My journey began with my own experiences as a survivor, navigating the complexities of recovery and finding the courage to reclaim my voice.

 

My story is one that spans over decades of mulitple forms of trauma, years of navigating the foster care system, aging out of care at 18 years old, and graduating from what I call, "The School of Hard Knocks".   I was determined to NOT become another unfortunate "statistic" of those who didn't "make it" and to be who I needed during my times the adverse events in my life.

 

I know firsthand what struggling in silence feels like, how past trauma can affect personal and professional relationships, alongside physical, pychological, and emotional wellbeing. Not only have I lived it, I found ways to overcome every single struggle life has thrown at me.  

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However, some things are not solvable in situations where there is no AWARENESS.  Let me explain what I mean by that and how that relates to my story, my mission and how Aware NL came to fruition.......

 

In 2023, I survived a very serious snowmobile accident that resulted in broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, and post traumatic stress disorder.  I am a complex trauma survivor (the exposure to multiple, often interrelated forms of traumatic experiences), had been diagnosed with situation anxiety and depression, and worked in a very stressful job. 

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In late 2023 (several months after my accident), PTSD started manifesting as physical symptoms while I was at work.  The strange thing about this, is that it only happened AT WORK.  I realized that with all of the tools I already had in my trauma recovery and healing toolkit, they still weren't enough to alleviate the symptoms.  They showed up in my body as alopecia areata (hair loss), dangerously high blood pressure and elevated heart rate.  Considering that the nervous system and cardiovascular health were my specialties, I knew it was time to advocate for my own wellbeing.  After many requests for change in my work environment over the years, nothing changed.  The work environment had the same departmental and systemic issues that they had over a decade ago, even with my many suggestions and potential solutions to make effective changes. My body was changing and responding to high stress situations very differently than prior to the accident, and the lack of trauma awarenes in an industry that "should" be trauma aware and informed, really wasn't. I made an informed decision, for my mental, physical and emotional health and resigned from my 15 year healthcare career when I realized the system wasn't going to change without trauma awareness.

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This is the summary of "my story" and the foundation on which Aware NL was built.  It is the very reason why I am so passionate and such a fierce advocate for trauma awareness, breaking the stigma of anything related to trauma and mental health, and shedding light (and HOPE) to organizations, our comminities, and individuals who may have struggled to naviate the "real world" after experiences adversities in life.

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The cold hard reality is that 1 in 3 individuals in Canada have experienced difficulties with their mental health and wellness and at least 60% have survived some sort of traumatic event/s in their lives.  There is a vast amount of research that circles back to the underlying cause of mental health concerns for many, and the effects on our personal AND professional lives that show these issues are astronomical.

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​This personal path, combined with my professional expertise as a healthcare provider and educator, gives me a unique perspective that blends compassion, knowledge, and practicality.

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I’ve built Aware NL on the belief that awareness is the first step toward meaningful change. My approach is warm, empathetic, and deeply grounded in evidence-based practices, education, and lived experience. Whether I’m leading workshops, speaking to groups, or sharing resources, my goal is to make trauma awareness accessible, actionable, and transformative.

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Outside of my professional life, I’m a lifelong learner and creative at heart.  I’m also a proud Newfoundlander, passionate about connecting with nature, an animal lover, proud tree hugger and travel bug.  When I'm not working in or on my business you can find me exploring far and wide on this magical earth, or being a tourist at home in our beautiful province - whether that's by foot on a trail, via TCH on a road trip, or by scooting around in my camper van.  Avocating for my own mental health through outdoor adventures, connecting with other like-minded folks, and supporting my community are my lifelong mission.