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© COPYRIGHT 2023 | RUN FREE COUNSELLING CENTER | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | PRIVACY POLICY
Sign up to receive updates, invitations, offers and resources – so you never miss out on something exciting!
© COPYRIGHT 2023 | RUN FREE COUNSELLING CENTER | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | PRIVACY POLICY
Therapy is a powerful tool to find solutions to life’s challenges when you’re feeling stuck. In the session, I desire to work with you to craft solutions to your challenges. Within a safe space, we can explore the challenges you are facing today, or those of your past, crafting a healthier future. Thinking, for most people, is accomplished through talking. Through attentive listening, we can talk and therefore think together.
I live in Lethbridge, Alberta together, with my wife, Mary-Ann and our four kids. I completed my BSc, focusing on Psychology and Neuroscience. I then spent several years working in various business contexts, eventually leading me to work in consulting, where I rediscovered my love of Psychology. Subsequently, I completed my Master’s in Counselling Psychology. I bring the combination of my academic training, work experience, and nearly two decades of marriage to each session. I work with couples, and individual adults on issues ranging from self-confidence to marriage counselling, from career development to anxiety.
I draw inspiration from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the Adlerian models of Psychotherapy and Solution-Focused Therapy. Solution-Focused Therapy comes most naturally to me, aligning with my approach and conversational style.
Ultimately, this leads to an eclectic mode of therapy, tailored to the specific needs of your story. The genuineness of our conversation is essential in developing trust and rapport, as together, we create solutions for your life’s challenges.
If you are looking for care, compassion, and change – we are on the same page. I am always looking at ways I can do things better from self improvement to home upgrades, and I love to partner with people to help them reach their unique goal, especially in their mental health.
My path to this job has been long and varied from flying with the RAF at uni, 3 years at medical school, birthing and raising four kids, emigrating from the UK, leading a mum’s group for 14 years, to retraining to counsel you! I am here, ready, newly qualified and pending my Canadian Counselling Certificate. I began studying with Graham in 2014 and have continued gaining understanding of the main theories of counselling and developed my own style. I am trained and certified in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and include Trauma informed, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Narrative, Solution Focused, Positive and faith-based psychology in my practice.
I am excited to work with you. Facing difficulties may be a challenge but when we work together, real progress can be made right now.
BSc (Psychology, Honours), Dip Sc (Medicine), Grad Dip Addictions Mental Health Psychotherapy
Teaching high school students was my first love. Soon, however, I became interested in the emotional well-being of my students, so I hold a Bachelor of Education, but also a MA in Counselling from Providence Theological Seminary in Manitoba.
My husband Gerrit and I have five married children and enjoy spending time with them and our grandchildren. If there is any time left, I love reading, studying, and hiking or biking.
So, what sets me on fire? The short answer to that is . . . YOU! I love to come alongside people in their struggles, whatever it is! Helping people to find the roots and reasons for their struggles and then together untangle them and find solutions that work for you, that is what I love to do! This can only be done with the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. So, please, come! Come to our beautiful and peaceful office and let one of us help you to find freedom from your struggles.
God created man for relationship with Him. Relationship challenges are part of everyone’s life and with the help of the Holy Spirit through the saving grace of Jesus Christ healing can occur.
Attachment and Developmental theories are the foundation to the counselling I offer. Creating a safe therapeutic relationship and being with a person can facilitate desired change. I have experience in working with children, adolescents, and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, conflict, grief and loss, and parenting challenges.
I am a certified member of the Professional Association of Christian Counsellors and Psychotherapists and can provide counselling in English, Dutch, or Afrikaans.
Psalm 116: 1&2
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
Session Length: 50 minutes
Days Available: Tuesdays
NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
Hello! My name is Kevin Kang. I was born in China and immigrated to Canada with my wife Michelle, and we have one daughter. We enjoy spending time together as a family to learn and grow spiritually, also being part of the community.
