodiment 101 - The Trauma and Embodiment Association of Ontario, 2021

  • Antiracism for Wellness Professionals; Antiracist Community Collective KW,  2021

  • Liberating the Mind-Body-Spirit from White Supremacy; Dr. Christena Cleveland, 2021

  • Beyond the Blood: Anti-fascist / Anti-racist Ancestral Spirituality - Sophie Macklin, 2021

  • Cultural Somatics; Resmaa Menakem,  2019

  • Indigenous Canada - University of Alberta, 2018

  • BA Human Rights and Gender Studies, Carleton University 2009-2014

 

Yoga and Mindfulness Education:

  • Buddhist Discourses on Spiritual Care, Martin Luther University College, 2022

  • Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy; Paul Newman, 2019

  • 225hr Yoga and Ancestral Lineage; Danielle Dulsky, Phoenixville, USA, 2018

  • 200hr Sacred Journeys into Yoga; Lorraine Taylor Yoga, Ubud, Bali, 2015

  • 10hr Reproductive Health Yoga Teacher Training, Yoga Medicine, 2018

  • 16hr Yin Yoga and Chinese Medicine; Jennifer Raye Yoga, 2019

  • 18hr Fertility & Hormonal Support Yoga; Dr. Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, Montréal, 2017

  • Yoga Nidra Education; Dr. Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, Montréal, 2017

  • 24hr Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga; Little Lotus Yoga, Ottawa,  2016

  • 24hr Certificate in Trauma Sensitive Yoga; Brendon Abrahms, Ottawa, 2016

 

Bio-Energetic Bodywork:

  • Integrative Somatic Therapy Practice (Levels 1-3): Hands-on trauma integration, Ratha Chek, 2021-Present

  • NeuroAffective Touch®: Somatic Toolkit for Healing Trauma - Dr. Aline LaPierre, 2023-Present

  • Hynni Energy Healing - Tiffany Lazic RP, 2017

  • Usui Reiki Training (Master Levels) - Alison Eaton, 2015

  • Usui Reiki Training (levels 1-2)- Cheryl Driskell, 2014

 

Arts-Based Education:

  • Art Therapy Class, Martin Luther University College, 2022

  • TARA (The Audio Recording Academy) Music College - Audio Recording Diploma, 2018

  • Arts-Based Coaching Training, Victoria Hawking LCSW, 2017

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The Feeling Space Somatic Therapy Center

somatic, ancestral, transpersonal, ecological attachment therapy

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connecting with land, body, spirit & community

for personal & collective change

©2025 by The Feeling Space.

The Feeling Space operates (in so-called Guelph, ON) on the Owashtanong (Grand) River Watershed, vital ecological homeland to many more-than-human beings and ecosystems.  This land is the ancestral home of the Chonnonton (Neutral) and Haudenosaunee first peoples, and is part of the Between-the-Lakes purchase (Treaty 3) with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We acknowledge that land and bodies are not neutral, and hold the stories of the people who came before us. We seek to honour these stories and repair harm held within them from historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, land theft, and racial injustice that live in our bodies and patterns of relating. 

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feelingspacetherapy@gmail.com

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