I approach clients with unconditional positive regard. As a social worker, I am friendly, compassionate, caring, and warm. I aim to create a space for individuals to feel free to be themselves and explore their truths and lives in meaningful and sometimes critical ways. In addition to my non-judgemental approach, I hope to bring a respectful delivery of hard questions and a respectful facilitation of difficult conversations. I am someone who appreciates deep and meaningful reflection and discussion. Working in palliative care and end-of-life care was a gift that placed a great deal of things in perspective for me and my practice. I have incredible respect and admiration for people willing and able to be curious and courageous enough to go to those deeper and darker places. For me, the client is in the driver's seat, and I am along for the ride. I can be a navigator, but I also appreciate getting lost a little along the way. My questions can be direct sometimes, but often come from a place of curiosity and seeking understanding.
I work from a person-centred, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, feminist lens drawing attention to the systems in which we all live, work, and play and how they affect us, our relationships and our mental health. I challenge some of the narratives created by our culture, which is why I am a member of a death-positive movement called The Order of the Good Death, which looks to remove the anxiety and existential fears surrounding the topic. I believe that knowledge is power and that we are not given an equal opportunity to learn the tools to understand ourselves better and how we exist and move within our society, families, friendships, and culture.
As humans living in Western society, we are constantly being bombarded by images and messages telling how we should look, feel, act and think. This can cause serious harm and damage to our self-esteem, and shape our self-talk into a harmful voice we live with. This excludes what damage and harm can be done to us just interacting with each other and trying to survive. We don't all have the answers OR the tools to find those answers depending on things and factors out of our control. I have had my own lived experiences where oppressive systems and relationships have caused me harm and, in search of healing, I have been helped by therapists who have provided such clarity and liberation to and from my pain and suffering. I want to help others find liberation and self-reclamation from our oppressive systems that cause us to feel and think we are inadequate and unworthy of love, acceptance, or belonging.
Sam’s fees are:
50-Minute Session: $220
80-Minute Session: $330
Our therapy services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance provider or benefit plan. To confirm your plan coverage, please contact your insurance provider.
Sam’s appointments can be direct billed to Alberta Blue Cross, ASEBP, Canada Life, GreenShield and Medavie (which includes Veterans Affairs and RCMP).
Don’t see your insurance listed?
If we’re unable to direct bill your insurance provider, you’ll be able to submit the receipt we send at the end of your session to your insurance provider for reimbursement yourself.
