12/11/2025
Reintroduction/Fall Update (in pictures): People often ask me how I balance my work as a therapist with my personal life. This feels like an apt topic where (re)introducing myself is a good way of sharing the answer. I’ve been a social worker for almost 7 years now and working in social services and community for 12. It’s been a long lesson in balancing my work and life, not self-abandoning or giving up parts of myself. Over the years, I’ve faced different periods of burnout that have taken me out of the game for a while, some longer than others, and that have taught me unforgettable & invaluable lessons. I stopped believing in perfection and practicing non-judgment and radical acceptance. Practicing discipline and knowing (my) spirit is important. I have put knowing and honouring myself first, knowing this is the first step in knowing and honouring others. Echoed to me in a session recently, I was told, “to be loved is to be known” and this is true for self and others. I treat life and its gifts like medicine and nourishment. Music and poetry, among other forms of art, are medicine, offering connection to others near and far in time and space. Being close to others, physically and emotionally, sharing song and breaking bread is medicine. Good food and laughter is medicine. Remembering my loved ones and that grief is a portal offering time travel through memories is medicine. Listening and learning with discernment gives me strength. Smudging, moving, reminding my body we are strong is medicine. Smushing my dogs’ and babies’ faces is medicine. Life over the last month feels fast-moving, while dragging on some days, but I look and see that there was balance and there was medicine. You can see some of it in these photos 🍂 ❄️