I am a registered social worker with a Master of Social Work degree. I also studied in Ireland and graduated with a MA in Addiction Studies.
I believe that counselling is primarily relational. It’s my passion and privilege to be part of your journey towards wholeness. I am here to listen and provide feedback in a comfortable, safe environment and we work together to achieve your goals.
I have been working with addictions and mental health treatment since 2012, helping people navigate life situations and building resilience and joy. I have been providing individual, couples, family, and group counselling with adults. I can provide counseling in both English and Mandarin.
We live in a broken world, therefore, we are broken people in need of a Saviour.
Hi, my name is Darcy. In almost 19 years of working in the field of addiction and mental health combined with my own personal life experience, what I’ve learned is as humans we instinctively learn to cope with brokenness in many different ways, both rationally and irrationally. We all have mental health that needs to be maintained to be our best healthy self. However, if we neglect our mental health, it’s like a vehicle when an engine light comes on and we ignore it, it contributes to bigger problems down the road. Unchecked mental health can lead to anxiety, depression, unresolved anger, impulsivity, addiction, and other mental disorders. It’s important to understand, addiction is defined as ANY behavior that causes either immediate or progressive life damaging consequences. So this can vary from the many different chemical addictions to the non-chemical addictions, which can be just as destructive, such as gambling, shopping, hoarding, sex, eating disorders, codependency etc., all of which, I have experience working with.
My wife Kathy and I have been together for 36 years. We have two adult children and a 15-year-old son who are all amazing gifts from God. However, life is definitely not without its challenges as a parent and in our marriage.
It’s only by the grace of God, much prayer, and the strength and courage of the Holy Spirit we have the ability to continually admit our wrongs, forgive and be forgiven with one another in order to keep our family intact as this is no easy task as it requires humility-an important, but difficult healing concept.
In our free time we like to go camping, hiking, fishing, playing and cheering for our favorite sports teams in football, baseball, and hockey. We love the Lord and want to continue to grow and learn as a Christian family.
I believe my counselling experience combined with guidance from the Holy Spirit and the truths from God’s word will assist me in equipping you with recovery tools and skills to counter the lies of the adversary so you can find true peace, joy, healing, and contentment in this broken world.
John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Primary Training:
Professional Statement:
Life can present many challenges that impact our relationships, work, sense of self, and overall quality of life. Reaching out for support can feel daunting as we face these mountains in life. However, according to a very interesting study, when we face these mountains with another person, the mountain is literally less steep (Coan & Sbarra, 2015). As relational beings, we are hard-wired for connection and we heal through safe relationships.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is my foundational therapeutic lens. It integrates social neuroscience, compassion science, attachment theory, developmental psychology, and cognitive psychology and can be described as a ‘NeuroPsychoPhysioTherapy’. CFT aligns with faith-based beliefs and offers a comprehensive framework for understanding relational patterns and managing challenging emotions. Through this lens, I provide tailored trauma interventions such as EMDR, IFS, and Somatic Processing.
We all struggle in life and I want you to know you’re not alone. Reaching out for support is a powerful step toward healing. I believe in the transformative power of safe, compassionate relationships that make each step lighter and more manageable. I am committed with standing with and working together with you to lighten your load and navigate through your struggles to grow and find peace.
Personal Interests:
Outside of my professional life, I cherish the outdoors and enjoy camping adventures with my husband and family. I am a lifelong sports enthusiast and have actively participated in, coached, and organized team sports.
Hello! My name is Melissa Stroeve. My husband Dave and I have been married for 22 years and have 6 wonderful children. I was born and raised in the Lethbridge area, and I love the surrounding rural communities that make up our southern Alberta home! I also enjoy prayer, hiking, reading and playing pickleball.
