It’s nice to meet you! I’m Laura (she/her) and I’m a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) in Calgary. I have over 10 years experience providing therapy in order to help people manage stress and mental health, increase self-awareness and live more authentic, meaningful lives.

I prioritize the importance of a safe, non-judgmental and supportive therapeutic environment. I believe strongly in the importance the therapist and client fit, and I know how important it is to feel that you’re working with someone with whom you can connect and be yourself. I know what it's like to be both the client and the patient and unfortunately what it’s like to experience inadequate and uncompassionate support. It is for this reason that I strive to lead my sessions with empathy and understanding, reflecting your current needs. My style is collaborative and approachable and I aim to meet you where you are and in your current situation.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

Specializing in grief and trauma, my mission is to assist clients in the often difficult journey through healing from a past traumatic experience or significant emotional loss. Working through my own grief caused by several difficult losses, I was able to discover my passion for helping others heal their hearts through grief work, including loss of a loved one, as well as pet loss. I also enjoy helping clients in managing and healing their trauma, insomnia/sleep issues and the secondary depression and anxiety that can accompany both grief and trauma. I lead with a holistic approach and offer counselling for health and wellness by looking at the gut/brain connections and assisting with whatever lifestyle changes you feel like you are ready to make. I work also from an attachment framework, and love helping people learn about themselves and how their attachment styles may impact close relationships. Often, this also means understanding childhood patterns of behaviour and learning effective emotional regulation strategies. I also enjoy assisting with stress and burnout and helping people set effective boundaries in their lives that can ideally assist in preventing burnout.

TRAINING

I am trained in Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and am a certified Grief Recovery Method® (GRM) specialist. However, I would describe my approach as eclectic, and do not stick to a single treatment modality, because most people rarely have only one specific type of need!

SOME BACKGROUND ON ME

I completed my graduate degree in Chicago, IL before returning to Calgary to work in a criminal forensic setting, providing grief and trauma therapy to incarcerated individuals, and specializing in Risk Assessments for the Parole Board of Canada. I am most proud of co-creating and co-facilitating the Pet Enrichment Group (PEG), working with local animal rescue Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) to offer education and hands-on experience with rescue dogs.  The PEG program assisted individuals with building empathy and coping with a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression and the psychological effects of trauma. After working in a correctional setting for nearly a decade, I took the leap in opening my own practice so I could provide services to a wide range of individuals, including specializing in work with the first responder population. I am a sex positive and LGBTQ2S+ affirming therapist. I support Black lives, Indigenous lives, disabled lives, trans rights, and women's rights.

I have a huge passion for working with animals, especially rescue dogs. In my spare time you'll find me reading, listening to music, travelling, and walking whatever foster dog I currently happen to be lucky to have in my care. I feel my most grounded and authentic whenever I’m able to be near the ocean or any body of water. Now enough about me, let’s get to know you!