Family Counselling

Shelby completed her Master of Counselling degree at City University of Seattle in Edmonton in 2018 and has been a Registered Psychologist through the College of Alberta Psychologists since 2021. 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. In the past Shelby has worked with adults with disabilities, children with behavioural concerns living in group homes, and families involved with Child and Family Services. She is also taken in-depth trainings that focused on Indigenous culture, history, effects of colonization, and intergenerational trauma.

Shelby works with adults, adolescents, children, and couples from all backgrounds. 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 have to 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 past that shapes the way they view the world and make sense of things. These perspectives can effect how we react to certain situations, 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 guide and encourage people in creating a better understanding of themselves 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 client. I also have formal training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART).

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, adolescents, 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 depths.” – 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.

Tanisha has also received training in Exposure and Response Prevention, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.  

Tanisha’s interaction style is gentle. She can take either a more laid-back or formal approach, depending on the client’s preferences. When appropriate, she uses humour in sessions.

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 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. I believe that the best approach is one that is tailored to the needs and wishes of the person.

Freda is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) techniques for working with trauma, Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy

Freda’s interaction style is direct, gentle, and laid-back. When appropriate, she uses humour in sessions.

Caryn is a registered psychologist and a doctoral candidate. 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. Her research interest is in workplace racism and ways to address it. Caryn is passionate about working with adolescents, adults, and couples to address life’s challenges and find a way forward.

Caryn is a first-generation immigrant, and she has firsthand understanding of life in a new culture and what it’s like to live between two cultures. There are times where you fit and times where you’re not quite sure where you belong. 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. A person’s environment contributes to their psychological and emotional well-being. Whether or not one can move smoothly through the world influences people’s daily experiences and the stressors that they face. Whenever necessary, Caryn helps clients explore the ways that the social environment contributes to their current concerns. This may include increasing understanding of societal pressures, navigating barriers, accessing additional services, or any required advocacy.

She integrates elements of expressive arts therapy, somatic approaches, and discussing in-the-moment experiences.

Caryn is also trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Exposure and Response Prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Caryn’s interaction style is direct, gentle, and laid-back. When appropriate, she uses humour in sessions.

I began my career working as a teacher for children with disabilities and applied for a degree in counselling psychology to begin a new chapter in my life. I love my background in teaching and it has helped me in many ways as a therapist. I completed a Master of Arts degree in counselling psychology from Trinity Western University in 2018, and I became in Registered Psychologist in February 2020.

I enjoy being a therapist because I get to meet many different people and hear their stories. I learn so much about life from my clients. Often people’s struggles also point to their hopes and dreams, and what they hold most dear in their lives, and I am grateful to be able to support people in such meaningful moments in their lives. I enjoy working with clients who are experiencing difficulty adjusting to life changes, are struggling with loss or grief, or who feel tired and overwhelmed a lot. Some of the presenting issues I often work with include anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, neurodivergence, parenting, relationships, life transitions, or grief and loss.

Inspirational Quote:
“it is a serious thing
just to be alive
on this fresh morning
in the broken world.” -Mary Oliver

How do you believe counselling can help?
I believe counselling can provide a safe place to express things in some way that you cannot find anywhere else. It can provide a relationship that is different from any other relationship in your life, and through this people can begin to grow or change, to better understand themselves, or see their difficulties in a new light and feel more hopeful about the future.

Your approach to counselling:
I tend to be calm and understanding, and offer a place where people can feel heard and understood. I sometimes reflect back things I’m hearing to clients, ask little questions, or help people to better see their own strengths and resources. I pretty much always offer a lot of encouragement.

Lona has also received training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.  

I often work from an attachment and emotionally-focused lens to explore relationships with people, and help people to develop new ways to show up with others and with themselves. I use aspects of CBT and DBT as well, to help people understand their problems differently and develop more skills to cope with their challenges.

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 well-being 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 well-being 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 judgment. 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.

Andrew is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) techniques for working with trauma, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Internal Family Systems Therapy.  

Andrew’s interaction style is direct. When appropriate, he uses humour in sessions.

Alcia is a compassionate and dedicated counsellor with over 10 years of experience supporting individuals and families in community, hospital, and private practice settings. She holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University in New Brunswick and is in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologists, which regulates the psychology profession in Alberta. Alcia also holds a Bachelor of Science in Counselling (with an emphasis in school counselling) and a Bachelor in Business Administration. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology through California Southern University, reflecting her ongoing commitment to professional growth and excellence in practice.

Inspirational Quote:

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” – Romans 12:12

How do you believe counselling can help?

Counselling provides a safe and supportive setting where individuals are able to reclaim their inner resilience and capacity for change. It provides the potential to be heard, listened to, and supported during life troubles and to find new avenues for change. With compassionate guidance and research-based techniques, counselling can potentially allow clients to heal from pain, become resilient, and shift towards living life with greater peace, self-confidence, and fulfillment. It is a journey of renewal—one that reminds us we are always able to grow, no matter where we begin.

Your Approach to Counselling:

Alcia enjoys working with adults and children from diverse cultural and personal backgrounds. Her therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, and integrative — drawing from evidence-based approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), mindfulness practices, and faith-based perspectives when desired by clients.

Alcia believes that challenges come to our lives in waves and affect each person differently. With the right support, she believes individuals can develop the insight, skills, and resilience needed to restore balance, strengthen relationships, and move toward a more fulfilling life.

Alcia’s interaction style is gentle, formal, and direct.

Jaime attended the University of Northern British Columbia for both a Bachelors in Social Work and a Masters in Social Work. In the Bachelors of Social Work program, her focus was psychology and her specialization was Indigenous populations. For the Masters of Social Work Program, her focus was mental health, addictions, and the social determinates that negatively affect Indigenous and marginalized populations.

After completing her studies and working with many different populations, Jaime became passionate about helping to mitigate the inequalities that exist between populations in society. Also, having an in-depth understanding of how societal factors play a role in our lives such as our mental health, natural resilience, and relationships, has helped Jaime greatly help clients be the best version of themselves and reach their goals with different therapeutic approaches.

Inspirational Quotes:

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Gandhi

How do you believe counselling can help?

I feel the most important piece with working with client is space for autonomy as I feel we know our needs and limitations better than anyone else. As a therapist, I walk alongside my clients in their life journey providing support to help them achieve their goals. I have seen amazing results from therapy that has changed and improved client’s lives in many aspects. When clients and therapist connect to build a trusting therapeutic relationship and work is put in, amazing results occur.

Your approach to counselling:

My approach to therapy is to work with clients in a person-centered, non-judgmental, and anti-oppressive manner so they can develop and expand on skills sets that encourages autotomy. I provide information and tools with a collaborative client approach to support clients in any way they desire to reach their happiest state.