Break free from anxiety, burnout, and perfectionism with focused therapy that gets to the point. Therapy gives you permission to stop surviving and start actually living. You start recognizing the signs of overwhelm before they knock you flat. You learn to say “no” without guilt and rest without shame. You stop overanalyzing every mistake and start trusting your own voice. You still care deeply—but now you know how to care for yourself, too.

Background

I specialize in helping high-achieving women and couples untangle from anxiety, burnout, and perfectionism so they can stop running on fumes and start showing up for their actual lives. I bring a calm presence, a strategic mindset, and a deep respect for your story—and I always come to session ready to work alongside you. I’ve been working in mental health since 2011 and have been in private practice since 2022, blending CBT, ACT, and EMDR to support real, sustainable change. I’m a bit of a puzzle-solver at heart—I love connecting dots, noticing patterns, and helping clients shift from stuck to empowered.

Your therapeutic experience with me

I’m not the kind of therapist who just nods and says “hmm.” I show up ready to work—with tools, strategies, and a clear plan to help you feel less overwhelmed and more in control. I bring a calm presence, a strategic mindset, and a deep respect for your story—and I always come to session ready to work alongside you. Clients often tell me they feel calmer just by showing up. I’m not fazed by big emotions—whether you’re holding back tears or firing off F-bombs, I’m here for it. I’m known for listening closely, remembering the details, and helping people make connections they hadn’t seen before. Sessions with me aren’t just a place to vent—they’re a space to grow and change.

Areas of expertise

These represent my core areas of expertise, backed by specialized training and extensive clinical experience.

Anxiety

Burnout

Perfectionsim

Depression

Relationship Issues

Chronic Illness

I also provide skilled support in these additional areas and welcome clients seeking help with these concerns.

EMDR

Couple Relationship

Emotional Regulation

Self Esteem

Personal Growth

Grief & Loss

Chronic Pain

Therapeutic approaches

These are my primary therapeutic approaches, backed by specialized training and extensive clinical experience.

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps you change your relationship with your thinking. You won't have to 'get rid' of certain thoughts, but instead learn how to lessen the impact these thoughts have on you. You will also get to learn more about your value system and finding ways to do more of what matters to you. You can expect to learn new knowledge and skills, practice experiential exercises in session and between sessions, and reflect on the meaning you make of life.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, usually called CBT, is a classic approach to mental health. It involves understanding more about our thinking style and learning specific skills to change or challenge our automatic thoughts. You will also get to focus on the behavioural component by setting goals to help you achieve the life you want to be living. You can expect to learn new information about how we think, take active steps on goals to address your reason for coming to counselling, and start feeling better as we change your core beliefs and behaviour patterns.

EMDR

If you have ever had something that you 'know' shouldn't bother you anymore....and yet somehow it does....EMDR can be a great treatment approach. Diving a little deeper into your history, EMDR takes a phased approach to treatment to understand long-standing thoughts, memories, beliefs about yourself, and internalized body sensations to help you heal from old wounds. You can expect to take a deep look at potential sources of trauma and challenge in your life, develop resources for emotional regulation, and begin processing work to help release the stuck points you are experiencing and move towards greater, deeper healing.

Emotionally Focused Therapy

Emotion Focused Therapy highlights our emotions as a critical part of who we are. I use this approach as a primary modality when working with couples, but also individually. You can expect to have a greater understanding of your attachment history, learning more about expressing your emotions and hearing the emotions of others, and healing from the hurts that can arise in relationships or elsewhere in our lives. You can expect the chance to really feel heard and seen in these sessions, a chance to really dive deep into your emotions, feel validated, and understand more about how your emotions impact how you respond to the world around you.

I also incorporate these evidence-based approaches when clinically appropriate:

Mindfulness

Cognitive Processing Therapy

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Strength-based Approach

Solution-focused Therapy

Client communities & cultural expertise

These are the client communities and cultural backgrounds I have specialized experience supporting.

Client populations I serve

Adults

Racialized And Ethnic Minorities

Chronically Ill People

Disabled People

2SLGBTQIA Community

Cultural expertise

Indigenous Community

Professional credentials

Registered Psychologist
- No.4716

College of Alberta Psychologists

Educational background

Master of Counselling

University of Calgary, Canada

Specialized training

EMDR for Complex Trauma

EMDR Cleveland

EMDR Basic Taining

Life Journeys Counselling (EMDRIA Approved)

ACT for Perfectionism and People Pleasin

Russ Harris - Psychwire

ACT for Depression and Anxiety

Russ Harris - PsychWire

Gottman Levels 1 and 2

Gottman Institute

Practice locations & services

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FAQ

What do I need for a virtual session?

You can use a computer/laptop, a smart phone or a tablet. Sessions are completed online through the Jane system. It is recommended to use Google Chrome when logging into Jane, but please experiment to see what is best for you! I suggest testing your connection and log in about 10 minutes before the first session to make sure you can get connected and to give a chance to troubleshoot before the session.

Do you take insurance?

Psychology sessions can be billable under your extended health plan. Some providers allow for direct billing, and some don't. Currently, I can direct bill to: Alberta Blue Cross, Beneva, Canada Life, Desjardins, First Canadian, Industrial Alliance, Johnson Group, Manulife, Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB), RWAM Insurance and Union Benefits. If your plan does not allow for direct billing, I will provide a receipt to submit to your provider for reimbursement.

How do I make the most of sessions?

You will need a quiet and private space with minimized interruptions. Having a secure and reliable internet or phone connection is required. Having a notebook or notes app handy will help you jot down key ideas that stand out for your in our time together. Taking a couple of minutes after the session to write down any take aways or reflections can be helpful at reinforcing the main thoughts and feelings that came up for you, and help you use the ideas from therapy throughout the coming days.

What can I expect in the first meeting.

The first session is pretty structured. I will review informed consent and confidentiality with you, and answer any questions you have about therapy in general. We will review your history - reason for coming to counselling right now, relevant life history, and any other information you want me to know about you. From there, we will begin setting goals for our work together, including thinking about the type of counselling approach we might use and the skills that can help you get better.

Did you know?

I am passionate about animal welfare. When I am not helping people I am helping foster mother cats and kittens.

Like most Calgarians, I love escaping to the mountains from time to time. I love the fresh air and the quiet places along the trails.

Kate MacDonald