I’ve been providing clinical supervision since 2020, and this work has definitely become one of the most rewarding parts of my practice.
Counselling within your own lived experience can be deeply gratifying and enjoyable, but it can also be complex and quite heavy at times. Private practice is isolating in and of itself, and serving our own micro communities can further limit our access to social networks and support. Working with a queer & trans supervisor can make a big difference in that isolation by creating a space of shared professional and social reality in which to reflect on use of self, and sift through what comes up from our own lives as we accompany our clients in theirs.
I’ve worked in a variety of mental health settings over the last 25 years: medical social work, street work with youth, acute psychiatric care in a hospital setting, creative arts therapies counselling clinic, special education and social integration, community mental health, and finally private practice. I find that occupying a niche that is defined by identity, as opposed to central concern, requires us to be ready to deal with a wider range of issues, and my background serves me well in this regard. I’m comfortable with a wide range of clinical complexity, and my supervision style is collaborative and warm.
I primarily supervise queer and trans mental health providers serving 2SLGBTQ+, polyam/ENM, and kink/BDSM communities, and my approach is informed by both professional and lived experiences in these areas. I’m available to work with established therapists looking for regular consultation, support with complex cases, ethical discernment, etc. as well as those who are just getting established.
I accept graduate students from clinical programs that provide a path to registration after graduation. I mostly consider students who already have transferrable experiences in counselling or related areas, because private practice can be a challenging setting for a complete novice. As my practice model is all about counselling that is by us, for us, I choose students who also dwell somewhere under the 2SLGBTQ+ umbrella. I have a casual, approachable, narrative style of teaching that grows with you as you develop more confidence, taking great care to ensure good fit between students and clients, based on factors such as skills, experience, interests and learning goals.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about potential supervision or would like to consider a practicum with me.
