Therapists for Teens in K2P

Are you struggling with worry, anxiety, or challenging relationships? Do you feel like you’re a little ‘stuck’, exhausted, or overwhelmed? Do you want to learn new coping strategies to manage difficult emotions? I aim to provide a safe place for children, teens, and young adults to explore feelings of discomfort and improve their mental well-being. I am passionate about working with individuals experiencing a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, bullying, interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, aggression/anger, as well as other common concerns that affect our day-to-day lives.

You may be struggling to hold everything together. You may feel helpless, or that no one around you understands how you are feeling. You might be easily distracted. You feel hopeless & may lack the motivation to get through even the most basic of tasks. You might feel anxious, depressed, or just blah. You may be caring for a young human who is struggling in school or at home. They may be sensitive & have a big heart but struggle to cope with their big emotions. As an Art Therapist & Death Doula, I can help folks work with difficult emotions one may be experiencing, together in a space created with safety, kindness, & compassion.

Hi, I’m Kristie! Are you struggling with your relationships, mood, or low self-esteem that affects your ability to be authentic & happy? Do you feel disconnected, stuck, or overwhelmed? In this impersonal & tumultuous world, we’re all feeling the weight of our emotions, daily responsibilities and uncertainty about our futures. Now more than ever, we’re feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about how we're supposed to manage our relationships, careers & our lives. It shouldn’t be so hard to live a life that feels meaningful, and I truly believe that therapy can help you with this shift!

My objective in therapy is to foster strength and resilience in my clients so that they feel empowered to set and meet goals as part of a safe, supportive, nonjudgmental, and encouraging therapeutic alliance. I provide trauma-informed psychotherapy services to individuals who are experiencing issues relating to (but not limited to) past traumatic events, abuse, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, mood or panic disorders, and chronic illness/pain. I work with youth, adults, and seniors and have also worked a great deal with the single-mother community.

My work at its core is all about building a relational connection and co-creating a safe therapeutic holding space which is informed by the relational psychotherapy and narrative therapy, and my own lived experiences as a racialized gay/queer person and also adoptive parent. Whether your struggles are small or big, what matters in this space is our joint commitment, an emotionally engaged and interactive process, and a shared journey. Our therapeutic relationship is going to be the principal vehicle to bring the changes that you are longing for in your personal and family life, as well as within your larger community.

My work is about building a strong therapeutic connection with you and co-creating a safe place where you can share your authentic self. My practice is informed by cognitive behavioural therapy, narrative therapy, and mindfulness practices, as well as my own lived experience as a racialized member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and my education in both kinesiology and social work. I'd love to be able to support and work with you to help you create the changes you wish to in your life. Outside of private practice, I work at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).

I bring a diverse background of counselling experience, professional training, and a focus on positive outcomes for my clients. As a Psychotherapist, my goal is to work with clients to overcome whatever challenges or psychological issues they may be struggling with. If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, I use highly-effective strategies to help you learn to better manage anxiety and bring it down to size. You want positive changes in life, but often it is unclear how they will happen. I look forward to working with you to find the way whether in your relationships or personal path.

If you are an “over” person - an overthinker, overwhelmed, or overworked - then you are one of the people I work with best. You are hard on yourself, “self-care” is confusing or guilt-inducing, you can get paralyzed by intense feelings, stuck in negative thought spirals, or find yourself shutting down. You may have been wondering for a long time how to turn off negative thoughts or let go of things you can’t change. The constant weight of what you believe you “should” be doing can feel immobilizing, and the endless fight against the “what ifs” is exhausting. It may feel impossible to move on or let go of negativity or trauma.

There are so many reasons someone might seek therapy. I often work with individuals exploring identity, life transitions, emotion regulation concerns, chronic pain and caregiver burnout. The couples I work with often wish to improve communication and the quality of their relationship(s), explore sexuality and sexual issues, navigate differences, or repair after a breach of trust.

