at a glance
hi, I'm julia— a certified counsellor.
Hi, I’m Julia, a Certified Canadian Counsellor, Qualifying, and a therapist for people who feel deeply, think differently, and are longing to come home to themselves.
My work focuses on supporting sensitive and emotionally intense people who may feel out of place in the world, disconnected from their bodies, overwhelmed by their emotions, or unsure of who they are becoming. Maybe you feel like you have been carrying too much for too long. Maybe you feel like an alien in your body. Maybe you are tired of asking, “What’s wrong with me?” Maybe some part of you knows there is a light within you that has not gone out, even if it feels hard to reach right now.
My approach is based in the heart and in cutting-edge bio-psychological science and is designed to understand both the light and the shadow with curiosity, compassion, and care. Together, we can begin to understand the parts of you that have been hurting, protecting, hiding, or trying so hard to survive, while helping you reconnect with the wisdom, beauty, and wholeness that have been within you since day one.
I believe we are far more than the sum of what has happened to us. We are not defined by our wounds, our diagnoses, our thoughts, or the stories we have learned to tell about ourselves.
Beneath all of that, there is something deeper and more whole — a living self made of body, mind, heart, and soul.
philosophy & approach
I believe that therapy shouldn’t feel like a clinical trial, but like a conversation between two people. At the end of the day, that's all we can be: people! My approach is non-pathologizing and honours of all of your parts and experiences, no matter how unique.
what to expect
- Down-to-earth sessions with room for humor, vulnerability, and complexity.
- Practical tools rooted in mindfulness, DBT, CBT, and IFS modalities.
- A space where 'weirdness' is not just tolerated, but embraced and valued.
- Collaboration on practical goals that matter to your actual life, not just symptoms.
I value authenticity above all else. Real therapy happens when we stop trying to fit into ideas of who we should be and start exploring the uniqueness of our own spirits and minds.
In my therapy room, we work to uncover and recover your light.
words of wisdom from Walt Whitman
"Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)"
credentials and experience
professional background.
Academic Foundations
I hold a Masters Degree of Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle, graduating with honours. My training focused on applied psychology, evidence-based practices in therapy, and culturally responsive treatment. My research during this program focused on the understudied yet wonderfully powerful role that our creative imagination has on our ability to emotionally regulate, make life meaningful, and improve brain function. Basically, I studied how thinking outside of the box enhances our wellbeing.
I have also studied and practiced mindfulness for over a decade, allowing me to provide therapeutic techniques for addressing deep-rooted concerns that often escape the scope of regular talk-therapy.
Certifications
I have received training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed care via PESI Canada. These specialized trainings allow me to offer concrete tools and strategies for internal regulation while navigating the complex layers of personality and identity.
Experience
I have worked with a rainbow of humans in many different ways over the last ten years! I interned overseas as a social worker with reintegrating violent offenders; worked as a behavioural interventionist for non-verbal autistic youth; provided recreational services to individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities; and presently volunteer at Hospice Calgary as a companion for the dying. I have been working in private practice for under a year and have worked with individuals navigating a wide variety of concerns, including complex trauma.
In addition to my clinically relevant experience, I have worked in the corporate world as a marketing account & project manager and as an professorial assistant in the field of Indian Religions.
My ecclectic experience allows me to understand people as whole, complex human beings — shaped not only by their symptoms or struggles, but by their relationships, cultures, beliefs, and lived experiences.
who I am as a person.
the human behind the therapy
I am a deeply curious individual. I'm learning all of the time about our minds, brains, and the weirdest parts of reality; in fact, you will rarely ever catch me without a podcast on or an article on my phone. I love conspiracies, chess, literature, philosophy, Theo Von, delicious food, lifting weights, video games, and wandering around my neighbourhood. Some would say I'm a romantic, but I think I'm just fascinated by life. I joke that The Lord of the Rings is my sacred text. I am a person who subscribes to the idea that existence has far more to it than meets the eye. My dream vacation would be escaping to the Northern French countryside with a million baguettes & kilos of gouda.
kind words.
"Julia is one of the most unique humans I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, which I believe is one of the best compliments one could have bestowed upon them. Her approach to the counselling process is wonderful to witness"
— Eric Kang, Registered Psychologist
"I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Julia in the field of psychology, and I am continually amazed by the depth she brings to exploring and understanding human existence. The world, as reflected through Julia’s eyes, carries a genuine sense of wonder that many would benefit from experiencing alongside her."
— Lisa Burke, Alberta Counselling Therapist
Julia is incredibly intuitive and is so easy to connect with. She is warm, kind, and caring. In working with her you are sure to feel safe, accepted, and comfortable!
— ALyssa Lightfoot, Canadian certified counsellor
Julia brings her heart into every session with every client. She leads with intuition and compassion, and her clients reap the benefits!
— Ben hofs, Canadian certified counsellor