About Sam
Finding enjoyment in life is a value woven deeply within the fabric of my being. This value helped offset the challenges my family and I faced growing up, as I knew that I could get lost in the moment through learning new things, play, swimming, and music. This was heavily reinforced by my father who would insist that “I will be working for most of my life, so I had better find something that I enjoy, because then, you’ll never work a day in your life”. So, the enjoyment of learning about mental health, psychology and personal growth pulled me in like a magnet.
Originally from Nottingham, England, I trained as a Mental Health Nurse, then a Public Health Nurse, and then as a Cognitive Behaviour (CBT) Therapist. All this gave me a zoomed-out perspective on how societies and systems impact mental health, to a really zoomed-in perspective on the inner workings of how mental health maintains itself. Being able to hold space for people’s experiences brought to light their own patterns. And through curiosity and a deeper understanding of the change process, I got to help people create new, desired paths of least resistance.
My desire to enjoy, and to live life to the fullest, is what led me here in Kelowna, with my husband and our two dogs, Henry and Maggie. Since arriving in 2020, during the COVID pandemic, I completed my Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology with Yorkville University. In addition, my husband started his own business, we are a part of a fantastic community of friends, and our family grew to include our first son, who was born last year!
I work primarily with adults and teenagers who have a desire to navigate through depression, anxiety disorders, addiction recovery and body image difficulties. The first steps in reaching out to THAT first session are often the scariest. It would be an honour to hear your story and hold space for you.
To contact Sam, please reach out at: sam@relateandrestore.ca or at : (782) 820-4306 for further information or to make an appointment. I also offer a free, online consultation to offer a space to meet one another and answer any questions you or your teen might have.