Angela has over 24 years of extensive experience with youth with various neurological differences, including trauma and autism. Throughout her career she has gathered valuable experiences through working with families with the Manitoba Government, caring for youth and children, working as a Clinical Case Manager, and volunteering over 20,000 hours with agencies in Winnipeg and British Columbia. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Manitoba Heroes award (2019) and the CTV Mental Health Champion Award (2020).
Angela is a mother to 4 children, and celebrates psychological, cognitive and neurological differences within her family. She says her children have been her best teacher, and support her to learn about how each of us need additional support at different times in our lives, to use our gifts and talents to grow.
“I dreamt of a better way to support my community. As a child growing up in care, my mother struggled with mental health issues and end up taking her own life. As I heard other people’s experiences, I heard my own experience. Resources are still missing, even for my own family.
I wanted children and families to feel respected, right when they walked in the door. Cared for, not Stigmatized. So they feel they can talk openly about challenges they face, because we all have challenges within our own families.
This is the foundation: Respect. Empowerment and Coaching, because we’re not the problem, we are enough.”
Life Experience
Angela is multiply neurodivergent, raises children with complex differences, and has been supporting families that include children living with disabilities for 2 decades.
Angela spent much of her childhood in formal and informal foster care, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She uses her lived experience in connecting with individuals, youth and families who experience hardship and attachment disruption.
Her ability to understand the neurodivergent comes from her lived experience, and her passion to learn and grow with her community while seeing strengths in others, and adapting the environment to invite the community to thrive. She supports multiple social service teams throughout Canada, including specializing in expression of distress through violence of youth to family.
Clinical Experience
- 24 years supporting community members in social services.
- Creation of unique programs and education supports, to address the needs of those in our community, who remain underserved.
- Programming developer, trainer, advocate, community and information liaison regarding mental health, complex neurology and behaviour, neurodivergence, therapeutic art, community programming, among others.
- Researcher, writer, curriculum developer and facilitator for best practice programming and support for individuals of all abilities.
- Eclectic therapeutic skills, including strength-based support, solution-focused, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Trauma-processing, attachment, peer support, Wrap Around Care, Collaborative and Proactive Solutions, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 1, Modified Interaction Guidance, Brainspotting Trauma Processing (currently enrolled).
- Co-author of All Kinds of Minds http://inspirecommunityoutreach.ca/all-kinds-of-minds/
- Author of Forever on Fire, A Love Letter to Never Fitting In
- Creator of the In-home Stabilization Support Program
- Clinical lead and specialist for individuals, and families with complex needs, including neurological sensitivities and differences, mental health concerns, aggression, trauma, and cognitive co-occurring differences.
- Clinical Partner and Consultant with the National Consortium Aggression Towards Family/Caregivers in Childhood &Adolescence
Training
- PhD of Education Student, current – specializing in complex neurology and behaviour.
- Brainspotting Level 1 Training, September 2022
- Masters of Disability Studies, 2019. Master’s Thesis: A Parent’s Perspective: The Experience of Accessing Autism Services.
- Wraparound Training, January 2021
- Peer Support Training, February 2021
- Modified Interaction Guidance Training, August 2020
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy certificate, October 2018
- Attachment Training 1&2, September and October 2018
- Yoga certification, January 2018
- 4 day certification program for Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting, 2017
- 2 day Counseling certificate program, CTRI, August 2017
- Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Education, focusing on Inclusion and counselling at the University of Manitoba, 2016.
- Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology, minor in Sociology at The University of Manitoba, 2006.
Additional Training/Workshops: FASD, Cultural Diversity, Conflict Resolution, Social Role Valorization, Breaking Barriers, Dealing with Interpersonal Conflict and Conflict Resolution, Family Systems Interventions Training Program, Non- Violent Crisis Intervention (Incl. After the Crisis), PATHs, Challenging Behaviour, Behaviour Psychology, Mental Health First Aid, Coaching For Confidence, Positive Mental Health.
Employment History
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, October 2013- Current
Inspire Community Outreach
Monitor the health and productivity of Inspire, overseeing staff while working alongside our diverse board, ensuring mandate, with and for community.
Director Of Clinical Services, October 2018- November 2022
Inspire Community Outreach
Leading and working alongside Inspire’s specialized and skilled provincial clinical team, including strategies and planning for evidence-based, innovative care to under-served community members.