Modern western medicine has made us believe that treatment of any kind is to be solely approached from a symptom-based approach. I firmly believe that the latter stance may be the reason why we are currently faced with a national mental health crisis.
Solution: I believe that each individual needs and deserves personalized holistic care. My holistic approach to therapy addresses the mind, body, and spirit, ensuring that we uncover the root causes of your challenges and create a personalized treatment plan that promotes lasting well-being. By integrating mental, emotional, physical, and lifestyle factors, I empower you to achieve sustainable recovery and lead a more balanced and fulfilling life. This approach takes time, but with your commitment, we will venture to get you results as fast as possible.
Result: Over time, you will begin to recognize your central role in your own life, developing the capacity to gain or regain control over the negative experiences you have encountered.
Experience:
Dr. Benning is a registered provisional psychologist with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from California Southern University and a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire, UK. He brings experience from both private practice and community-based settings, where he has treated a wide spectrum of conditions, from interpersonal challenges to severe psychological disorders. In addition to his clinical expertise, Dr. Benning is proficient in administering and interpreting a variety of formal psychological assessments.
Modern western medicine has made us believe that treatment of any kind is to be solely approached...
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Hi, my name is Stephen, and I’m a registered psychologist with a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle.
I think it’s important to recognize how difficult it is to reach out for help, and I’m so grateful that you’ve chosen to reach out to me. Going to therapy is tough, and that’s because being vulnerable is tough. I believe that we all have a tremendous ability to heal, change, and grow. We cruise through the day, not often giving much thought to the encounters we have, but in reality, there’s a brain behind the scenes working furiously to course-correct and catalog every moment of our lives. Sometimes, it’s important to pull the veil aside and take a moment to check and see how the narrative is unfolding. That’s why I believe that through awareness, acceptance, and exploration of ourselves through meaning making, we can all overcome the difficulties in our lives. Taking a moment to give our thoughts and feelings the attention they deserve, is crucial to the healthy functioning of the individual.
In the past my primary area of experience has been in sexual trauma, as counsellor working at the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton. However, today I see a variety of different individuals with unique and diverse needs. I treat PTSD and trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, stress and burnout, and many other life difficulties people may experience.’ Typically, I operate from evidence-based treatments and believe in the neurobiological understanding of psychology, utilizing empirically validated treatment methods to help my clients grow through their challenges.
I welcome adult clients of all backgrounds, non-binary individuals, and people of all gender identities, gender expression, and sexual orientation.’
Hi, my name is Stephen, and I’m a registered psychologist with a master’s degree in Counselling P...
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Embarking on the journey of therapy amidst challenges and struggles can be a daunting yet courageous step. We often find ourselves grappling with a sense of overwhelming uncertainty regarding therapy, unsure of where to begin, but want help in creating positive change and fostering personal growth. Confronting our vulnerabilities and delving into personal struggles can be intimidating and make it difficult to envision a clear path forward.
I embrace a holistic and individualistic approach that honors each person’s unique journey and needs. By delving into the interconnected aspects of your life, I can tailor my guidance to foster growth and healing that is in alignment with your authentic self.
Together, we create a safe space where you can feel seen, heard, and empowered to navigate the challenges you are facing.
Experience:
Cassidy is a Counselling Student, who is working towards completing her Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. Over the past four years, she has worked at Unstuck Psychological, where she informed clients about the diverse service options and educated them on various treatments, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their mental health journey. She has also worked at Vantage Community Services aiding the youth in overcoming various challenges, while also serving as a dedicated liaison to connect them with essential services and resources they need.
Client Focus:
Couples, Individuals, Children (10+)
Types of therapy: CBT, DBT, EFT, Premarital counselling
Issues: Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Grief/loss, Infidelity, Addictions
More than just my work:
I absolutely love reading – it offers a comforting refuge from the demands of everyday life, providing an escape where I can experience countless realms and live a thousand different lives, bringing solace and ease to the mind and soul.
Embarking on the journey of therapy amidst challenges and struggles can be a daunting yet courage...
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Hello and welcome! Are you currently struggling and feeling overwhelmed? Are you finding it difficult to manage stress? Therapy provides the space to explore these challenges, so you can create new meanings, hope and new beginnings. As a Registered Provisional Psychologist, I work in partnership with you, providing a warm, supportive environment where you can explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences in a safe space. Together, we can work toward finding solutions to the problems you’ve been struggling with, identifying ways that you want to create meaningful change in your life.
