About

Background

I began my career in health care as a registered nurse (Ryerson, Bachelor of Science in Nursing ’92). I then worked in a variety of settings from palliative, to home-care, to post surgical, settling happily at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital’s labor and delivery unit. During my nursing education and even more so once working in the field, I became aware of a conflict between my instincts and some aspects of conventional/allopathic medicine.

I have great appreciation for conventional medicine. For starters it has saved my life and that of many of my loved ones on numerous occasions. Conventional medicine clearly excels in many areas, some of which include; diagnosis, research, surgery, life supportive measures, urgent care, palliative care, and support for the masses. However, it was also clear to me that there were areas that were not in their strong suits, such as; preventative care, the use of gentle, safe, natural methods to “get the job done”, helping those with minor symptoms before they became major ones, as well as helping to not just palliate, but reverse chronic illnesses of all sorts. I watched as symptoms were treated with pharmaceuticals, which typically needed to be increased gradually over time, that people often became reliant on them and that most drugs had unpleasant side effects, were often quite toxic and could even be life threatening, some of which required other pharmaceuticals to counteract them. I was concerned when I observed that in many illnesses, when the symptoms were “taken care of” with medication, the underlying condition would often progress undetected until it reared its head later, perhaps decades later in a deeper more serious illness that was now more difficult to treat or reverse. This more serious illness would then require more medical resources; attention, medication, interventions and unfortunately entail much more patient suffering.

These observations, combined with a handful of my own health issues, an incredible heart & mind opening experience as a work scholar at California’s Esalen Institute in 1992 and a very wise step-mother, led me to Toronto’s Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM).

Initially, I was a patient at the Naturopathic College Clinic. I was treated for severe eczema, allergies, asthma, chronic reoccurring colds and flus, and fatigue. A short time later, feeling the benefits of Naturopathic treatment, I became a student myself, graduating from their full time program in ’99. This rigorous program included over 4,000 hours of classroom training and supervised clinical experience during an extended four year period. (What most people don’t realize is that the program is 4 years fulltime and only open to those having already completed a minimum of 3 years university sciences. Fortunately, I had 4 years from the nursing degree.)

After completing this internationally accredited and highly acclaimed program, passing the external Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations and provincial examinations in 1999, I became and continue to be a registered and fully licensed Naturopathic Doctor with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario. I am also a member of The Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND), and a non-practicing member of the College of Nurses of Ontario. I am also a certified Wilsons Temperature Syndrome practitioner for Women’s Health and thyroid disorders. I continually enhance my qualifications and understanding in this ever-growing field, through the CCNM and OAND’s continuing education programs, The Academy of International Bioenergetic Sciences, The Bowen Institute, The Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia, L’Académie Internationale des Méthods Thérapeutiques Contemporaines, The International Society of Homotoxicology and the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine, the Halton Centre for Cognitive Therapy and Stress Reduction and The Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Toronto to name but a few.

In 2020, due to COVID’s huge impact on people’s mental and emotional wellbeing I began training to become a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Facilitator. This is based directly on the pioneering and impactful program created by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Nina Menrai (retired Registered Psychotherapist) and I have partnered to create Access Inner Mindfulness, where we teach this truly life changing 8 week course on-line. 

I participate in, and host group mediations and Qi Gong Classes, am a student of the Tree of Life/ Kabbalah (since 2016), as well as Shamanism, Traditional Native Healing and Spiritual Technology (since 1998). I have been blessed to have been taught and guided by 4 great Shamans/Shamanesses over the course of many years, who have enriched my life beyond measure. 

There are so many factors that contribute to being healthy on all four levels – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. I believe that it is important to address all these aspects when helping people to achieve health. I also believe that my regular meditation, tree of life study/living and Qi Gong practices (which I love so much!) and regular self growth activities assist me to be of better service to myself, my family and of course my wonderful patients. 

I derive enormous pleasure in helping others and watching them return to health. On an even more personal note, I enjoy spending time with my wonderful husband Andrew, and our incredible young adult son and daughter. I also absolutely love simply being in Nature. I relish regular meditation, working and having naps in the garden, and walking on the beach or in the forest. I also enjoy biking, hiking, swimming, canoeing, traveling, creating delicious healthy meals, painting, dancing, reading (mostly about health 😉 ) and being silly.