Individual Counselling

Landor initially practiced as a Pastoral Counsellor for 9 years until he chartered as a Registered Psychologist in 1984 and has been a practicing Counselling Psychologist for over 35 years. Landor’s graduate education includes the following: M.Div., 1975; M.Sc. (Human Ecology), 1984; Ph.D. (Education), 2005. He works with adult individuals, First Nations individuals, and couples. His interest in counselling is “helping people in their becoming” – Bruno Bettelheim.

Landor was an ordained minister for a number of years – through his work at Cornerstone he has been afforded the opportunity to work with persons seeking counselling from a range of faith and Christian denominational perspectives.

Inspirational Quote:
“…every individual is unique – is a new set of experiences, a new universe: has been granted the ability to bring something new into being is capable of participating in the act of creation itself. It is the expression of this capacity for creative action that makes the tragic conditions of life tolerable, bearable – remarkable, miraculous” (Peterson, Jordan B., 1999, Maps of meaning, Routledge, London & New York).

How do you believe counselling can help?
“Through the art of being present to another person”, Mahoney suggests, “the client/therapist relationship provides a context for vital experiments in living…a transformational crucible” (2003).”

Your approach to counselling:
“Existential; integrative”

Jennifer completed her Masters in Counselling Psychology (MCP) at Adler University and is a Registered Psychologist. She genuinely loves people and desires for them to grow and develop and live a life of fullness. It excites Jennifer to be able to sit in the space with another person and witness them as they are and who they are becoming. She is honoured that so many people would share their lives with her and allow her to journey with them through difficult times. She desires to help others find peace with the past, joy in the present and hope for the future.

Inspirational Quote:
“If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny…” – C.S. Lewis

How do you believe counselling can help?
“I believe that counselling provides people with the opportunity to discover new things about themselves. I also believe that counselling can provide a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless and power to the powerless. It is a place where people can grow, develop and experience their own uniqueness, which can be exciting and scary all at the same time. When our hearts are revealed to us, we are graced with seeing the beauty inside. On the flipside, we also are vulnerable to seeing the not so beautiful areas in our lives. To learn to love and respect all parts of who we are and what they have given to us provides a person with the affinity to move through and experience healing.”

Your approach to counselling:
“Multiple facets impact people and how they interact with the world. I desire to provide a safe place for people to be heard, respected and honoured through love and compassion. Through time, sensitivity and understanding, we come to process as to how to best bring peace, healing and hope, personally for you. This can be a scary, unpredictable journey, but I will always do my best for those who come, so I invite you to come as you are, and just be. I love to meet you where you are, and I love to walk into places that may be scary to go alone.”

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.”

As a Registered Psychologist, Nadia works with individuals of diverse ethnic, cultural, and individual backgrounds. Since no two people are the same, working with Nadia is a collaborative process, where therapy is tailored to be just right for you!

Nadia is passionate about working with those who struggle with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and unhealthy or abusive relationships. She also supports individuals going through stressful life transitions in their families, relationships, spirituality, or at work. Working from a cognitive behavioral approach, therapy with Nadia will focus on setting goals, making visible life changes, and experiencing the difference in how you think and feel about yourself.

Nadia received both her Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelors in Science, with Honors in Psychology, from the University of Alberta.

Inspirational Quotes:
“Every flower must grow through dirt.” – Laurie Jean Sennott

How do you believe counselling can help?
I believe that counselling provides a safe relationships and environment that allows individuals to test the limits of their beliefs and practice new behaviors they want to bring out into the rest of the world.

Your approach to counselling:
I generally work from a cognitive behavioral approach that shows clients how to tackle their thoughts, emotions, or behaviors. However, I also use a client-centered approach, and I try to match the client where they’re at in the process of change. This means finding the right techniques for each client and working with them to make sure we’re tailoring therapy to be just right!

Emily provides virtual counselling. 

Emily received her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta in 2006 and has been counselling for over 20 years. She works with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Emily’s interests in counselling are anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, communication, marital and relational difficulties, stress management, family of origin issues, and faith-based counselling.

