HI, I’M LISA! THE CREATOR AND FACILITATOR OF THE VILLAGE.
I am a married, primary stay-at-home mom of two beautifully, imperfectly perfect children, ages 6 and 4. When I am not at home with my family, you can find me at the studio dancing salsa, with my mindfulness meditation group or working part time at the best real estate law firm in the greater Toronto area.
If I had to put my parenting style into one category, it would be “conscious respectful parenting through emotional connection”. I do not believe in punishments nor rewards. Every experience/interaction is a learning process and we are all learning from one another. I parent, and live, with an attitude of curiosity, openness, acceptance and love; I hope to help you do the same.
My internal self-inquiry exploration first began in 2014 after I was barely surviving and deeply suffering with debilitating anxiety. Almost every moment of each day, for over a year, everything inside of me was screaming that I was not safe; that life was not safe. I could not function; let alone live. I knew that there was something "off" inside of me but I didn't know what. The only thing that I knew was that I couldn't continue "living" in this constant, paralyzing fear. I needed help to understand what was going on inside of me. I needed help to understand my self.
My healing journey began with Dr. Stéphane Treyvaud from The Mindfulness Centre in Oakville, Ontario. I first completed his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program and have since continued to participate in his Mindsight Intensive in-depth training which is a program designed to make mindfulness a way of life. I have also been in Dr. Treyvaud's weekly group psychotherapy for the past 6+ years. Therapy has helped me developed a coherent narrative of my life which has brought me a tremendous amount of understanding, self-compassion and safety to live without anxiety. The work that I have done in both mindfulness meditation and psychotherapy has foundationally, and profoundly, changed me. I am eternally grateful for all those who have done the inner work before me so that I could learn from them.
Today, I am able to live mindfully with a deep sense of safety within my body, love in my heart and an eager curiosity for what this life is all about.