My journey to becoming a counsellor began in 2014 when I completed Run Free’s Basic Biblical Counselling Course, after which I served as a lay counsellor in my church. Serving in this volunteer capacity helped me to see the healing value of having others who are willing to step into the messy and painful parts of the human experience in a non-judgmental and supportive role. In this season of ministry, I learned just how much God loves to heal our hearts as we look to him to make all things new. Additionally, I found that I enjoyed working with children and couples, seeking to help families build stronger relational ties.
I believe that no one needs to walk alone through the trials of life, and I am drawn to come alongside others who are experiencing grief, relational, emotional, mental or spiritual struggle and to support them as we find solutions that suit their therapeutic goals. I also enjoy working with those who feel “stuck”, helping them move toward the changes they desire to see as we untangle confusing events and discover healthier ways of communicating, setting boundaries and ultimately growing in confidence.
Likewise, I use a strengths-based and client-centered approach to help others see the often-overlooked values and gifts they possess that can empower them to face life’s struggles. More importantly, I believe that healing and transformation comes with the guidance, wisdom and gifts of the Holy Spirit, who is with us in session. Along with a faith-based approach, I provide a trauma-informed, safe environment to process life’s pain and struggles, using aspects of solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and motivational interviewing.
I have completed my masters degree in counselling (MC) through Briercrest Seminary and hold a certificate in Spiritual Direction through the Ignatian Spirituality Project in collaboration with Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois.
I look forward to hearing your story!
Are you tired of anxiety always having a say in the decisions that you make? Are you wanting to feel more confident, connected and free, but anxiety keeps jumping in and impacting your ability to follow through? Or, you are able to push it out of sight for most of the day, but then it pops up when you slow down a little, or when you are trying to fall asleep at night.
Or maybe its depression that is taking up all your space; you want to feel energetic and excited, but it feels like life has lost its spark. It is harder to get up in the morning and complete basic daily tasks. You remember what it is like to have energy and excitement for life and want to get back there.
You may also be struggling from burnout. You feel overwhelmed on a regular basis, even from tasks that seem small or basic. You notice that you spend time overthinking and overanalyzing. You feel chronic fatigue and notice your performance at work or school declining. You want to have the energy you used to have, but don’t know how to get back.
If these symptoms describe you, I am here to help. I specialize in anxiety, depression and burnout. I find that trauma is often at the root of these struggles, and I am passionate about helping people find their way through them.
My approach is to work with you to find skills and strategies for managing. Then, if you are interested, I am most excited to dig deeper to find the root cause of the anxiety, depression, or burnout. I look at these symptoms as a marker to let you know that something deeper is going on, something inside that needs your attention. I believe that these symptoms are a gift that help us to find healing in places that have been long buried.
I get excited to see people come alive again in lives that have felt difficult and overwhelming. Sessions with me are collaborative, connected and fun. Message today for your free 15 minute consultation. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Session Length: 50 minutes
Days Available: Tuesdays
*Starting Indefinite Leave
December 24, 2024
NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
Disappointments are unavoidable; even so, how we handle them defines our lives. A world built to connect us might feel engineered to separate, distract, and alienate us from ourselves, our relationships, passions, and humanity. I believe that reconnecting with our most authentic selves is the antidote to disappointment and the path to health, healing, and happiness. Because when we reconnect with the world within ourselves, we also reconnect with the world around us. On this journey, everyone deserves an ally. So, I help disappointed people eliminate silent frustrations, find purpose and inspiration to live a meaningful life.
Living purposefully requires a shift in thinking, beliefs and actions. Without guidance, this process can take years of trial and error. Life Direction offers individualized therapeutic workshops for transitioning and distressed individuals, families, couples, and businesses. Clients rediscover themselves and their relationships through enhanced experiences, increased understanding, and integration of pertinent toolsets, mindsets, and skillsets.
Strategic thinking partner, critical intervention, cross-cultural relationship coach, pastor, corporate chaplain, entrepreneur and mentor, the bush has been my teacher. I will create a safe space for you to discover and pursue what helps you connect with the core of who you are.
