Therapy

How Can I Help You?

I work in the following areas to help you overcome your obstacles and struggles on your journey so that you can find some relief and illuminate the diamond that shines within you:

I work with individuals, couples, seniors, adults, teens, first responders, and 2SLGBTQI+ clients.

I am trained in the following therapies to help you on your journey: Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Transtheoretical Model and Stages of Change, and Gottman’s Couples Counselling.

Neurodivergent/Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is a broad term that encompasses the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioural traits. People experience the world around them in different ways, and there is no one ‘right’ way of thinking, learning, and behaving. While the term neurodiversity refers to the individuality of all people, it is often used to describe autism, ADHD, and learning disorders. I specialize in working with older teens and adults, especially those who were missed or overlooked by their childhood education system, and have struggled in trying to be ‘neurotypical’. If you feel that I am describing you, I can help you discover your neurodiverse nature, help you to understand what this means, and assist you as you navigate this new identity to find your way through a chaotic and often unfriendly world to a more peaceful existence.

Identity Exploration

Life can be hard, and we all have challenges and choices that we face everyday. It can be especially difficult if you feel that you do not fit into society's expectation of 'normal'. Whether you are a teenager trying to figure out next steps, a young adult determining their sexual and gender identity, determining if we are in the right career to give us purpose, or considering a major life transition such as marriage, divorce, gender change, or retirement, we all face challenges that can make it difficult to determine the best path forward in our own situations. Everyone's identity is unique, and I am here to help you explore the decisions that will determine the different outcomes in your life.

Relationship Conflicts

Have you experienced a communication breakdown in any of your relationships? Are you and your significant other going through a ‘rough patch’? Are you having difficulties setting boundaries or managing your family interactions? Are you and your partner in an open relationship and need help navigating the process? This communication breakdown could be with a significant other, a family member, or a close friend relationship, and I can help you improve your interactions through honest communication and insight into the dynamics of your relationship. You can come as an individual, couple, or friends, and I will help you repair what was previously broken within your relationship.

Grief & Loss

Are you struggling with the loss of a loved one? Are you mourning the loss of a pregnancy or infant? A loss of any kind can be devastating and the effects can be long-lasting. Do you have people in your life telling you that you should just ‘get over it’, or that it will ‘get better with time’? While that may be true for some, others need more time to get over their traumatic bereavement. Greif is a powerful emotion that can feel overwhelming, like it has taken over your life. If the sudden, traumatic death of a loved one has left you struggling to cope with basic functions, I can help you to overcome your grief while still creating space for the memories of your departed loved one in your life. There is no timeline on grief, but I can help you ease the pain by strengthening your resources to process the trauma and facilitate mourning.

Trauma & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Have you experienced trauma in your past? Are you concerned that you have, or have previously been diagnosed, with PTSD? You do not have to silently suffer. I will provide a space where you feel safe to share what you have experienced, and how you would like to move forward so that you are no longer stuck in the past memories of what you have suffered. I can help you find a way to work through the negative effects of trauma and PTSD, and provide you with tools so that you can continue to build a strong foundation to overcome any lingering effects from these events.

Senior Health Issues

Seniors often face a unique set of challenges as they transition into this phase of their life. Getting older comes with loss of mobility, physical health concerns, memory issues, loss of family members and loved ones, fear of dying, existential crisis, abandonment, loss of access to loved ones, and sometimes even elder abuse. Issues such as medical assitance in dying, estate planning, and inheritances can be very divisive within families and hard to navigate the needs of the elderly with the desires of the family. My experience in this area is both personal and professional, and I understand the circumstances that make each family and situation different. I can help to navigate this journey to obtain a peaceful resolution.

Anxiety

If you have anxiety there are ways to improve your mental health to get you on a path to wellness. I can assess to see the severity of your symptoms, and work with you to help you feel better. Whether it is a generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or a specific phobia, I can devise a treatment plan to help you feel better. There are many different ways to treat anxiety, such as externalization, response prevention, and exposure therapy, so book a consult with me today so that we can help you understand and minimize your symptoms to help you become more productive and feeling better.

Anxiety

Senior's Mental Health

Neurodiversity

Identity

Grace Phillips-Mckenzie - Diamond Psychology - Assessments and Therapy - Calgary - Yukon