Counsellor, Director

You Matter:

I understand from personal experience that seeking help can feel daunting, so it’s important to me that you feel supported in every step of the process. I strive to create a non-judgmental, respectful, and collaborative environment in which we can work together to explore your concerns, identify the changes you’d like to see, determine how best to reach your goals, and achieve holistic wellness. This means considering the things that make you, you: the physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and cultural parts of your life.

My Values and Approach:

I work with adults, couples, and adolescents, and use an integrative, trauma-informed, and person-centered approach to therapy in order to suit the needs of each unique client. This means that I am committed to using the evidence-based approach that is best-suited to you. I value your feedback and want you to feel like you have a say in the process - because you do. My approach often includes elements of Transactional Analysis, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, and Gestalt Therapy. I am dedicated to developing a strong therapeutic relationship with you that is built on mutual respect, honesty, cultural sensitivity, and openness. 

The Goal:

Together, we will walk towards becoming conscious of unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns that may be interfering with your wellness, towards rediscovering the person you are and who you want to be, towards discovering your strengths, and towards equipping you with the skills and tools to create lasting positive change.

Qualifications:

Cassia is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists, and is a member of the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada. Cassia has training and experience in areas such as Transactional Analysis, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), intercultural issues, and Circle of Security - Parenting (COS-P). Cassia will be pursuing training in EMDR to better support clients who have experienced trauma. 

Cassia offers the following areas of service:

Anxiety

Depression

Stress

Burnout

Relationship Issues

Couples/Marriage Counselling

Parental coaching and support

Life transitions

Self-identity issues

Grief and loss

Fear

Self esteem 

Personal growth

Cultural issues

Spiritual/faith concerns

Child and adolescent concerns

Counsellor, Director

You Matter:

You may be looking for a therapist because you have tried other avenues that just haven’t worked. While self-help books, advice from well-meaning friends or family, blogs, and Google can all provide some valuable information, these do not replace the safety, understanding, and connection that happens in a counselling room. At first, counselling and therapy can seem intimidating and vulnerable. I get that, because I have been a client too. That’s exactly why I chose to do what I am doing. I wanted to make sure that when you enter my counselling space you know you have been heard, feel as though somebody truly understands, and so you can trust that meaningful change will happen in our work together. 

My Values:

Whether I am working with children, youth, or adults in my space, understanding what makes you YOU and developing a relationship of safety and trust is my top priority. I firmly believe that without a strong therapeutic relationship the other important work you want to do will not be as effective. That is an important reason behind why I believe it is important for me to both respect and consider all aspects of who you are as they relate to your therapeutic goals: your mental and emotional strengths and challenges, your cultural and ethnic background and experiences, your relationships and your spirituality or faith. Because I value your dignity and your right to share (or not share) information about yourself, you get to decide what, when, and how you share this information.

I consider my work with you both a privilege and an opportunity. A privilege, because you are a unique and valuable person whom I will get the honour of working alongside, and an opportunity because while you remain my priority in our space, counselling is a reciprocal process where I am committed to the growth and change process with you.   

My Services:

I have first-hand experience understanding the challenges that can come with being a parent, and also remember navigating difficulties as a young person. One of the reasons I love working with children, youth and their caregivers is because of the positive transformation I have witnessed time and time again. Children and youth harness creativity and imagination in a way that supports their resiliency. I join alongside them in this playful and imaginative journey while implementing effective and research supported methodologies such as  Play Therapy based on Theraplay® principles, and CBT through expressive arts all while attending to their neurological (brain) and somatic (body) needs. I believe parents play a crucial role in their children’s therapeutic success and when appropriate, incorporate them into sessions or have parent-only sessions to increase the health and wellness of the entire family unit. As such, woven throughout my work is attachment theory which helps each family understand their children’s safety and security needs, as well as their own.  

So whether you are wanting to address some painful trauma symptoms, challenging behaviours, anxiety, depression, school-related concerns, self-esteem issues or are some unknown problem, I welcome you into my space where we will work together towards health and peace in your family.  

For those who wish to incorporate Christian beliefs and values into their sessions, I am pleased to offer faith-based counselling services. 

Qualifications:

Chanae is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists, and former member of both PAA and CCPA. Chanae has been trained in S.A.F.E EMDR as well as EMDR with Children to support clients who choose to address their trauma. Chanae has years of therapeutic experience working in multiple different settings including schools, health care, non-profits,  in-home work, and private practice, and the trainings to support the work she does with children and their families including Theraplay® Level 1. Chanae has both personal experience as well as training to address cultural and ethnic identity concerns.

Chanae offers the following areas of service:

Child and adolescent concerns

Play therapy using Theraplay® principles

Parenting difficulties

Anxiety

Depression

Grief/Loss

Stress

Family of Origin issues

Attachment concerns 

Self Esteem

Shame 

Boundaries 

Premarital counselling

Spiritual/Faith concerns

Cultural concerns

Counsellor

You Matter:

Reaching out for help requires immense courage, especially when life’s challenges seem overwhelming. In the counseling room, I strive to establish a sanctuary where safety, confidentiality, and understanding reign supreme, fostering an environment where every individual feels secure, heard, and valued. Beyond the counseling room, my dedication extends to making psychological knowledge more accessible, engaging in advocacy, and offering workshops and webinars on various mental health topics for parents and youth, in both English and Spanish.

Type of Counselling:

With years of experience spanning diverse settings such as hospitals, schools, non-profits, and agencies, I now provide counseling services in both Spanish and English to young children, parents and families. For those seeking an integration of Christian faith in counseling, I am also pleased to offer faith-based support upon request. For all sessions, my counseling approach is client-centered, strength-based, and trauma-informed, drawing from an array of evidence- based theories and trainings to support clients across their lifespan including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Person Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Expressive Arts and Theraplay.

Why I Love Working With Young Children and Parents:

As a psychologist, I am deeply passionate about supporting children and their parents through the myriad of challenges they encounter. With the knowledge that over 50% of mental health disorders surface during childhood⁴, I am deeply committed to early intervention—a pivotal aspect of my practice that can profoundly shape a child’s journey from their earliest years into adulthood. My commitment goes beyond treating individual kids; it’s about transforming families by equipping parents with the confidence to address the complexities and stresses inherent in raising children, so children are offered better environments where they can thrive.

My dedication to children’s mental health transcends the confines of my office, spilling into the community where I regularly conduct free workshops aimed at educating both parents and professionals on various aspects of children’s mental health. Additionally, in my pursuit to improve parent-child relationships, I have authored a children’s book, which embraces reading as a powerful teaching tool for fostering essential skills, cognitive development, and emotional bonding. Overall, the most fulfilling aspect of my career has been observing the profound impact my work has had on the lives of children and their families over time. It is a clear affirmation of the collective efforts made and the undeniable positive influence these efforts have on a child’s life. Seeing the lasting change and empowerment within families is a powerful reminder of why I continue to dedicate myself to this field.

  (4) https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2755318

Vanessa’s Qualifications, Specialized Trainings, and Certifications:

Vanessa is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists, and is a former board member of the Psychologists Association of Alberta. With several specialized trainings and certifications, Vanessa is equipped to support young children, youth and parents in a wide array of areas including:

ADHD

School Refusal

Anger Management

Theraplay

Chronic Pain

Expressive Arts

Depression

Anxiety

Stress Management and Crisis De-Escalation

Emotional Regulation

Cultural Adjustment

Peer Rejection

Parenting

Grief and Loss

Self-Harm

Eating Disorders

Epilepsy Management

Isolation/Loneliness

Spiritual/Faith Concerns