My name is Dr. Tara. I'm a Naturopathic Doctor at The Poppy Clinic, Holistic Nutritionist, and I hold a certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
My passion for tween and teen health led me to co-found All About Mental Empowerment while pursuing my doctorate degree. My company has collaborated with over 70 schools across 6 school boards, supporting the mental health of over 25,000 students through our interactive, action-based mental health workshops. I'm also the content creator and facilitator of this program, Empowered Tween, which is my comprehensive 6-module program designed to strengthen the relationship between moms and their tween daughters as girls navigate puberty.
When I think back to my experience navigating puberty, I felt very alone and confused by all the changes. I remember getting my period at 12, and my mom simply saying, "Well, this means you can get pregnant now." While I know she had good intentions in saying this, the conversation stopped there. I had so many burning questions—what was normal, why my cramps were so severe, what the white stuff in my underwear was, why my emotions felt out of control—but I was too embarrassed to ask.
With Empowered Tween, my goal is to remove all the shame and embarrassment girls often feel about their changing minds and bodies during puberty, and to empower them with accurate information and plenty of support.