About Me
My Journey to Healing
Hi, I’m Chantal, and I’ve been a licensed therapist (MSW, RSW) since 2005, specializing in Self-Esteem, Trauma, Anxiety, and Nervous System Regulation. But beyond being a therapist, I’m also a human who has been through my own healing journey—navigating the very same struggles I help others with.
I started experiencing anxiety when I was just 4 or 5 years old—afraid of bad things happening to my loved ones, hyper-aware of my surroundings, and carrying emotions that weren’t mine to hold (though I didn’t know that at the time).
By the time I was 8, my INNER CRITIC had already shown up, judging me, making me feel awkward and inferior. While I came alive with the people I loved and had so many great moments in childhood, inside, I carried constant turmoil. Over time, I developed several INNER CRITICS—The Perfectionist, The Guilt Tripper, The Taskmaster—each one demanding more, keeping me on edge, and making it impossible to feel like I was ever enough.
My nervous system was stuck in SURVIVAL MODE for years, and my body started paying the price. Migraines, digestive issues, depression, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and a growing sense of anxiety became my norm. I was always overthinking my relationships, afraid of people leaving, unable to relax.
At the same time, I was desperate to heal. But no matter how hard I tried, I felt like I was failing at it. My INNER CRITIC picked apart every attempt, piling on more shame for not “getting better fast enough.” I felt like I was constantly chasing my own tail—clinging to control because my own well-being felt completely out of reach.
The Search for Answers
I spent years working with therapists, nutritionists, naturopaths, and holistic healers, trying everything under the sun. It was a long, painful, and exhausting journey.
There were moments I truly believed I was broken—like I had some kind of flaw in me that made healing impossible. And then, I started learning about the nervous system, trauma, and how our Inner Critics and Protector Parts work.
I slowly began to see that my struggles weren’t personal failures. They were adaptations—survival responses that had developed to protect me, even when they were making my life harder.
That understanding changed everything.
What Helped Me Heal
For the first time, I stopped trying to “fix” myself and started working with the parts of me that were holding on so tightly to the past.
I learned how to regulate my nervous system so my body could finally stop bracing for danger.
I worked with my Protector Parts—my Inner Critics, Anxious Parts, and Numbing Parts—rather than fighting against them.
I practiced Self-Compassion in a way that finally felt real, instead of something I was “supposed” to do.
And slowly, I started to feel safe inside myself.
When we bring these pieces together, we create a space for deep, lasting change that feels safe, supportive, and motivating. Healing isn’t about forcing change or suppressing the parts of you that struggle. It’s about reconnecting with yourself in a way that feels steady and compassionate, so you can move forward with greater ease and confidence.
Where I Am Now
Healing is a journey, and I consider myself a student for life. Yet today, I can truly say:
I tune in to my body and check in with what I need.
I have tools to regulate my nervous system.
My Anxious Part has quieted down immensely.
My Inner Critics are non-existent and no longer control me.
I can genuinely say I love myself and am proud of myself.
I set healthy boundaries and only keep healthy relationships in my life.
I nurture the younger Parts of me and feel deep compassion for them.
For years, I felt like healing was out of reach—like I was stuck carrying the same pain and patterns no matter what I tried. Today, I know that’s not true.
This is my story. And I will keep learning, growing, and sharing everything I’ve discovered along the way.