Emily is a committed Christian and incorporates these values into her sessions for clients who want this perspective. She loves counselling and feels privileged to be able to support and help individuals who desire to improve their quality of life.

Inspirational Quote:
Emily does not have a single quote that guides her life. Her inspiration comes from the Bible.

How do you believe counselling can help?
“I believe that the key to therapeutic change lies in the quality of the therapeutic relationship. If clients experience complete acceptance, empathy, genuineness, openness, respect, and an understanding of the problem from the therapist, as well as ideas about its solution, it empowers them and causes them to feel free and safe to explore their issues.”

Your approach to counselling:
“I am an integrative therapist and vary my counselling approach to accommodate my individual clients and the circumstances that bring them into counselling.”

Sean graduated from the University of Alberta with his Bachelor of Arts in 1991. He went on to the University of Minnesota earning his Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology in 1994.

Sean completed an internship in adoption, attachment disorder and play therapy in 1996. He has been counselling for over 20 years and his strongest interests are military families and the stresses they face, the impact of childhood trauma, adoption and how people adjust to later adoption, family dynamics, and adjustment to family transitions.

Sean works with children, families and couples. He works with children beginning in infancy, but any work with children younger than 5 takes the form of parental consultation and focuses on building therapeutic parenting skills. Sean does counselling and assessments with children and families. He chose to become a counsellor because he was always drawn to service based careers that involved helping others: policing, military, counselling, and teaching. He believes that counselling impacts lives in a very personal and satisfying way. It is humbling and awe-inspiring to be part of a person’s efforts to improve themselves and overcome the pain in their lives.

Inspirational Quotes:
“Be the person you want your child to become” – Noah ben Seah

“Experience consists of mistakes from which you learn. Failure consists of mistakes from which you don’t.” – Gary Emery

How do you believe counselling can help?
“Through the application of compassion, insight, and specific techniques within the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship, counselling offers people the opportunity to alter their frame of reference and re-write their working models (the assumptions we have about ourselves, others and the world around us). These assumptions colour our experience, decisions, and emotional responses. They are learned through our past personal experiences and create our expectations about the present and the future. A person’s anxieties or unhappiness today result from their past experiences, and the working models the person has created based on those experiences.”

Your approach to counselling:
“Eclectic. At its base, my approach arises from Humanistic-Existential psychology. I make heavy use of Cognitive Behavioral techniques. My work with children is fairly systemic, taking into account the context in which the child lives, and involving the parents in an ongoing consultation process, even when the work is focused on the child.”

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, addictions, 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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

Alanna is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with a Master of Counselling (MC) from Athabasca University. She graduated from the University of Alberta with an undergraduate majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Educational Psychology.

Alanna has an affinity for working collaboratively with others to help them reach their goals. With the help of a foundational therapeutic relationship and an unconditional positive approach to listening, it is her goal to create a space where clients feel safe and acknowledged.

Inspirational Quotes:

“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.” – Brené Brown

How do you believe counselling can help?

Through the courage of vulnerability and the establishment of a strong therapeutic relationship, counselling offers the chance to learn about ourselves in a way that promotes growth and confidence. Within this safe space there is an opportunity to learn, explore, and be creative in our journey towards reaching our goals with the help of someone who will help you navigate the detours and road blocks.

Your approach to counselling:

I work from a Cognitive Behavioural Approach (CBT) to help clients identify the interconnections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours and how these have an influence on their life. I also like to integrate psychodynamic techniques into therapy as the past can also bring to light key patterns and connections regarding how we live in the present. Most importantly, I like to work collaboratively with clients in their goal setting so that together we can navigate through the process. My goal as a therapist is to give clients a space where they feel heard and supported in their journey.

Tanisha provides in-person and virtual counselling.

Tanisha received her bachelor’s in psychology in 2013, and a master’s in counselling psychology from Northern Caribbean University in 2015. 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.

