KAYDA HEALTH

Helping neurodiverse youth & adults struggling with executive function, low self worth & self esteem, burnout, depression, and anxiety is my jam. I want to truly meet you where you are at and give you a safe space to be you and to grow in. I also support neurotypical teens & adults who are feeling low, stressed, overwhelmed, stuck, traumatized, or panicked to make life better. I partner with you, help you develop an action plan, and give you the tools and techniques to get you where you want to be.  

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I put you first in counselling and am with you all the way; enhancing your whole self by focusing on your strengths, your values, your reality, and your dreams. I give you a safe space to cry, laugh, be heard, and reflect, while drawing on skills and techniques which are based in positive psychology to build your strength and resilience.
 

My Background: I immigrated to Canada when I was 9 years old. My upbringing was clouded in profound fear, loss, and disappointment. I was a homeless teen once, and that was before cell phones and the internet! As an adult, I was mostly anxious and miserable - miserable with the high conflict relationships I had, miserable with what felt like a dead end job, single with two kids, no prospects, and a history of dropping out of school. All I had was me. All I can do is put one foot in front of the other. Thanks to my ADHD, the bits of daydreaming and jokes in my head distracted me enough from my misery to keep me going. One of those revolving distractions was the theme of learning. My love of learning led me to a path of learning about neurodiversity, and the learning needs of those who are just not average.

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Despite my profound skepticism for mental health professionals, I met my therapist by chance. She empowered me with the courage to make a career change.

While I completed my bachelor’s degree, I took training in the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach, and the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) Educational Therapy to remediate learning disabilities in children. My work with school-aged children and their families led me to seeing how lasting emotions can impact a person’s functioning throughout life.

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Through working with children and working with my own therapist, I decided to become a counsellor and completed a Master’s of Counselling degree. The work I did then with youth in a low barrier access centre touched me deeply as I supported anxiety, suicide ideation, trauma, self-esteem, mental illness, and coming of age uncertainties such as employment goals and relationships. I find much enjoyment in life now. The lows in my past allow me to experience profound joy and gratitude, and for that, I am grateful. And I would like to pay it forward as a counsellor. In my spare time, I like to lift heavy things, read, make my teens laugh, and try not to fall too far into random rabbit holes.

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I have variable availability through the week including afternoons/ evenings and Saturdays. My office is in Port Moody at 86 Moody Street in Eagle Mountain Health.