Linda is a kind, compassionate, and committed Registered Social Worker who brings over ten years of experience in the helping field, including working with children, adolescents, youth, adults, and families who are in distress.  Linda provides a safe and non-judgemental space where her clients can begin to heal and to cope better with life’s challenges.  She recognizes that all of us face ups and downs in life, and that this can cause serious impacts on our lives and lead to challenging thoughts and emotions about ourselves and our experiences.  She believes that people do not have to go through these difficulties alone and helps her clients both to gain insight into their emotional responses and to manage these responses better.  Authenticity, respect, and a genuinely open-minded nature are at the core of Linda’s approach as she works collaboratively with each client to ensure their needs are met.  

In addition to earning a Master’s Degree in Social Work from York University, Linda also completed a Master’s Degree in Critical Disability Studies and is well-versed in supporting individuals with disabilities.  Linda’s experiences also include working effectively to improve and resolve a wide variety of issues, including depression, anxiety (generalized and social anxiety), OCD, conflict resolution, self-esteem, grief, self-harm, stress management, and life transitions. She has also supported those diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and ADHD. Linda uses a range of treatment modalities, including Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, as well as Strengths-Based and DBT-informed approaches.  Linda understands that every individual is unique and tailors treatment to meet each client’s specific needs and goals.

Sheer passion and commitment to helping people cope with emotional pain in their daily lives is what inspired Linda to become a therapist.  As a Black woman, she understands how mental health influences the experiences of black men, women, and families. As someone who moved to Canada at a young age, Linda is well aware of the migration experience and the tensions that this can create for individuals and families. With each client, Linda creates a safe space where any experience can be expressed openly and without judgment. She knows that by talking about difficult experiences, we are empowered to continue becoming more resilient and better able to cope with whatever life brings our way.  

Linda recognizes that people seek therapy for a variety of reasons, including to find a listening ear, obtain guidance, or work through difficult experiences.  Linda works together with each client to identify their goals and focus on achieving them. For those who are having a hard time determining the direction of their therapeutic journey, she provides the support and guidance needed to be able to establish useful goals and direction.  Linda looks forward to helping her clients to identify and make progress on the next steps in their healing and counselling journey.

Linda enjoys the summer and being outdoors with friends and family members while listening to good music. Although she may not be able to dance well, she enjoys trying.  Linda also enjoys trying out new recipes from different cultures.  Gratitude and affirmations are daily practices for Linda and they help to keep her humble and grounded.