I am currently accepting new clients from $130 to $150/session. I offer virtual sessions and am also offering a free consultation to see if we are a good fit. I am a genuinely empathetic and dedicated therapist who specializes in the mental and emotional health of racialized communities and has expertise working with Black African Diaspora youth, and men. My goal in therapy is to create a warm, safe and non-judgmental space for your mental health and growth. I provide unconditional support to my clients as they chart a path to wellness.

My practice is focused on empowering clients to make informed decisions about their own change while providing a compassionate and supportive space. As a person-centered therapist, I seek to enhance one’s quality of life and encourage clients to create their own solutions to situations as they define them; inviting new ways of thinking without imposing one’s own views and to emphasize and allow personal choice and control over one’s own problems while also exploring personal goals and values. I believe humans have the capacity to enhance self-efficacy, confidence, and one’s own belief that they can achieve their goals.

Accepting new clients for Diagnostic Assessments .... You have been feeling anxious or depressed and this is interfering with your life. You often feel inadequate and are unsure why. You keep encountering the same life challenges and can't seem to change the patterns you notice. You've been overwhelmed by the state of our world (e.g. systemic discrimination and climate change). You're feeling the need for extra support in coping with these challenges. Acknowledging the need for help and taking the steps to find it takes much courage and self-compassion, and I commend you for doing so!

Spring 2024 - April 3rd! Yoga & Skills Building Group - Details below! I support young adults impacted by childhood adversity & interpersonal trauma. This work may include befriending the body, addressing negative self-image, managing interpersonal relationships, and coping with heightened feelings or numbness. Together we can work with body-based and mindfulness approaches, and build upon your restorative practices. Let's work together to reconnect you to a sense of safety and feelings of comfort in your body.

I am here to help. I embrace the "4C's" of my profession, an acronym that stands for caring, compassionate, competent, and well connected. You deserve the best, and that is all I offer. My ideal client is someone serious about improving, growing, and overcoming (or least better managing) whatever it is you need help with now. Please note that I live in Calgary and I offer live in-person sessions here, but I do see clients across Ontario via high-quality video software. BOOK APPOINTMENT: Click icon called "Website" on left side. My 83-second promotional video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vOKqotpeaM

Sometimes in your career you hit a point where you don’t know how much farther the current approach will take you. You wonder how much more you can handle of the day-to-day operational pressures. Moments when you feel it’s time to pivot and take a leap of faith to what you love. Environmental factors e.g., COVID-19 Pandemic or changes in family dynamics, can force you to re-evaluate what is important to you and your career; it takes courage and tenacity to create a balanced life. How do you calm the anxiety about shifting career gears and develop your emotional capacity for a more fulfilling career or self-employment pathway?

Hey there! Finding a therapist you connect with can be a daunting task, but it’s worth it once you find that person you feel comfortable with and can trust. My own approach is warm, relaxed, and collaborative. I make sure that you have space in sessions to share whatever is on your mind while also ensuring that we have continuity between sessions and are working toward your goals. I always strive to create a space that feels open and non-judgemental, and I work from a client-centred and trauma-informed perspective.

I work with clients who are dealing with anxiety, stress, depression and grief, anger, emotional regulation, and career and workplace difficulties. I work with couples from first families and stepfamilies.

Feeling like life's challenges are pulling you under? Whether it's navigating relationships, overcoming past traumas, or finding inner peace, the weight can feel unbearable. Anxiety, depression, or managing ADHD symptoms only add to the load. But remember, you're not alone in this struggle. In today's world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and uncertain. I'm here to walk beside you, helping you overcome these obstacles, fostering confidence, and celebrating your unique strengths. Together, we'll pave the path to a fulfilling and meaningful life—one step at a time.

Do you struggle with depression, anxiety, identity issues, grief, a sense of loss of self, or a painful past? Are you having relationship issues, or struggling with a change in your life? Are these struggles affecting your relationships with your family & friends, and your sense of stability? Do you feel overwhelmed, alone, exhausted, and a little bit lost by all that you have to carry? Do you wonder what it would be like if things felt easier and simpler? It seems like so many of us are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and frustrated about the many things life can throw our way.