I assist individuals (ages 6+) struggling to cope with anxiety, depression, grief, and anger. I have experience helping individuals to overcome challenges related to managing multiple life stressors (i.e., parenting and relationship issues; difficulties finding work/life balance; caring for aging parents; etc.). I integrate evidence based approaches into my work with clients including cognitive-behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and positive psychology. I am also an EMDR trained therapist.
I am passionate about building a therapeutic relationship with my clients, so they feel safe to explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences. If you have questions about therapy, feel free to book a complimentary 10-minute consultation and inquire about the therapeutic process. I would be happy to connect with you and discuss your goals in therapy.
Hello and welcome! Are you currently struggling and feeling overwhelmed? Are you finding it diffi...
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Life is messy. It can feel overwhelming, scary or even too much sometimes; especially to figure out alone. Maybe you’re feeling stuck or nervous about the unknowns of the future. It’s hard for us as adults - imagine how BIG these issues feel for young people. Children, youth, adults, and families all need space and support to understand their emotions and learn skills to manage moving forward.
I provide a safe, nurturing environment where each individual feels heard, understood, and empowered. By utilizing age-appropriate techniques such as play therapy, art, and talk therapy, we will explore feelings, build coping skills, and strengthen emotional resilience. Together, we can create meaningful growth and help you or your loved ones thrive. Reach out to take the first step towards the growth and balance you’re seeking.
I am a Registered Social Worker in Alberta, I hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree with a specialization in Clinical Practice from the University of Calgary. I’ve worked in frontline social work for over 10 years supporting community members navigating complex high-risk situations including domestic violence, substance use, mental health challenges, and family reunification. I have experience working with all age groups to understand and process their unique life experiences and traumas using integrated evidence-based approaches. I especially enjoy supporting children and families because witnessing their growth and connection is deeply rewarding.
Client Focus:
Children 5+, Teens, Adults, Families
Approaches Used:
- Person-Centred Therapy
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFIT)
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
- Integrative Play Therapy
- Circle of Security Parenting Program Facilitator
Key Areas of Focus:
- Emotional Regulation & Anger
- Separation & Divorce
- Parenting Challenges
- Self-Esteem & Body Image
- Family & Relational Dynamics
- Social Skills & Bullying
- ADHD Support (Not Assessments)
- Addiction
- PTSD & Trauma
- Domestic Violence & Abuse
- Anxiety, Depression & Grief
“We are not what happened to us, we are what we wish to become.” Carl Jung
Life is messy. It can feel overwhelming, scary or even too much sometimes; especially to figure o...
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Often people’s thoughts, feelings, and actions tangle up and become difficult to see separately and influence. It becomes overwhelming to figure out the big why’s in our world and sit with them, before we figure out the how’s in terms of what truths, meanings, and actions we want to take from our experiences.
I offer a safe space to explore the webs of client’s experiences and process important threads so we can know what’s happening for them, what they want to take from their experiences, what is important to them, and what next steps they want to take.
Through the therapeutic process people are better able to see and navigate the world through a lens that is based on their integrated experiences and by their drives toward what they want to seek out.
Experience:
Lauren has a Master’s in Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta. She also has a Diploma in Psychological Assessment from Concordia University of Edmonton. She started her provisional journey at Firefly Counselling. She has spent 6 years working on support and information lines helping people feel heard and connecting them to their strengths and resources.
Client Focus: Individuals, Teens
Types of therapy: Emotion Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Formal Assessment, (also interested in taking ACT training)
Issues:
(Standard) Anxiety, depression, trauma
(Specialties) Identity, Disability, Choice
“It is within our power not to make a judgement about something, and so not disturb our minds; for nothing in itself possesses the power to form our judgements – Marcus Aurelius”
Often people’s thoughts, feelings, and actions tangle up and become difficult to see separately a...
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Hi! I’m glad you’re here.
My name is Kelcey, and I am excited to be joining the team at Little Tree. While my career began as a teacher, I have been working with children and teens for most of my life. From babysitting to being a camp counsellor to teaching and then to school counselling, I have had the privilege of connecting with many young people. The obstacles you may face and the emotions you deal with as a young person today are complicated and can feel overwhelming – you don’t need to face them alone. Having worked in high schools for the past eight years, I specialize in supporting teens (13-19) with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and challenging family or home situations. I have extensive experience working cross-culturally and with clients of all gender identities and sexual orientations. I am tremendously grateful every time someone invites me to be a part of their story, and I am looking forward to building more relationships at Little Tree.
