Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in Edmonton, AB

As a queer, fat, person of colour, I am passionate about working with marginalized individuals. I know how hard it is to connect when your identity is questioned or misunderstood by service providers. I therefore work predominantly with folks who are racialized, 2SLGBTIQ, neurodivergent, and/or disabled. Often, those I work with have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder; experience identity-based trauma; struggle with relationships, emotional regulation, or impulsivity; want greater self-awareness or understanding; want to feel a sense of belonging, connection, and safety; or generally, want more joy in their lives.

I primarily use IFS (internal family systems ), EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing), and somatic therapies to help clients heal from and cope more effectively with difficulties having to do with mood disorders, eating disorders, ADHD, addiction, sexual abuse, complex trauma (i.e. repeated painful experiences of betrayal, abandonment, or boundary violations); grief, disrupted attachment in early childhood, as well as experiences of discrimination, exclusion, or shaming on the basis of sexuality, sexual orientation, cultural identity, or anything else that unjustly marks an individual as inferior.

Are you ready to feel connected again, to let go of trauma, dysfunctional habits, and fears that have prevented you from moving forward and reaching your goals? I can help. I work in the areas of self-esteem, emotional regulation, eating disorders, addictions, relationships, work, and overall fulfillment in life. Whether you are caught in destructive patterns, experiencing anxiety, depression, panic, unexplainable sadness, or disconnection from yourself, together we can work to help you gain a sense of grounding, safety, healing, and freedom.

Friday Virtual Sessions Available. Thank you for your time in reviewing my profile. My primary specialties are anxiety treatment and sexual trauma healing. Perhaps you want to improve your distressing symptoms to feel more at peace? Or, you want support processing distressing experiences?

These are certainly strange times. Life already had enough challenges and strains before Covid 19 came along. Now the financial and relational pressures can seem insurmountable. There's the grief over the loss of certainty, and sense of control in our lives. And for many, this leaves us with a feeling of immobility and unpredictability. These changes can weigh heavily on us, and prevent us from being capable of our best. It's more important now than ever to take care of yourself, for the sake of your own health, and to preserve your most important relationships.

The focus of my practice is to treat people who have emotional dysregulation - stress! This can be due to a mood or personality disorder, chronic pain, trauma or complex trauma, or a major life transition. I use practical, evidence based therapies such as DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), IFS (Internal Family Systems ), Clinical Hypnosis, and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to help you fulfill your goals, getting back to living a meaningful, peaceful, productive life.

Do you feel like your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are often misaligned with who you want to be, who you really are deep inside? Do you desire to feel more at ease with yourself? I can help guide you in accessing your true peaceful and loving nature and begin transforming the beliefs, emotions, and patterns you hold inside of yourself that keep you from fully living the life that you want. Together we can address the roots of whatever you are currently wanting help with - be it self-confidence, your relationships, symptoms of depression/anxiety, addictions, life transitions, grief, sexuality, and/or spiritual exploration.

We are a highly diverse team of counsellors with decades of experience treating nearly any mental health concern. We provide individual, couples, family and group e-counselling services to individuals aged 13 and beyond.

Do you find yourself struggling with hopeless, anxiety, worry and general unease? Do you find yourself having difficulty in relationships and can't seem to figure out why? Maybe you have experienced a traumatic experience and continuing to feel the impact? You might even feel unworthy and not like yourself. I am a passionate believe that everyone has the capacity to heal and sometimes just need support along the way. My counselling approach is focused on helping you to find answers, develop skills and awareness to become empowered in your life.

You struggle to feel like you're good enough. No matter how hard you try it feels like you don't measure up and you're always falling short. It's hard to find a space where you can truly belong and be yourself. Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by your life and relationships. Other times you feel completely hopeless. You are ready to let go of the belief that you were never good enough and begin to feel comfortable being yourself. Therapy can be a space where you can show up just as you are and learn to love yourself. It's your time to take off the masks, let go of the pressure, and begin to connect with your true self.

