Children & Adolescent Counselling

Marliss graduated with her Ph.D. in 1988 from the University of Alberta. She has her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and has been counselling for over 25 years. Marliss works with individuals, couples, families, primarily adults, but also works with children and adolescents (when working with children it is essential to work with the parents as well.)

From the time that she was involved in planning her university career, she was interested in Psychology. Her mother was a special education teacher, and her father was an Administrator in Social Work. She was always interested in their work and in their attitudes of caring for and helping others. When she took her first psychology course, she was totally inspired and knew that it was the direction that her career would take. She continued to believe that it was the most wonderful choice of career for herself. Marliss has always been fortunate to love her work. Marliss’s strongest interests in counselling are stress management, marriage counselling, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, understanding cognitive disabilities and special education needs, managing behavior problems, depression, and anxiety.

How do you believe counselling can help?
“Providing support in a nonjudgmental fashion, allowing people to have their feelings, recognizing the vulnerabilities, but also the strengths that individuals bring to the situation, offering observations and suggestions from a helpful perspective, and by helping clients to resolve their concerns within an accepting environment.”

Your approach to counselling:
“I use a supportive, client focused approach. I strongly believe in Cognitive Behavior Therapy as well. I listen, ask questions, and provide observations, but also try to provide theoretical perspectives that will assist the individual to explore, understand, and resolve their concerns.”

Tanisha provides in-person and virtual counselling.

Tanisha received her bachelor’s in psychology in 2003, and a master’s in counselling psychology from Northern Caribbean University in 2005. She also pursued further training in the field at Athabasca University and California Southern University. Tanisha has several years of experience working with children, adolescent, adults, and families. She has provided therapeutic interventions for individuals presenting with various psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, anger, grief, and loss. She has also supported individuals struggling with parenting issues, relationship problems, history of abuse, stress, and trauma. Tanisha is also able to provide spiritual support and Christian counselling.

Inspirational Quotes:

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, suffering, struggles, loss, and have found their way out of the depts.” – Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

How do you believe counselling can help?

When we go through challenges and struggles as individuals, our thought patterns usually become negatively skewed and our ability to cope and solve problems often diminish. Counselling can provide a safe, caring, nonjudgmental environment to share concerns and express our feelings. Counselling helps to release tension, restore hope, bring new perspective, and generate solutions.

Your approach to counselling:

I mainly utilize cognitive behavioural techniques in helping clients examine their challenging thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. I believe that counselling should be client-centered as everyone is unique and possess their own answers and solutions within them. When suitable, I also integrate other theoretical approaches, prayer, play therapy and art.

Ann-Renee provides counselling to children, adolescents, and families.

Ann-Renee completed her Masters of Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. She has a Bachelor of Religion and Child & Youth Care from Taylor University Seminary. Ann-Renee has extensive history working with children, teens, and their families with acute psychiatric challenges as in-patients within a hospital setting. She currently works with the Children’s Mental Health Education Team, running various single sessions and parenting groups for both caregivers and educators.

Ann-Renee is passionate about helping children, teens, and adults as they walk through their journey of life. She values the importance of a positive relationship between counsellor and client in recognizing and enhancing the strengths that already exist within the client.

Inspirational Quotes:
“To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater.” – Bono (Pop group U2 front man)

How do you believe counselling can help?
We are all trying to go through life as best we can, using the gifts that God has given us to the best of our abilities. Counselling allows us to recognize those gifts more clearly and use them in a positive and helpful way as we travel through the peaks and valleys of our own unique journey.

Your approach to counselling:
My main goal as a counsellor is to listen and work collaboratively with clients in achieving their goals. I aim to offer a safe and judgement-free space in which the client can learn and grow. I try to use theoretical approaches that will best suit the client; however, my background is in Solution-Focused Therapy.

Freda completed her undergraduate degrees at the University of Saskatchewan and Athabasca University, and her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. Freda has worked for several years with children, youth, and families, and provides support for people experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, ADHD, and relationship conflict. Freda is passionate about working towards equality and justice for all members of our community.

Inspirational Quotes:

“When you have more than what you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence.”-Unknown

How do you believe counselling can help?

I believe that people create stories out of the events which take place in their lives, and that those stories help us to understand who we are, where we come from, and where we are going. Sometimes the stories of our lives are not what we’d like them to be, and often the environment we are living in contributes to those less-than-desirable plot lines.

You could think of me as a ghost writer. I can help you with the writing, but the story is yours, and you are always in control of what you want it to say. I use many different strategies as we work together, based on what we are working on and what feels comfortable to you.

