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”

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.”

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ada completed her Master of Counselling degree at Athabasca University and is a provisional psychologist in good standing with the college of Alberta Psychologists. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with major in psychology from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick.

Ada adopts a biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective, trauma-informed, and strength-based approach incorporating techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness, and aspects of Narrative and Solution-Focused Therapy. Ada is a Certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist and is trained in EMDR for treating the impact of traumatic experiences. As a Christian, Ada is happy to integrate Christian and a faith-based perspective in therapy for individuals who adhere to certain spirituality or faith.

Challenges and suffering compress and strain our hearts and minds and overwhelm our capacity to cope. Ada desires to journey alongside individuals as they navigate life’s challenges and support them in unlocking and nurturing their innate healing capabilities and resources, which have been overwhelmed by life’s adversities.

Inspirational Quotes:

“You don’t get to choose every situation, but you do get to choose the story.” – Steven Furtick

“Success is measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which one has overcome.” – Booker T. Washington

How do you believe counselling can help?

Adversity is inevitable. When we are in the valley, how we deal with it can either enable us to weather the storm better and emerge better or keep us stuck. Most of the suffering and challenges we experience in life gets accentuated and amplified because we harbour constricting beliefs that limit us. Counselling can provide insight into the patterns affecting us, inspire hope, empower us to challenge false narratives, help us transform our relationship with the problem, and reignite our personal power to direct our life in a meaningful way.

Your approach to counselling:

My approach to counselling is collaborative and client-centred. With the help of a foundational therapeutic alliance and unconditional positive regard, I strive to create a space where clients feel safe and acknowledged in their journey. I use the therapeutic relationship as a vehicle to empower clients and support them in reaching their preferred outcome.

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.   

Melissa is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who completed her Master of Counselling degree through City University of Seattle in Canada. Her undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology from Concordia University of Edmonton. She has been working in the mental health field for roughly 10 years and has been counselling for the past 5 years.

Melissa was initially attracted to a career as a therapist because she observed how helpful therapy has been to people close to her. This belief has been reinforced through her work with clients seeking to overcome childhood wounds and other relational ruptures that have led to the development of mental health problems. Melissa’s therapeutic work is currently focused on adults (particularly young adults) who live with depression, anxiety, stress, and various forms of trauma. When she isn’t counselling, Melissa enjoys reading good books, coffee, gardening, hiking, and spending time with her husband and kids.

Inspirational Quotes:

“Fortunately the human psyche, like human bones, is strongly inclined toward self-healing. The psychotherapist’s job, like that of the orthopaedic surgeon’s, is to provide the conditions in which self-healing can best take place.”- Bowlby, 1988

“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” – Brown, 2010

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” – Rogers, 1961

How do you believe counselling can help?

I believe our deepest wounds often occur because our relationships with others are less than ideal. Counselling helps by providing a safe, judgement-free space to process how these relationships create maladaptive assumptions about ourselves, the world, and our safety in it. We are then able to begin creating and testing new assumptions and ways of interacting with ourselves and the people around us.

Your approach to counselling:

My approach to counselling is deeply rooted in attachment theory, influenced by the work of John Bowlby and Sue Johnson. I also pull heavily from cognitive behavioural interventions (how thoughts, feelings, and behaviours mutually influence one another) and the mindfulness interventions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Finally, I am a client-centred therapist who tries to tailor my approach to my clients’ needs and readiness to change.

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.

Chidi completed her Master of Counselling Psychology degree through Yorkville University. She also completed her undergraduate degree at Mount Allison University with a major in Psychology and a minor in philosophy.

Chidi holds a safe, warm, nonjudgmental, and compassionate space for vulnerabilities to be explored, and for clients to feel seen and understood. She works with individuals from various backgrounds and has had the privilege of assisting people struggling with trauma, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, life changes, and grief and loss.

Inspirational Quotes:

“Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” – Dalai Lama

“We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes-understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” – Ariana Huffington

How do you believe counselling can help?

Life can sometimes be overwhelming, if you are feeling apprehensive, overburdened by daily responsibilities and striving to get back on your feet, you do not have to go through life struggles alone. Taking the first step to come to therapy and get the help you need is a hopeful action and does not have to be intimidating. I value meeting you where you are and working with your unique needs and experiences. I am passionate about the therapeutic relationship and strive to keep a strong and collaborative relationship between myself and my client. I find it important to connect with you, learn with you, and empower you to find the resilience, hope, healing, and growth you require.

