Families Do Not Need More Judgment

Hi, I’m Jamie — founder of Rivet Support Services and a Registered Social Worker based in Alberta. I provide practical, strengths-based support for youth and families navigating emotional overwhelm, conflict, crisis, communication challenges, and major life transitions. My work is grounded in the belief that families do not need to be perfect to deserve support, and that meaningful change happens when people feel understood, supported, and empowered — not judged. 

My professional background includes experience in youth mental health and addiction, crisis intervention, child intervention, family support, systems navigation, and working alongside families facing complex emotional, behavioral, and environmental stressors. Much of my experience has been gained supporting children, youth, and caregivers during some of the most overwhelming and vulnerable moments of their lives. Through this work, I have developed a strong understanding of how trauma, stress, emotional dysregulation, attachment, communication breakdowns, and systemic pressures can impact both youth and family functioning.

Over the years, I have learned that many families are doing far better than they think they are.

Often, parents reach out feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure what else to try because home feels tense, communication has broken down, or their child is struggling emotionally. More often than not, families are not failing — they are trying to navigate difficult situations without enough support.

That is where Rivet Support Services comes in.

My approach is warm, collaborative, practical, and grounded in real life. I focus on helping families better understand what is happening beneath the surface, reduce overwhelm, strengthen communication, improve emotional understanding, and build strategies that are realistic and sustainable in day-to-day life.

I understand that reaching out for support can feel intimidating — especially when families are already carrying stress, guilt, frustration, or emotional exhaustion. My goal is to create an environment where youth and caregivers feel safe, respected, heard, and supported without shame or judgment.

Whether I am supporting a teen who has shut down emotionally, a family experiencing ongoing conflict, or a parent feeling overwhelmed, my focus remains the same: helping families feel more connected, capable, and hopeful moving forward.

In addition to counseling and family support services, I also assist families with advocacy, emotional regulation support, systems navigation, communication strategies, collaborative planning, and helping caregivers better understand the impact of stress, trauma, and emotional overwhelm on behavior and relationships.

Outside of my professional role, I am also a mom with a serious obsession with my yorkie (much to my kids embarrassment), a coffee enthusiast, and someone who deeply understands that life can be messy, busy, complicated, and overwhelming at times. Those experiences shape the way I approach my work and continue to reinforce the importance of support that feels genuine, practical, and compassionate.

At the core of Rivet Support Services is a simple belief:

Families do not need more judgment. They need support, connection, understanding, and someone willing to help them navigate the hard parts alongside them.

That is the work I am honored to do every day.