ABOUT ME
Hello, I am Christine, and I’ve built my practice to focus on neurodivergent individuals, mental health, caregiver burnout, and chronic illness. I am a Registered Nurse with 20 years of experience and a nutrition background. I graduated from McMaster University in 2005 and have worked in many areas in the community, including home care, ambulatory care, wound care nurse and family health teams (FHT).
My lived experiences allow me to understand the challenges of anxiety, chronic pain, and caregiver burnout. I am neurodiverse with a late ADHD diagnosis, and I also live with anxiety, chronic pain, and other ongoing health conditions.
When Covid hit in 2020, I stopped working to stay home with my 2 special needs children. At that point, I decided to shift my nursing practice toward mental health. I went back to school and graduated from Yorkville University in 2024 with a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology. Now, I offer counselling and health coaching services at RiseUp! Wellness as a Registered Nurse, Psychotherapist.
Fun fact: I love music! The sound of music and its lyrics is my method of getting through hard times. I was inspired by a song called “Rise Up” by Andra Day; her beautiful song and lyrics inspired me to name my practice RiseUp! Wellness.
A Little More About Me...
I am married to my high school sweetheart, we have 2 children with special needs, and a cat named Mia. Our son has ASD (Level 1), ADHD, OCD, a phonetic learning disability and a congenital heart defect. Our daughter has epilepsy (in remission since 2022), ADHD and is currently being assessed for ASD.
Some of my hobbies include watching movies/TV shows, crocheting, taking walks, praying, listening to music and singing. I just finished crocheting a winter dress for my daughter. It has taken me 5 months due to chronic pain. Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of listening to my body and taking breaks when I need to.