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.

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.

Alex is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor and has been counselling at Cornerstone since January of 2021. One of the things she loves most about counselling is the privilege that comes through sitting with courageous individuals each and every day. She learns through her interactions with clients and is grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside them through various stages of life.

Since working at Cornerstone during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alex has been offering individual counselling in-person, online, and over the telephone. In addition to her counselling work, Alex has been using her skills to facilitate mental health groups and informative webinars for businesses and not-for-profits.

Alex has received an M.A. in Counselling from Providence Theological Seminary and a Bachelors in Science in Psychology from the University of Alberta.

Inspirational Quote
“Choose, everyday to forgive yourself. You are human, flawed, and most of all worthy of love.” – Alison Malee

How do you believe counselling can help
In creating a therapeutic connection, individuals can feel heard and seen at their deepest levels. In this space compassion, validation, strength, and worthiness are cultivated and individuals can become more equipped to better walk through situations they are experiencing. I truly believe that positive growth best occurs through human connection.

Your Approach to Counselling
I strive to create a compassionate, dignified, and safe environment. The foundation of my practice is built on person-centered techniques and I often utilize cognitive behavioural, attachment, feminist/liberationist, and emotion-focused theories. In this space, there can be collaborative work in exploring new areas, inspiring awareness, and fostering healthy lifestyles and relationships.

Andrew McBeth is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor. 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.

Kingsley is a Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy student at Northcentral University. He graduated from Burman University with a Bachelor of Religious Studies and from Kelowna College Of Professional Counselling with an Advanced Diploma of Applied Psychology and Counselling (specializing in Professional Counselling). Kingsley is an an Author, Speaker, Marriage Educator and Relationship Coach who has been Pastoring in Edmonton for 5 years and has over 15 years of ministry experience.

Working as a therapist for Kingsley is an act of restoring people to their rightful place in society. It is about creating safe spaces for anyone who is looking to overcome obstacles that have kept them stuck. Nothing is more fulfilling to Kingsley than walking along individuals, couples, and families, helping them untangle the complexities in their life. And getting them to that place of changing their odds from negative to positive one day at a time.

Inspirational Quote
“The shortest path to enjoying your life is discovering yourself”.

How do you believe counselling can help
“I believe counselling helps to create new perspectives of doing and seeing things. It opens doors and creates opportunities for people to explore their feelings and experiences in a non-judgemental and safe space. All together moving them towards many other possibilities that many have seemed unavailable.

Your Approach to Counselling
I take a systematic approach that is integrative. Connecting all the dots in your life (friends, family, work, culture, faith, relationships, etc) and working through them towards healing and creating continued supports. My goal is to build a safe space where we can explore the complexities of your life. From there collaborate towards untangling these complexities.

Holly completed her Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in psychology and a double minor in sociology and education at Concordia University of Edmonton in 2018. She has volunteered with many different organizations including the MS Society, Youth at Risk conference, Homeless Connect, and Alberta Hospital. While completing her undergraduate degree, Holly worked on the Peer Support team at her university to gain experience working with students living with various mental health related issues and organized events at the school to promote mental health awareness. She currently works at Alberta Hospital in the Forensics Rehab unit, supporting patients living with personality and mood disorders including borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and schizophrenia.

Holly began her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University in 2019 and has enjoyed furthering her knowledge in different counselling approaches and theories. She is passionate about self-compassion and would love to help people recognize their worth, strengths, and abilities that they already have within them.

Inspirational Quote:

“Yes grow. But don’t convince yourself those past versions of you were worthless. You wouldn’t be here without them.” – bodyposipanda

How do you believe counselling can help?

“I think counselling can help anyone who is going through a difficult time or someone who just needs to process their thoughts! Communication and listening are two essential things that can help someone heal and make sense of their environment. Counselling has the ability to teach us so many things about ourselves and can make us more self-aware of what we have to offer to the world. Building a therapeutic relationship in a counselling session can help a client and counsellor work together to set goals, discuss hardships, explore feelings, and grow continuously throughout the process.”