Your approach to counselling:

I use strategies from a variety of different counselling perspectives, primarily narrative therapy, person-centred therapy, and ACT. I believe that the best approach is one that is tailored to the needs and wishes of the person.

Shelby completed her Master of Counselling degree at City University of Seattle in Edmonton and is a registered psychologist through the College of Alberta Psychologists. Her previous education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Applied Psychology and a minor in Education from Concordia University of Edmonton.

Shelby works with adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families from all walks of life. She believes that we are all responsible for creating our own meaning in life. Our past plays an important role in shaping who we are as individuals, but it does not determine who we become. Shelby will work with you to overcome the things that may be holding you back in life and to strengthen your genuine self.

Inspirational Quotes:

“Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations.” – Alfred Adler

How do you believe counselling can help?

Each person has a unique perspective that shapes the way they view the world and make sense of things. These perspectives dictate how and why a person behaves the way that they do, but sometimes we get stuck in negative patterns that are hard to get out of. Awareness of our unique patterns and ourselves is the first step to creating a meaningful life. Counselling provides a safe environment in which we can explore and work towards a healthier version of ourselves.

Your approach to counselling:

As a counsellor my role is to teach, guide, and encourage people in creating a better understanding and changing the parts of their life story that is holding them back. My goal is to create a cooperative, optimistic, respectful, and growth-focused therapeutic environment in which people can feel safe. Although much of my practice is influenced by Adlerian psychotherapy, I draw on other counselling models to fit the unique needs of each individual.

Steve received his undergrad in Psychology from the University of the Fraser Valley and his MA in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. He has much experience in working with adolescents in various capacities as well as adults. He is most interested in working with people with various types of anxiety, phobias, and depression since his theoretical orientation is both CBT and REBT.

The most rewarding part of being a psychologist is seeing people grow and change and being able to be a part of that. In his free time, he loves watching and playing sports, specifically hockey and football.

Inspirational Quotes:
“Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.” – Epictetus

How do you believe counselling can help?
“I believe therapy can help by developing trust with people while they begin to share very personal aspects of their lives. As clients start to open up and feel comfortable, they often discuss issues that they have never disclosed before, and it is often during these times that the process of change starts to occur.”

Your approach to counselling:
“My approach to therapy involves seeing the client as the expert, as they know themselves better than anyone. Regardless of which modality I use, I always take a client centered approach by showing empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard which is arguably most important.”

Janet completed her Ph.D. in Psychology (Clinical) at the University of British Columbia and is a Registered Psychologist.

She works with adults, teenagers, and couples and has experience with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, dependence, abuse/neglect, suicidality/self-harm, personality and relational issues. Her masters and doctoral research focused on perfectionism – if you feel a pressure to be or seem perfect and this adds another layer to your struggles, let’s navigate this together.

Additionally, Janet is a Christian and would welcome the opportunity to incorporate discussions of faith into sessions for clients that also desire to include this element into counselling.

Inspirational Quotes:
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” – Carl G. Jung

How do you believe counselling can help?
Sometimes in the midst of struggles, we can lose hold of ourselves. I welcome the opportunity to walk with you in your struggles as you become increasingly grounded and confident in your authentic self.

Your approach to counselling:
I take an integrative approach to psychotherapy. My first priority is in building a safe and trusting relationship with you, and getting to know you; from there, I incorporate strategies from different theories to best adapt therapy to you.

Marcus provides virtual counselling.

Marcus is a Master of Social Work graduate of the University of British Columbia. Additionally, he has a BA (UAlberta), BSW (UCalgary), and is a Registered Clinical Social Worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Marcus works with individuals, couples, and families, aged 12-100. His strongest interest is relationship counselling.

Marcus became a counsellor to help people change and grow through intentional work within a professional relationship.

Inspirational Quote:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven, a time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap; a time to kill, a time to heal; a time to break down, a time to build; a time to weep, a time to laugh; a time to mourn, a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to speak, and a time to keep silent; a time for war, and a time for peace.”

How do you believe counselling can help?
“With and through supportive accompaniment, people can more deeply understand themselves and their social environment and can build skills for successful living and hope for a different future. Skilled and compassionate service to others is my hallmark.”

Your approach to counselling:

• Systems– working with people in the various contexts of their lives (e.g., psycho-emotional, relationship, work, faith, cultural).
• Strength-based – identifying and harnessing people’s innate and acquired abilities and skills.
• Existential – exploring purpose and mission in people’s lives.

