If you're here collecting intel on me, there's a good chance you're considering therapy. And an even better chance you're considering me as your therapist.
Maybe you've been thinking about it for a while. Maybe this is all new to you. Maybe the algorithm led you here. Maybe a friend referred you.
Whatever brought you here, take your time.
Getting to know your therapist is part of the process. I believe in showing up as my authentic self, not just as a therapist, but as a real person. What you see is what you get. On my website, on social media, online and in person.
Why? Because research and experience both point to something important: the therapeutic relationship matters. Feeling safe, understood, respected and genuinely connected to the person sitting across from you can make all the difference in your therapy experience and outcomes.
Finding the right fit isn't a box to check. It's a relationship worth taking the time to get right.
So, have at it! Get to know more about me, my approach and what working together can look like.
plot twist: I wasn't always a therapist.
Before finding my way into psychotherapy, I spent years in education, teaching and working with students, including several years at Western University (Althouse College). And while I loved the world of education, I found myself increasingly drawn to the conversations happening outside the classroom. The ones that had very little to do with coursework or exams and everything to do with being human.
The pressure to succeed. The uncertainty of figuring out your future. The comparison game. Relationships, expectations, identity crises and the general chaos of trying to get your life together.
You know, adulting.
I realized that some of the most meaningful work I could do wasn't helping people learn the required curriculum or how to complete a Scantron. It was helping them understand themselves, navigate life's messier moments and figure out what to actually do with all that self-awareness.
So, I went back to school and followed that curiosity.
I spent several years in clinical placements, working both in a residence at Western University and at a provincially accredited community-based children’s mental health centre supporting teens. I became qualified, certified and verified, and then I followed my independent spirit to found In The Vault Therapy.
Turns out, the plot was plotting.
so, what's it actually like working with me?
I'm a big believer that therapy shouldn't feel like an interrogation, a lecture or an hour of someone nodding while you explain your childhood. It should feel like a space where you can actually exhale and be unapologetically you. When you are working with me, you don't have to filter, rehearse, soften, or justify your thoughts.
Let that sink in for a moment. With me, you can share what’s on your mind without fear of judgement. So, unlike when you talk to friends or family, you don't have to manage my feelings, protect my ego or worry about how I'll receive what you're saying. And for those unfamiliar with that experience, it’s pure liberation.
I'm warm, curious and compassionate, and I'm not afraid to be direct when the moment calls for it. I appreciate honesty, humour, meaningful conversations and the occasional strategically placed swear word.
I won't pretend to have all the answers, and I'm definitely not here to hand you a motivational quote and send you on your way.
My approach is integrative, drawing from several therapeutic modalities to make our work collaborative, personalized and relevant to what's actually happening in your life.
We'll explore the why, but we won't stop there. Because understanding your patterns is one thing. Figuring out how to change them? That's where things get interesting.
And because I'm also a Certified Art Therapist, I might occasionally invite you to think outside the box. Literally, sometimes.
My goal is to help you turn self-awareness into actual change. Not overnight, not through some magical breakthrough, but through meaningful work that translates into the life you're actually living.
bonus content (the director’s cut):
I'm a creative at heart. I designed the entire In The Vault brand myself: the name, logo, fonts, colours, the whole package. Dropped out of graphic design school but picked up the skills (true story).
I drink water from a wine glass. Life is too short not to enjoy the finer things. I started doing this during COVID, and quite frankly, there's no going back.
I'm a sucker for a Lake Huron sunset. If you know, you know.
Dark chocolate is a food group. I will be discussing this no further.
I'm a big fan of artist Eric Stefanski. His work is raw, emotional and unapologetically expressive. Each piece is pure tea. He puts it all out there with a very 'I said what I said' attitude. Every time he posts a new work, I think, 'OMG, he went there.’
My academic receipts are a coast-to-coast paper trail. B.A. (McGill), B.Ed. (Western), M.Ed.(UofT), and DVATI (Vancouver). I’ve also completed AQ courses at Queen’s and Lakehead. I considered becoming a psychologist (Dr Beckett would go hard), but I didn’t want a career focused primarily on assessment, diagnosis and labelling people - I wanted a career supporting them.
consider yourself briefed.
So, there you have it.
If you've made it this far, you’re fully invested in the recon. I respect that.
And if working with me feels like the warm, safe and authentic therapy experience you are looking for, the vault is open. Would love to chat.
Sue.