Your approach to counselling:

I take an integrative, existential, culturally sensitive, and person-centered approach to therapy, incorporating a variety of modalities to help clients co-create meaning and promote healing. In the end, my aim is to meet the needs of my client by adapting therapy to their unique experiences and theories of development.

Cory is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and a graduate of the MA in Counselling program at Central Seminary in Shawnee, Kansas. Prior to joining our clinical staff, he was a member of the pastoral team at an Edmonton-area church for ten years and completed an 11-month internship at Cornerstone.  

Cory is eager to work with individual clients and couples. His approach to counselling is rooted in the Relational Spirituality Model, an evidence-based approach developed at Boston University’s Danielsen Institute. Cory has adopted the RSM because of its proven effectiveness in enabling clients to explore their desires for meaning, identity, and connection and to address how their lives have been shaped through key relationships and experiences. As the RSM’s name suggests, this approach also provides an accessible framework for Cory to express his commitment to take seriously the spiritual dimensions of his clients’ lives. 

Cory’s background includes extensive experience as a professor and pastoral counsellor. He previously completed a Master of Theology degree from Spurgeon’s College in the UK, and a PhD in practical theology from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. With more than two decades of experience as a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, Cory has devoted hundreds of hours to assisting couples in strengthening their marriages.  

Cory maintains active involvement with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association’s Spirituality in Counselling Chapter, the Association of Counselling Therapists of Alberta, the Professional Association of Christian Counsellors and Psychotherapists, and the Christian Association of Psychological Studies.  

Inspirational Quotes:

“Hospitality is not to change people but to offer them space where change can take place…where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free; free to sing their own songs, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations.” – Henri Nouwen in Reaching Out

How do you believe counselling can help?

We were never meant to carry our burdens alone. Sometimes we need someone to sit with us in our struggles, uncertainty, and pain. Someone who is willing to truly see us and hear us. Someone committed to honouring the questions we are asking of our lives and skilled at helping us face those we’ve been reluctant to ask. Counselling can encourage us to see ourselves and our circumstances in a new light, equip us with resources to navigate life’s challenges, and empower us to draw upon the wisdom and strength already resident within us. It can aid us in developing new ways of relating to the past, present, and future and enable us to gain a greater sense of freedom and fulfillment in daily life.

Your approach to counselling:

As the Nouwen quote above expresses, I desire to create safe space within which every client can feel free to be honest about themselves, their struggles, and their questions. While the Relational Spirituality Model plays a central role in my work as a counsellor, when the needs of my clients call for something different, I employ proven approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. I am committed to seeing each client holistically as physical, psychological, social, and spiritual beings and to partnering with them as they navigate the complex—and sometimes messy—interplay between these dimensions of their lives.  

Kerry is currently completing a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, and is a student member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). She also holds Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) degrees from the University of Alberta. Previously, she worked for several years in leadership roles in communications/PR providing consulting services to clients across many sectors in Canada and the United States. Kerry has also served on volunteer boards including the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Stollery Women’s Network (SWN), as well as in mentorship roles supporting young professionals and students.

Through Kerry’s two decades of corporate experience, and training with Dr. Gary Namie from the Workplace Bullying Institute, she also brings a nuanced perspective regarding the complex issues impacting people at work and how to cope.

Inspirational Quotes:

“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.” – Lao Tzu

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” / “With the certainty of tides, just like hopes springing high, still I’ll rise.” – Maya Angelou

How do you believe counselling can help?

Healing and coming into one’s own with a greater sense of self-acceptance is a journey. This includes effectively managing and negotiating relationships with others, which can be challenging and complicated. Counselling can help provide individuals a doorway into greater self-revelation and insight that can help carry a person through life’s challenges with greater confidence and resiliency.

Your approach to counselling:

I aim to provide a respectful space supported by an empathic and collaborative style rooted in compassionate listening and understanding where clients can explore their own self-discovery and grow to become their best selves. I take an integrated approach from a client-centred theoretical perspective where individuals are holistically appreciated. And I incorporate tools and techniques that are suited to supporting people’s own unique paths, including drawing upon cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), compassion focused, and solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) interventions.

Alissa is completing her master’s degree in counselling psychology from Yorkville University. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton, where she worked as a research assistant at the Nature Meaning in Life Laboratory, studying well-being and Positive Psychology Interventions. After working in academic research, Alissa developed an interest in helping people flourish; she believes that every person’s journey to developing a meaningful life comes from within and is rooted in compassion and understanding.

She holds two verified certificates from Berkley University. The first in the Science of Happiness and the second in Mindfulness and Resilience to Stress. Additionally, Alissa is working to obtain her level-one certification in Emotionally Focused Individual therapy.