Caryn is a provisional psychologist and a doctoral student. She obtained a Master of Education degree in Educational Psychology and Special Education (School and Counselling Psychology) from the University of Saskatchewan. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Educational Psychology (Counselling Psychology) at the University of Alberta. Caryn is passionate about working with adolescents and adults to address life’s challenges and find a way forward. Her research interests include shame related to racism and ways to address it.

Caryn is a first-generation immigrant (1.5 generation according to some!) and has firsthand understanding of life in a new culture and what it’s like to live between two cultures. The moment she knew she was changing from a big(ger)-city BC girl to a prairie girl was when she wondered how a lack of snow would impact the farmers. She has yet to see the northern lights, but some day!

Inspirational Quote
“Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius

How do you believe counselling can help
Along the path of the journey of life, we all come across challenging times where we need a safe place to just be ourselves and be heard. Talking to someone, gaining new perspectives and skills, and being seen can help make the journey easier. Even when things are going well, there are times where having a safe ear can be helpful because the twists and turns in life can sometimes leave us a little disoriented. Counselling can help make things clearer and help us discover where we want to go and how to get there.

Your Approach to Counselling
Caryn’s approach to counselling is integrative, not adhering strictly to one way of counselling. Central to it all is the relationship she builds with clients. She believes in being flexible in her approach and meeting clients where they’re at. Caryn strives to work together with clients to identify where they are, where they want to go, and how to get there. Her approaches include narrative therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and person-centred approaches. She integrates elements of expressive arts therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and discussing in-the-moment experiences. She is also trained in cognitive processing therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Sheila completed the Masters of Counselling program at City University of Seattle, Edmonton. She graduated from the University of Alberta in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor in Biological Sciences.

Striving to provide therapy to persons in need, Sheila has a deep interest in understanding people in their entirety. She believes it is important to see the person as a whole, and to understand the factors, events, and people, that have shaped who they are, and the path that has led them to therapy. Therefore, being aware of unique factors such as the oppression, pain, and barriers her clients face, is very important to her.

Inspirational Quotes:
“The wound is the place where the light enters you.” – Rumi

How do you believe counselling can help?
I believe each person is the master of their own life. Therefore, my main role as a therapist is to help support people and help them achieve insight about themselves, their relationships, and their behaviors. Counselling, just like many other environments, allows a space where people can build new and positive experiences. If the therapeutic environment is safe, supportive, and non-judgmental, a strong therapeutic relationship can be built in which healing and growth can occur. 

Your approach to counselling:
Currently, my approach to therapy can be summarized as eclectic because I truly believe in meeting people where they are at. However, the roots of my work lie heavily in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral therapy, and Narrative therapy. Furthermore, I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) techniques for working with trauma.

Before completing a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, Andrew worked in the world of radio broadcasting. He went on to complete a Bachelor of Religious Studies and spent time serving as a pastor with the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.

For Andrew, working as a therapist is viewed as an act of human service, from which professional excellence and quality care entwine to promote a sense of safety and wellbeing for people seeking counselling. Andrew finds nothing more fulfilling than the experience of journeying alongside individuals during times of difficulty, helping them navigate the countless complexities of life en route to therapeutic change.

Andrew is also interested in spirituality and the exploration of what people consider to be spiritually sacred. He believes the counselling process, when integrated with spirituality, can facilitate health and wellbeing as people discover more of themselves through an inquisitive investigation of what is held most sacred.

Inspirational Quote
“Reality is more what we make of it than what it might really be.” –Steve De Shazer

How do you believe counselling can help
Counselling provides a bridge between problematic situations and change. As the cornerstone of counselling, the therapeutic relationship provides people with the opportunity to address and work through deep-seated psychological concerns free from such obstacles as bias and judgement. No matter the issue—emotional turmoil, life change, crisis, doubts, difficulties, frustrations, spirituality, or suicidality—counselling lays the groundwork for resiliency and provides a path forward towards personal healing and transformation.

Your Approach to Counselling
As a counsellor, my role is to facilitate depth of discovery by helping you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and your potential to enact change in your life. Through an integrative approach to counselling that draws from numerous therapeutic methods, the goal is to tailor the approach to your unique circumstance and needs. Aside from the therapeutic method, the counsellor-client relationship is paramount in that you and I, through a collaborative relationship, co-create a therapeutic experience conducive to the outcomes that you’re seeking to achieve.