Caring for our mental health can sometimes take the form of therapy, meditation, and medication. At times, it takes the form of getting outside, connecting with friends, and moving our bodies. Surprisingly, many of us grew up believing that therapy was a taboo or hush-hush topic. But therapy isn’t meant to be something we do in secret. In fact, the real magic happens when we integrate what we’re learning in therapy into our everyday lives. Therapy is not about what’s wrong with you; it’s about what’s right.
I draw inspiration from various forms of therapies including existential, CBT, experiential, narrative and more.
Session Length: 50 minutes
Days Available: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
The paths we walk on in this world can be challenging – full of ups and downs, through beautiful meadows or dark valleys, smooth and easy going or full of potholes but it is always made easier when you travel with someone. Where are you on your path in life?
Reasons to seek out help on your journey:
I have been a wife, a mother of 4 girls, an Oma, an educator, a women’s and children ministry leader, a speaker and a mentor and friend to many young men and women over the years. Now, as a Restoration Coach it would be my privilege to come alongside you in your journey and help you see the hope and beauty God has in store for you. My hope is to work with you to see how God’s Word can speak into all areas of our lives, the good and the bad, using God centered counselling strategies and Biblical truths.
Together we can be more equipped for the road ahead no matter what the path looks like or what we encounter along the way. Every journey has a story, and I would love to hear yours.
I am currently taking the Essentials of Biblical Counselling Certificate with the Christian Counseling Education Foundation (CCEF) and Advocacy/Coercive Control Training with Called to Peace Ministries. I will always be a student, growing in the knowledge concerning counselling and God’s Word.
Session Length: 50 minutes
Days Available: Mondays, Wednesdays, , Thursdays, Fridays
Are you going through a stage in your life where you feel lost, confused, or conflicted? Are you feeling a lack of motivation, or understanding of your true purpose? Maybe you feel stuck in your relationship. Maybe you don’t know who you are or who you’re supposed to be. Maybe you’re feeling disconnected from family, friends, co-workers. And do you know what? That’s okay!
We all need help at one time or another, but some of the harder moments in our lives involve taking the plunge to reach out. Whether it’s a cultural, family or learned belief, many people assume that to need help is to admit failure. Only when we take the chance to fail do we begin to find the keys to understanding, growth and success.
My approach uses a collaboration of coaching techniques aligning with psychological principles that are rooted in Truth. When you come, we’ll work together in three areas:
I have worked with those struggling with:
identity, life-direction, addiction, depression, emotional management, anxiety, marriage/relationship issues, and more – continuing to encounter new and exciting challenges at every turn.
Regardless of who you are, where you’ve come from, or what you want to achieve – I am excited to meet you, to process through your questions and struggles, and make hope a reality!
Session Length: 50 minutes
Days Available: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Hi. My name is Tammy. My husband, Rick and I have been happily married for 20 years as of 2021. In 2014 I made a transition to work with Rick in the financial industry after a fulfilling career as a Lab Technologist in Microbiology for 30 years. We share seven adult children and nine grandkids. My other passions in life are reading, walking, golf and travel.
I have enjoyed being involved in ladies’ ministry, including leading Bible studies for many years and facilitating a local support group called Hurting Moms Mending Hearts, which helps parents of troubled adult children process their circumstances and find hope anew. Throughout these years, I have discovered a passion to come alongside hurting and struggling women. I began learning and studying inner healing and understanding God’s desire to bring restoration to all.
I was privileged to complete Run Free’s Basic Biblical Counsellor Training Course in 2019, followed by the Genesis Process Relapse Prevention training in 2020. Doors opened for volunteering with Streets Alive Ministry and walking with women from the Segue Women’s Home.
It is an honour to help others find their worth and to discover the answers to many of life’s issues by the power of the Holy Spirit. It brings great hope to have the understanding that our Heavenly Father loves us enough to bring healing to our lives.
Let me help you on your journey to find the freedom and breakthrough that we all need. It brings great joy to see people step into the promises of healing and health.