My approach to counselling is deeply humanistic and person-centred. I believe in the transformational power of a strong therapeutic relationship, and I strive to show up authentically for you in our counselling space. Together we will explore not only the challenges that may have brought you to counselling but also your unique identity and strengths. We will work to gain insight into yourself and build the life you want. From the foundation of a strong relationship, I tend to draw on cognitive-behavioural, dialectical-behavioural, mindfulness, and solution-focused techniques to best meet the needs and goals of each client. I am always learning alongside my clients and also enjoy incorporating expressive arts and play into therapy.
Outside of my work, you’ll find me watching food shows and trying my best to replicate dishes in the kitchen, cuddling my cats and reading young adult fantasy or booking my next plane ticket!
Hi! I’m glad you’re here.
My name is Kelcey, and I am excited to be joining the team at Little T...
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My interest in therapy has always been two-fold 一 professional ambition and engagement and personal acceptance and growth.
The Personal - Most of my life I have felt the emotional pangs of parental enmeshment and death, insurmountable bodily anxiety, and perfectionistic conflict around who I am, and who I’ve wanted to be. As a child, I grew up with two very loving yet imperfect parents, who through no intentionality of their own passed on their own trauma, limiting beliefs, and unprocessed emotions. As an adolescent, I became adept at intellectualizing my experience, identifying patterns, and tying it all to the ‘big picture’. However, I struggled to safely process the associated emotions, and repattern how I conceived my internal world. I didn’t even know what that was supposed to look like. As I learned, the depth of my emotions, and the harmful patterns I experienced, surprised me. There was a lot more under the surface than I imagined.
The Professional - Like many of us, work has been my primary outlet for development, validation, and satisfaction in my life. I rarely had a problem with keeping myself engaged with what I was doing, though I cycled in-and-out of burnout regularly. So, after working nearly a decade in a high-growth tech company, in 2020 I turned down an opportunity to succeed our CEO and instead pursued a Master’s in Counselling Psychology. My intention was to repurpose much of contemporary psychology’s most applicable practices and research into Organizational Development and Talent Strategy work, which I currently employ in my consulting practice.
Today, while I have processed many of my most dysregulating emotions, created new meaning from past experiences, and brought a renewed balance to my internal bodily states, I am still very much on my own journey. Understanding ourselves, and repatterning with intention, is very much a life process.
My Approach
My counseling approach is grounded in trauma-informed principles, shaped under the direct guidance of one of Canada’s top Clinical Traumatologists. Our experience of our lives, trauma or otherwise, is subjective and relative 一 we all see it a little differently. Thus, therapy must adapt to each person, and often I pull on aspects of humanistic, emotionally-focussed, CBT, and ‘parts work’ (like IFS) to assist me in speaking each client’s specific internal language.
I enjoy working with adults at the top of their careers (50+), and those who are still finding their unique superpowers (18 - 30), as I have found these periods often mark significant potential for meaningful change. My clients and I have often explored themes in trauma, performance, perfectionism, sensitivity, engagement, relational enmeshment , depression, anxiety, anger, death, and life purpose. I also maintain a large breadth of personal experience in understanding, relating to, and advocating for Indigenous peoples (who may feel plagued by systemic injustices and intergenerational trauma).
If you can relate to any of this and maintain an intention to grow and repattern your internal systems, I’d love to meet you. 🙂
Professional Testimonies
“Having worked closely with Graham, I can confidently attest to his exceptional counselling competency and qualities. Graham consistently brings a grounded and soft approach to how he holds space for clients, demonstrating a deep dedication to understanding their circumstances. His ability to provide compassion and empathy within professional boundaries is truly commendable.”
— Kayla Carter, CEO & Clinical Traumatologist, Breelove Counselling.
“Graham is intelligent, curious and enthusiastic. Graham is also warm, observant and socially competent — he makes you feel comfortable & heard. In my opinion, he has done the personal work to understand himself and possesses both the empathy and the intellect to bond with and help a very wide range of clients. “
— Haley Gershony, Counselling Professional M.A., M.ED, R.C.C.
“Graham provided emotional and practical support and displayed excellent skills of engagement, strong boundaries and work ethic. I greatly admire his discipline and organizational skills, and his ability to coach these skills into others, on top of developing client perspectives and coping strategies.”
— Vashti Sullivan, Wellness Coach, Canadian Mental Health Association.
My interest in therapy has always been two-fold 一 professional ambition and engagement and person...
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