Serena has a passion for supporting teens and adults through life’s many ups and downs, with specific interests in women’s mental health and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. She offers a safe and validating space to explore, learn, and transform your life together as a team. She trusts that we are all the experts of our own lives, and that the answers we seek are hidden within us—we may just need a helping hand to find them.
Serena holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in English. She has completed an intensive in Narrative Therapy through the Narrative Therapy Centre, and a Spiritual Competency Training in Mental Health course through the University of Maryland. Prior to entering the field of psychotherapy, Serena worked in the corporate world as an online safety specialist for youth, developing mental health education materials and addressing critical issues, such as cyberbullying, self-harming, and negative body image. She has dedicated the majority of her career to empowering youth and young adults to recognize their inner strengths, notice their full potential, and explore their creativity in ways that highlight their unique value in the world.
You can expect that Serena will be respectful, compassionate, and honest with you. Humour may pop up in sessions naturally, as she believes it’s in fact true that laughter is healing. Together you will incorporate elements from different therapeutic modalities to suit your individual needs, including person-centred therapy, narrative therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), solution-focused therapy (SFT), and art therapy. Serena’s practice is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and strengths-based.
If you are grappling with anxiety, anger, depression, low self-esteem, life transitions, family conflict, career stress, body image concerns, or interpersonal relationship issues, Serena is here to support you. Through a lens of self-compassion, you can come to love and accept who you are.