Reviews of Verena’s Work
Reviews of Verena’s Work
Feedback from Clients, Peers, and Audiences
Verena’s holistic approach to care integrates physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, leaving a lasting impact on those she serves. Read on to discover how Verena’s workshops on emotional intelligence, keynote speeches on health equity, and personalized consultations have empowered individuals and organizations to embrace vulnerability and cultivate meaningful connections.
From transforming healthcare in Nova Scotia’s federal prisons to creating the first BIPOC clinic within the Canadian Armed Forces, her dedication to culturally competent care and emotional literacy is evident in the heartfelt testimonials below. If her compassionate approach resonates with you, we invite you to connect and learn more
“Verena is is an incredibly dynamic yet empathetic individual. The fact that she has been able to trailblaze a BIPOC clinic on her own accord within a larger institution is a testament to her determination and commitment to identifying and then following through to do what is right for others”
“Lots of people are educated. Many are gifted speakers. Very few have IT—that cocktail of magic and magnetism that makes a moment memorable. Verena has IT. She is the rarest combo of energetic and empathetic. Approachable but holds you accountable. She is a wonder. Verena makes an instant impact the moment you meet her. She is warm and wise, comforting and competent, confident and courteous and curious. She is a gifted orator yet also a great listener. Both qualities of a natural leader. When she speaks, people listen. During the darkest days of Covid when we were having long overdue societal conversations about race, I worked with Verena on a series of videos. It’s such a daunting subject, but Verena casually uttered the phrase that became the name of the series that then became my mantra: Lead with Love. I think that’s her superpower.”
“Verena has opened my heart to be more compassionate , and more aware of issues that affect marginalized peoples. Her pieces stop a person in their tracks and provokes you to think deeply about issues other people are experiencing. Issues foreign to myself but powerful in the lives of others. She has broadened my understand of the challenges others must face”
“Verena’s lived experiences, humility, compassion, wisdom, kindness and brilliance have culminated in the purest form of caregiver I have ever encountered. When Verena provides, she does not simply provide “care” or a service; Verena provides wholly, genuinely and holistically in an unparalleled fashion. Verena’s ability to immerse herself with the hearts of those around her allows to care for others in ways they didn’t even know they needed. You may come to Verena for a specific cause, concern, etc., but you will leave with a healed soul and an invigorated spirit”
“Verena is a compassionate clinician who is dedicated to patient care. She excels at developing rapport with her patients and she is a valuable team member who communicates well with her colleagues. She has assisted me by having conversations about providing racially and culturally informed care, as some cases have been quite complex.”
“Verena is a passionate advocate and great care provider. When giving a presentation you can clearly see her dedication to her craft and she provides insightful information by being able to captivate her audience. She goes above and beyond for her patients and truly advocates for them and the services they require on a day to day basis. Verena has helped me better care for marginalized individuals and people of colour. Her presentations shed light on the difficulties these patients face and the discrimination they may go through. I do believe her presentation has made me a better provider. She continues to be a leader in spreading awareness for inequities in healthcare for people of colour and she is leading change in the Canadian Armed Forces with her initiative (the BIPOC clinic) “
“Verenas work is relatable. She understands personal issues that many have not faced. She is someone that allows you to be able to express yourself with no judgement”
“Verena’s work is impactful, mind and heart-altering, powerful, profound, admirable, inspiring, eye-opening, heartfelt, hopeful, intelligent, raw, respectful, attentive. Verena inspires me to think differently, love deeper, pray harder, and try my very best to keep hope alive.
In her own moments of heartache she eloquently, delicately, but POWERFULLY shares the experience, the realization, the lesson. Her piece about the power of suffering is a message that I can never forget”
In her own moments of heartache she eloquently, delicately, but POWERFULLY shares the experience, the realization, the lesson. Her piece about the power of suffering is a message that I can never forget”
“Verena is a beautiful medley of art, spirit & science. I appreciate her dedication to God, her family and her community. She gently influences by example…motivating others to do the same.”
“Verena can apply religious beliefs to everyday life, and frames it in such a way that it’s applicable and relatable to even those who are not religious”
“Verena’s work encourages me to look within and reflect on the message she is sharing and how it might apply to my own life and relationships. Her work often offers a different perspective that I might not have thought of before and provide a form of clarity or healing that I never knew I needed. Verena shines when she is speaking to other women and sharing her own lived experiences. The way she can connect with people and make them feel seen, heard, and understood, is a true God-given gift”
“I am white, and grew up in an all white community, I lack an understanding of what Women of Color, and/or Communities of Color, experience. Having heard Verena’s stories and perspectives helped me realize how much extra these communities have to deal with. Extra stress, burden, expectations, etc. These communities carry every day with little to no recognition. Gaining this knowledge that I was oblivious to prior to her sharing her work has helped me not only advocate more but how I advocate – to amplify voices that white femininity had previously out shadowed or benefited from”
“Verena’s work has greatly impacted me in such a positive way. Always offering a fresh perspective and finding ways to cultivate joy throughout difficult times in a way that doesn’t reinforce toxic positivity”
“Verena is passionate about what matters. She has a way of getting your attention on critical thinking and thoughts. She has a way of motivating me to want to do better. She has impacted my ability to grow spiritually. She has opened my eyes to a loving, open and committed life and to the value of life around me. She is a rare person. She is brimming with compassion, love, peace and her faith is unwavering. She constantly sets the bar high”
“Verena has challenged me to engage more spiritually. She is brilliant and the kind of human being the world needs more of. Someone who practices with integrity in a system that does not uphold integrity. “
“Verena is an extremely caring individual, strong advocate for ethical and appropriate healthcare for her patients. Knowledge of current events and active participant in advocating for social justice and change. Dedication to always improving her practice. Her work has taught me to improve myself, to not always settle for the status quo. The importance of self care and self reflection. Verena was mentioned in a patient’s obituary she had cared for, she was described as this patient’s “singing angel” because she comforted them with song in their final days. Verena’s short time with this patient had such a monumental impact that in the summary of their long life that Verena was mentioned by name”
“Verena is a fearless champion for the vulnerable. She courageously uses her voice to uplift others, and bravely share her own experiences to inspire, encourage, and bridge connection. Verena’s work is an inspiration to speak even when you are scared, to be your authentic self, and to be an extension of God’s grace to each other. Verena’s fierce dedication to making the world a better place is particularly illuminated when she is advocating for those who are often overlooked or marginalized”
“Verena is meaningful, thoughtful and a brilliant speaker. I am mesmerized by her powerful voice and choice of words. Her work makes me dig a little deeper on my outlook towards others”