All great changes are preceded by chaos. ~ Deepak Chopra
My Mask: Painfully Unaware The best way I can think to describe myself prior to giving birth to my daughter is blissfully and painfully unaware. I had many challenges through my childhood, my teens and early adulthood. I did my best to stuff everything down. Ignore anything unpleasant and push through to the next thing – a new job, location, relationship. Anything that triggered me, I found myself cutting off and moving on. I believed if I just kept smiling, stayed positive and moved forward, I would never have to deal with my past. The Universe had a different plan in mind. I decided to change my story...I didn’t want to continue living out these same painful patterns for myself or for my daughter. I got help. I joined a support group, read self-help books, took classes. I learned a lot but there was still something missing. I felt like I knew the information cognitively, but it wasn't until I started my own personal work that things really began to shift. Real change happened once I decided to register for the three-year Counselling Psychology program with Clearmind International. An experiential, relational and transpersonal program that fostered the self awareness and the relationships skills I required to transform my life. Through my own individual counselling and this program, I found the support that I needed. I was able to connect with my inner-wisdom and step into my authentic self. I learned the tools to deal with my feelings in a responsible and accountable way. I learned how to show up vulnerably in my relationships which has led to some of the most beautiful and heart-felt connections. My life is far from perfect, but I am much better equipped to handle what life throws my way.
Melody's Background I am a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) with the Association of Cooperation Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT). I draw on my own personal experience, my background in teaching and my extensive training from Clearmind International. I have assisted and supported participants in numerous Leadership and Personal Growth Workshops. I believe in a holistic approach to counselling, drawing on several perspectives based on the needs of my clients. I am here to encourage and support you; a compassionate facilitator. My intention is to provide a safe space and to support you on your personal journey toward self awareness and discovery.
Additional Offerings I am a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and Certified Keeping the Joy in Relationships Facilitator. Positive Discipline is a model based on Adlerian Psychology. It can be used by parents, teachers, couples, business and community leaders to learn to create responsible, respectful, and resourceful relationships in their communities. Based on the best selling Positive Discipline books by Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott, and co-authors, this model can be applied to both children and adults to become contributing members of their communities. I am also a Certified My Smart Hands Instructor and I have been helping families communicate with the of use sign language for over a decade. With a background in teaching, ASL and successfully incorporating it at home with my baby - becoming an instructor seemed like the perfect fit. Signing with our daughter was such an amazing experience. It reduced frustration, increased our daughter’s confidence, and created closer bonds between everyone in our family. Seeing the benefits first hand, I wanted to share this gift of communication with other families.
You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. ~ C.S. Lewis