I would like to share with you my journey. Raised in small town Ontario, every summer my family went camping at our favourite provincial park. I loved the peacefulness of sitting in our secret rock lookout, floating in the water for hours, and playing in the sand with my sister. My connection to nature began there and has grown over the years.
I spent my teenage and early university summers at my beloved residential camp, YMCA Camp Pinecrest in Muskoka. I was the counsellor to 8 little campers and enjoyed running around camp playing games and keeping them safe. I learned that caring for others was my passion and being with children rejuvenated me. In my final summer working at camp, I was the Wellness Director where I was responsible for the health of 250 children and 100 staff members. Here I taught principles of healthy living, coping strategies during stressful situations and took the kids on nature walks to look for medicinal herbs.
During my years at McMaster University studying Honours Biology I knew I wanted to be in health care so began to discover different ways to help people. When I learned about Naturopathic Medicine I started to see a Naturopathic Doctor to get the first-hand experience under naturopathic care. I learned that the symptoms I lived with for years were not normal and that something could be done about it in natural and effective ways.
When I found Naturopathic Medicine, I knew it was the perfect fit for me. I attended the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto where I spent 4 intensive and wonderful years. I completed a specialty rotation in Pediatrics as well as a satellite clinic downtown Toronto with the HIV & Aids community. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I love the fact that I can spend substantial time with each patient to get to the root cause of their health concerns. Each person is an individual and sharing my knowledge with each unique patient makes every day better than the last.
My practice is at The Healing Oasis in Barrie, which is a wonderfully collaborative and supportive environment full of talented health practitioners. I strive to make each person welcome and relaxed at our wellness centre. Guided by the Naturopathic principles, I do not simply cover up symptoms but view them as an indication of your overall state of health. This form of healing is not a "quick-fix" but involves a journey of wellness and evolution of your lifestyle, diet, goals, and challenges. I know that change takes time and each person moves at his or her own pace. To achieve optimal health and wellness, I am patient with my patients but also a persistent coach. I am committed to your health journey and will do my best to guide you and work with your personal health goals.
I work with children and adults of all ages and treat both chronic and acute illnesses. My patients love my sense of humour and kind nature. They also like seeing me around town since I love being part of the community. In my personal time, I can be found walking my dog Daisy, cooking up a new recipe, and laughing with my family and friends.