Hi there! My name is Amanda, and I am a Registered Psychologist here at Balance Psychological Services. My journey and passion with mental health started long ago, and it has been a dream come true to have the opportunity to work in this field.

My personal therapeutic philosophy is one of both holism and collaboration. My perspective is that we as humans are shaped by our thoughts, feelings, trauma’s (big or small), experiences, relationships (both past and present), environment and biology. Together these factors collide to shape who we are as individuals, and as a result, can hold the key to overcoming many of the challenges that have brought you here. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone’s healing journey is their own, and that throughout the process, both the mind and body should be given the space and time necessary to heal.

Throughout my career I have had the pleasure of working with adolescents and adults who are feeling stuck, are experiencing anxiety and depression, diagnosed with personality disorders, have survived trauma or who feel they do not have a solid sense of identity, among other things. I view the therapy space through a lens of both attachment and trauma, and as your therapist, will guide you to play an active role in your own healing process, while offering a safe space to reflect on your journey. Together we will work to invite curiosity back into your world, safely explore those emotions which can often feel overwhelming, analyze the beliefs and narratives that shape how you view yourself, and work to find solutions to those problems that feel as though they follow you around.

At the end of the day, we are all humans trying to navigate a messy world. My hope is that together we can set you up with tools that can help you navigate the unknown more comfortably.

Now to end things off, a little about me…. When I am not working in this career that I love, you can find me hanging out with friends and family, on some body of water either fishing or boating, hiking in the mountains, or cuddling on the couch with my adorable creatures.

AMANDA’S ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS

-Bachelor of Science with Distinction Major in Biological Sciences; Minor in Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

-Master of Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University, Fredericton New Brunswick

FURTHER TRAINING

-EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

-The Gottman Method

-Adult Attachment: Trauma-Informed Assessment and Treatment Interventions

-Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Beginners

Hi there! My name is Amanda, and I am a Registered Psychologist here at Balance Psychological Se... Read More

Hi! I’m Jessica, a Registered Provisional Psychologist here at Balance Psychological Services. Let’s face it, asking for help and prioritizing your mental health is really hard. Speaking from experience, I know that facing the difficult aspects of your life is scary and that it is much easier to stay in the same patterns that have kept you afloat. But if you find those patterns aren’t working for you anymore, it can be worth it to take that leap and reach out - and I’d love to take that step with you! I often work with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and those dealing with anxiety/depression, personality disorders (specifically borderline personality disorder), relationship issues, and complex trauma. I enjoy working with teens (13+) adults, and couples.

I operate from a person-centred lens, which means I believe that you are the expert on your own life. You’re steering the ship in our sessions, and I’m there to support you by offering a compassionate, down-to-earth, and candid style of therapy (laughter also guaranteed).

I love connecting with people from all walks of life and cultures. I believe in accepting people for who they are in the moment they sit down in our space. We are all different and I’m here to help you meet the therapy goals to best fit your lifestyle.

Hi! I’m Jessica, a Registered Provisional Psychologist here at Balance Psychological Services. Le... Read More

Welcome! If this is your first time pursuing therapy, I want to congratulate you in making the initial (and sometimes scariest) step toward starting therapy: finding a therapist!

A little about me: I have moved almost twenty times in thirty years, I am an English nerd and passionate about reading and learning from others’ stories, I have a four-year-old Great Dane named Ozzy, I enjoy spending time at the dog park, increasing my strength in the gym, trying my hand at a new recipe, and cracking bad jokes.

I am passionate about supporting Veterans, active CAF members, and First Responders. As part of a military family (spouse, sibling), I have an in-depth understanding of the specific culture, mentality, workplace-expectations, and higher probability of risks, illnesses, and disorders associated with these industries (e.g., OSI, PTSD, anger, family/marital strains, depression, anxiety, burnout). Additionally, I am interested in working with both adolescents (ages 14+) and adults experiencing grief, loss, trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, emotional regulation, and existential issues. I enjoy helping clients make sense of their experiences, and find meaning, value, and understanding along the way. Rooted in a client-centred approach, I offer a supportive, nonjudgmental, and, at times, humorous environment to facilitate optimal growth for my clients.

As a licensed C.C.C. (Canadian Certified Counsellor), and soon to be Provisional Psychologist, I offer evidence-based, therapeutic practices and modalities that aim to lessen suffering and increase positive health and well-being. I have training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and I bring a Trauma-informed approach to all my sessions. I believe in empowerment - every individual has the strength and potential to enact powerful change, I am simply shining a light on all the strengths and skills you already possess and can use to overcome life’s challenges.

My rate is $200/session, but I also offer a sliding scale between $140-$200. I am available for counselling sessions at three of Balance’s locations (downtown Edmonton, Stony Plain, and Beaumont).

Welcome! If this is your first time pursuing therapy, I want to congratulate you in making the in... Read More

Hello there,

My name is Schareen, and I’m excited to work with you on your therapeutic journey.

A little about me: I was born and raised in Ireland, and my cultural background plays a huge role in guiding my day to day life. I moved to Montreal with my family in my teens, and completed both my College Diploma, and my Bachelor of Arts Degree there. After that I made my way out to Alberta, where I was presented with some wonderful opportunities for growth and learning. Since moving here, I have had the honour of becoming a Certified Family Group Conference Facilitator as per the First Nations Traditional Practice through Blue Quills College. I have become a Certified Addictions Worker, allowing me to specialize my counselling practice to serve those struggling with drug, alcohol, or behavioural addictions/compulsions. And most recently, I completed my Master of Counselling Psychology degree and I am working toward registering as a Provisional Psychologist.

I have been privileged to support individuals with a variety of concerns, challenges, and traumas such as; depression, anxiety, addictions, PTSD, individuals working in the sex trade industry, personality disorders, STD/STI contractions, domestic abuse, and cognitive challenges, such as FASD (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), brain injuries (both genetic and acquired), learning difficulties, etc. I have worked with families, couples, and individuals.

Having had the opportunity to move around and meet a lot of new and wonderful people from all sorts of places, with all sorts of backgrounds, I have learned that everyone, even the seemingly most put together, is just trying to figure ‘it’ out! I believe that’s where therapy comes in. Having another person to sit and talk with can allow you the time and space to explore the ‘it’. So even if ‘it’ seems insurmountable having someone to support you in sitting with ‘it’ can be helpful. As the old Irish saying goes “Giorraíonn beirt an bóthar” (Two people shorten the road).

What Does Working With Me Look Like?

I believe that life gives us puzzle pieces (experiences) that make up our individual mosaic. With each puzzle piece we rearrange and adjust the picture to reflect the integration of each new piece we are given, each time recreating our new and wonderful picture. Problems surface when we are given new pieces and we don’t want or know how to rearrange the picture anymore. I believe my role is to support you in figuring out how the new puzzle piece fits into your life picture. So, you are the expert in the room! I will do my best to support you in figuring out how you want your new picture to look. To do this we may draw techniques from a variety of counselling styles, sometimes we may just talk, sometimes we may use worksheets/lists, sometimes we may use guided visualization practices. We can focus on one specific section of your life, or open it up to the big picture, whatever you feel you need to help you make sense of your journey.

While I hope I am the right person to help you on your journey, there is always the possibility that I may not be the right fit for you; and that’s okay too! If you decide I am not the right person for the job we can work together to help you find someone who may be a better fit. So, either way you will be supported throughout this exploration of self.

So, if you have liked what you have read and feel like you would like to share your story with me, I would love to meet with you and talk about how I may be able to support you in your journey.

Hello there, My name is Schareen, and I’m excited to work with you on your therapeutic journey. ... Read More