Alissa started at Cornerstone Counselling in 2020 as a practicum student and values the organization due to its dedication in helping to create a healthier and happier society by removing the barriers to accessing psychological treatment.

Inspirational Quotes:

“I use the term happiness to refer to the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.” – Sonja Lyubomirsky

“Love has an immense ability to help heal the devastating wounds that life sometimes deals us. Love also enhances our sense of connection to the larger world. Loving responsiveness is the foundation of a truly compassionate civilized society.” – Sue Johnson

How do you believe counselling can help?

Alissa believes that therapy can transform anyone’s life. Regardless of what stage someone is at in their journey, therapy can help people develop happier and more meaningful lives. While we cannot change what happened to us, we can change our course of action for the future. Therapy is an empowering and motivating process that guides people toward living a flourishing life.

Your approach to counselling:

My approach to therapy is person-centred; I work alongside clients to help them process, accept, and develop resiliency. Through respect and high regard for client safety, I believe that the relationship between client and therapist is vital to overcoming life’s challenges.

Alongside person-centred therapy, I utilize an eclectic and holistic approach to meet client needs, including Nature Therapy, Mindfulness, EFIT, and Positive Psychology.

Zach is completing a master’s degree in counselling at City University of Seattle in Canada. Prior to his graduate work, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Alberta. Throughout his time as a student, Zach gained experience as a street level worker for the Mustard Seed and spent three seasons as a wildland firefighter in Peace River, Alberta. Alongside his counselling internship, he continues to work as a Therapeutic Assistant for the Edmonton Catholic School District assisting youth of all ages.  

Zach works with adult and teenage individuals and would like to eventually facilitate couple and group therapies. He has always been fascinated by human psychology and feels a great sense of enthusiasm and privilege working with people on a relational level. Outside of school and counselling, he is a passionate karate practitioner and instructor, and loves to cook, travel, and laugh. 

Inspirational Quotes:

“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary 

“I believe the greatest gift I can conceive of having from anyone is to be seen by them, heard by them, to be understood and touched by them.” – Virginia Satir 

How do you believe counselling can help?

Life is challenging and we can often feel isolated. As Satir notes in the quote above, the experience of feeling seen, heard, and understood can be deeply transformational and provide immense healing for those who have felt alone. In counselling, this experience occurs within the therapeutic relationship, and it is through this connection that positive change can be facilitated, and people can work toward the life that they desire.   

In addition to the changes that can occur through a healing space and relationship, counselling can also help by building up our skills and tools. It can be easy to assume that we are automatically equipped to effectively handle distress and challenges, however, this is often not the case. By learning and practicing new skills and tools in a safe, nonjudgmental environment, people can find out what strategies work for them while also gaining the confidence to utilize them in their lives.  

Your approach to counselling:

My overarching aim as a counsellor is to provide a space where my clients feel comfortable, respected, heard, and unconditionally accepted as we explore and navigate their challenges. To do this, my approach is collaborative, inclusive, trauma-informed, evidence-based, and at the ultimate direction of my client.  

More specifically, my current practice incorporates the theories and interventions of Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people work toward their goals and desired level of wellness, and in a manner that is time sensitive. Also, as I believe that context is an important element to consider in one’s reality, I make an effort to acknowledge the ways in which my clients are influenced and affected by the systems in which they live.  

Emily completed her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biological Sciences and minor in Psychology in 2019 through the University of Alberta. Her subsequent experience in early childhood education solidified her passion for working with people. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Counselling through City University of Seattle in Edmonton.  

 Emily recognizes that each person is immensely unique and works to understand all parts of an individual. She strives to help clients feel comfortable in therapy by fostering a judgement-free, safe, and compassionate space. Emily appreciates the courage it takes to take the first step in the therapeutic journey and sees it as an honour to hold space for all clients on their path of healing and growth.  

Inspirational Quotes:

“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together.” – Brene Brown 

How do you believe counselling can help?

Life is full of diverse experiences that are made up of challenges, hardships, and rejections – along with successes and joyous moments. When we are struggling to manage the curve balls life throws at us, I believe in the healing power of simply opening up about these struggles in a safe and supportive place. Counselling is a collaborative effort between the therapist and the client, which helps individuals learn more about themselves and the patterns they adhere to. In learning more about how we cope with different life experiences we create space for self-compassion and acceptance.

Your approach to counselling:

I believe in the importance of a person-centered approach, which focuses on tailoring the therapeutic process to meet the distinctive needs and goals of each client. My approach to counselling is eclectic, drawing from various therapeutic modalities. Although my approach is grounded in psychodynamic therapy, I pull from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and other mindfulness-based approaches.