I work with individuals who are having difficulty accessing their own internal resources and wisdom. Through the development of a safe and supportive relationship, personal strengths are identified and accessed to support the desired change. I meet each person where they are and assist with identifying and moving towards personal goals. I also work with mental health professionals who are seeking case consultation, skill development and personal growth.

I work with individuals and families who have experienced trauma, substance use, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and relationship challenges. I have a special interest in intergenerational trauma and supporting people who experience challenges finding the support that they need.

Sometimes life's challenges knock us down and we need support in getting back up again. We have a vague knowing that we could approach life in a more adaptive way, but unsure as to how to do this. We feel less resilient, forget our strengths and focus on our weaknesses instead. In attempts to fit in and please others we loose sight of who we are, what we value and drift away from being our authentic and true self. We develop faulty belief systems that guide us into troubled relationships, fear, anxiety and conflict. Therapy is for those who want to let go of negative beliefs and patterns and return to being our happier true self.

Perhaps you are… feeling anxious and overwhelmed the majority of your day, feeling like you aren’t good enough & not worthy of other’s time and attention, feeling stuck & disconnected from yourself, your relationships, your work, & your passions, and feeling like your coping strategies are no longer as effective as they once were. Let’s take some time to explore your story together so that you can move confidently forward in your life, make peace with anxiety, and reconnect with yourself and others.

I knew you could do this! In the courageous act of confronting life difficulties, it’s important to have trustworthy, caring, and knowledgeable supports that have faith in your strengths and capabilities. It is through relationships that humans overcome. I utilize an integrative, educational, eclectic, and flexible approach. I have been described as perceptive, caring, curious, compassionate, and able to provide alternative points of view. I strive to bring authenticity, collaboration, and vitality to my work. I believe everyone has the capacity for growth and change.

My approach is rooted in the belief that people are fundamentally good, and doing the best they can. I am a respectful, supportive and collaborative therapist. Within the context of a safe and caring relationship, I use best practice to explore your difficulties and provide support and tools in session so you can move forward in the most fulfilling way. Moving beyond talk therapy, supported self awareness helps to rewire patterned responses and heal painful experiences that may be keeping you stuck. Taking this step can allow you to move forward so you can enjoy life to the fullest.

I wholeheartedly believe in our innate capacity to heal, and I am dedicated to support my clients in their healing journey. I am a Registered Clinical Social Worker who has been practicing since 2012. I specialize in treating trauma symptoms, anxiety and mood disorders. I have a special interest in supporting people with the grief and loss of transitioning out of fundamentalist/conservative faith communities.

So many of our emotional wounds are created in the context of early relationships with others, so it makes sense to me that the genuineness, attunement, unconditional love, and healthy boundaries modeled within the therapeutic relationship can be so healing later in life. I take great pleasure in providing people with these potentially “missed experiences”, because the world is simply a brighter place when we feel seen, heard, understood, and SAFE. With your permission, I will challenge you. Together, we'll courageously work to align the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of your being to foster a greater sense of wholeness.

I believe we are all coping as best we can, and there are times in our lives when we can use extra support and guidance in seeking clarity and direction. My goal and wish for my clients is that out of pain and despair, comes peace, freedom, and ultimately joy. I feel truly honored to hear people's stories and my desire and motivation to work collaboratively and respectfully with people at their own pace is genuine. With my help as your therapist I will provide a safe healing environment and help you develop a healthier and more rewarding approach to life.

I am passionate about the work that I do and feel that it is a privilege to be in this role. I believe in walking alongside my clients and respect that this is their journey and that they are the experts of their own lives. I feel that everyone is unique and thus my counselling approach flexes to meet your individual needs by blending techniques. I believe that it is essential to create a warm, inviting and engaging space for you. One that creates a sense of safety and security as you work through the challenges that brought you to me.