MEET Maddy

For us all, our definitions of a “successful” or “meaningful” life look different. A life that feels value-based might look different at various stages of your life, and different between unique individuals. A question that many people seeking therapy grapple with: What is the recipe for a life that is of value to me? What do I need to do to live a life of meaning? This question, “what does it mean to live a life I find meaningful?”, is a question that I, too, grapple with, and has brought me into psychotherapy as my career today. 

I deem my life most meaningful when I connect with and support others. when I help others move towards a life that is of meaning for them, I experience greater meaning in my own life. Therefore, working as a psychotherapist and developing therapeutic relationships is an incredibly important experience for me. With that said, to become the psychotherapist that I am, I have put extensive energy into acquiring the necessary foundation of tools, knowledge, and skills. I have done this both experientially – through my own self-development – and conventionally – through education, practice, and training. 

I too have pursued intense personal therapeutic experiences in my own self-development that have contributed to my uniquely skilled background. These include receiving psychotherapeutic services in individual and group therapy, seeking self-development-related books and conversations, and practicing numerous strategies, tools, and techniques on myself to discover the potential that I have within to heal, learn, and grow. I am passionate about my self-development – in my free time you can find me journaling, reading a psychology-related (or romance!) book, hiking, connecting with friends and family, or decompressing with a walk in the forest with my Great Pyrenees dog, Linus. I believe to be an effective psychotherapist you must be able to do the work yourself too – and I prioritize this!

In addition to my in-depth personal development experiences I have a robust academic background, which has gifted me a wide range of skills and training. I obtained my Undergraduate Degree in Psychology (B.A.H.) from Queen’s University and my Masters of Science Degree in Psychotherapy (M.S.c) from McMaster University. I have years of training, work, and education experience from in-patient and out-patient hospital clinics, private practice, research, university, and community settings. I received training at the Anxiety Treatment and Research Centre (ATRC) at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hospital in Hamilton, right here at Two Doves Psychotherapy Services (where I completed my practicum placement)!  Further, my experience collaborating on and independently running a multitude of research projects in sexuality, clinical, and social psychology have provided me with additional education on working with populations with diverse sexual identities and difficulties. 

I am childlike at heart and love adventure! This has translated to my interest and experience working closely with youth. Recently I worked as a Mental Health Professional at a sleepover camp on an Ontarian Lake, and as a Mentor and Group Facilitator for vulnerable youth at-risk of experiencing mental health issues due to family abuse or neglect in Kingston. 

My personal therapeutic experiences coupled with my work and training history come together to create a unique and comprehensive perspective that will help me effectively support you in achieving your goals. 

For me, living a life of value means helping people discover their self-worth and move towards mental health and more sustainable living. I enjoy supporting individuals who are struggling with past or current trauma, feelings of stuckness, self-esteem issues, low or fluctuating mood, relationship concerns, anxiety, panic, ADHD, sexuality-related difficulties, life transitions, and more. I enjoy working with clients who are hoping to gain a better understanding of how their past experiences inform their current identity. 

Altogether, my passion for psychology, whole-hearted desire to enhance my capacity to support others, and comprehensive foundation of skills and tools that I have gained from my work and training experiences, have brought me here today. My experiences (both from personal life experiences and professional development) have taught me this: We are never done learning. Our brains change and grow, and so do our identities, values, and relationships. 

Let’s work together to find what that value-based and meaningful life looks like for you.