Dana has a Master of Education in Counselling from the University of Ottawa. She is a Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC). Dana is committed to assisting adolescents and young adults with the challenges often inherent in the transition through adulthood. She works with clients dealing with issues such as relationships and interpersonal difficulties, depression, anxiety, and emotional regulation issues such as self-harm, emotional eating and 'picking fights'. One of her particular interests is in addressing self-esteem and identity, and how these elements relate to the search for - and maintenance of - healthy romantic relationships. Often adaptive change regarding these issues comes from working on awareness of family of origin, the ability to successfully "parent" oneself and manage emotional impulses, and the development of self-compassion. Dana's work in psychotherapy relies on building a warm and open therapeutic alliance through which clients may investigate their beliefs about themselves and others, explore their personal histories and relational patterns, and develop new strategies to gain awareness and regulation of their emotional reactions. She employs a client-centred approach that integrates a range of therapeutic orientations including a focus on family of origin, emotions, self-compassion, acceptance and mindfulness. Dana's professional expertise is in providing therapy dealing with issues related to adjustments and transitions in adolescence and adulthood, such as:
Stress management
Relationship issues (e.g. family, social groups, dating, romantic relationships)
Feeling depressed or anxious, including postpartum difficulties
Difficulties in school or at work
Self-esteem and identity
Since 2006 Dana has worked in various capacities counselling secondary and post-secondary students, and since 2010 she has been heavily involved in developing mental health student programming for universities. Dana is employed at Carleton University’s From Intention to Action (FITA) program (www.carleton.ca/fita), which supports students in the transition to university. At FITA, Dana counsels clients, supervises Master's of Counselling interns, and oversees and coordinates the program. FITA is a holistic counselling program providing immediate, intensive intervention to students, with the aim of preventing distress from escalating to mental illness. Additionally, Dana's professional theatre training in the UK and Canada has brought to her work a unique knowledge of emotional awareness, communication, mindfulness, interpersonal connection, and presence.