Your approach to counselling:

Most of my experience has been focused on a humanistic background with a person-centered therapy approach. I incorporate Carl Roger’s developed practices of empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard. I am passionate about cognitive behavioural therapy as I believe it’s an effective way for people to manage negative thoughts and beliefs about their circumstance. It’s also beneficial for helping individuals learn how to problem-solved and create personalized goals. Throughout my practicum, I am looking forward to becoming more familiar with dialectical behavioural therapy, emotion-focused therapy, EMDR, psychoanalytical therapy, and spiritual/faith-based therapy.

Andrea’s life has taken a path less travelled and she went back to university later in life to complete an undergraduate degree begun years earlier. She graduated with a BA in Counselling and Ministry. She also loves language and has completed a TESL (teaching English as a second language) program and has her level 1 TESL certification. Volunteering has always been a part of Andrea’s life and she has volunteered at the Pregnancy Care Centre as well as the Abortion Recovery Centre, where she is still involved.

Andrea is currently finishing her MA in Counselling at Providence Theological Seminary and will graduate in April 2022. This is a new and exciting path in the adventure that is life.

Inspirational Quotes:

“The world breaks everyone and afterward, many are stronger at the broken places.”-Ernest Hemmingway (from A Farwell to Arms)

How do you believe counselling can help?

As a counsellor, I often meet people in their broken places, and since I have been to my own broken places, I feel kindness and compassion for those who are suffering. Counselling provides support and guidance as people face challenging situations. I am an ally, so that people do not need to do the hard work of change alone. I believe that healing happens in relationship and counselling provides a secure, non-judgmental, and respectful relationship that supports healthy growth and change. I believe that God created us to need each other.

Your approach to counselling:

I approach counselling from a relational perspective and view it through an attachment lens. Emotionally focused therapy is of particular interest to me because it does not view individuals in isolation, but as part of an interconnected group. I believe that one of our deepest longings as human beings is to be authentically known and loved, and counselling can be a safe place for people to begin the journey toward healthy and soul-satisfying relationships, both with others and themselves. I realize that everyone is in a different place, so I would encourage you to not be afraid, come as you are, and I will meet you at that place.

Elise is passionate about psychology and the power of strong relationships to overcome adversity in life. In her late teens, Elise worked for a non-profit society assisting adults with disabilities. Her experience there sparked her interest in psychology, eventually leading her to pursue counselling.

Elise graduated with her Bachelor of Arts Honours psychology degree at MacEwan University in 2018. She is in her third and final year of her Master of Counselling at the University of Lethbridge.

Elise completed an undergraduate thesis on children and reading development and was a volunteer researcher on several studies during her time at MacEwan University. Professionally, Elise has spent the last 7 years working with families whose children live with developmental and behavioural disorders. She has helped both the parents and children to deal with anxiety, behavioural problems, cognitive delays, attention disorders, and family relationship management.

Inspirational Quotes:

“It matters little where a man may be at this moment, the point is whether he is growing.”-George McDonald

How do you believe counselling can help?

Our lives can be fast-paced and hectic and finding a moment to slow down and process events and emotions can be almost impossible. Having a space to express yourself can foster healing and hope as well as give you the opportunity to discover things about yourself you have never noticed before. I believe that self-reflection and exploration can lead people to become better versions of themselves.

Your approach to counselling:

I take a client-centered approach to therapy. I strongly believe the client is the expert on their own life and my role is to accompany and guide a client through therapy. I use a cognitive-behavioural approach that explores how a client’s thoughts, behaviours and emotions influence their life. I also work from an attachment perspective which examines the role of close relationships in the client’s life and how they influence behaviour patterns. Most importantly, I believe that it is a gift to hear someone’s life stories and share in everything from their joys to their deepest pain. I hope to offer a space for clients where they are comfortable sharing their pain and challenges and help them to reach deeper levels of awareness and peace, whatever that may look like for them.