*** Not accepting new clients ***

Laura Friesen holds a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta and is a Registered Psychologist in Alberta and Northwest Territories. She has over a decade of formal training in psychology and has worked in a variety of settings including inpatient hospital units, an outpatient hospital clinic, and a community clinic. Laura uses a variety of approaches in her work including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Schema Therapy (ST).

*LAURA PROVIDES SERVICES VIRTUALLY ONLY*

Coming for counselling may be unfamiliar. A lot of us are more used to talking to someone we know about what is bothering us. Sometimes it can be helpful talking to someone you don’t know, who has special training in the areas in which you might feel stuck. I realize that the first time we meet, we’ll be strangers. With this in mind, I work to build a trustworthy space for you, knowing that trust is something that is earned over time. In your work with me, you can expect a collaborative, straight-forward approach. I often use humour when it fits, while also respectfully attending to serious topics.  

I take a whole person approach. A professional term often used to talk about the different parts of being human is “bio-psycho-social-spiritual.” What this boils down to is this:  

  • BIO: your physical body, medical history, brain, and nervous system, etc. 

  • PSYCHO: thoughts, feelings, emotions, motivations, behaviours, etc. 

  • SOCIAL: interpersonal, family, context, background, relationships, etc. 

  • SPIRITUAL: faith, religion, spirituality, purpose, meaning, etc. 

All our experiences and parts of who we are can create blueprints for how we view the world, what we come to expect, and how we respond to situations in our lives. In my work with clients, I use evidence-based approaches in an integrated way so that your therapy ends up being uniquely designed for you. I partner with my clients to make sense of difficult thoughts, emotions, feelings, physical sensations, and behaviours.  

Sometimes I liken therapy to dumping a box of loose jigsaw puzzle pieces onto a table. A lot of the pieces end up on top of each other in a pile. Some of them fall on the floor. Some are face up, some are face down. It may feel overwhelming to look at the puzzle pieces. How are you supposed to figure out how to put them together? Sometimes, we don’t even have the box anymore, so we don’t remember what the whole picture is supposed to look like. Life can feel like a big puzzle sometimes. My job is to help you with the puzzle. 

I work with a variety of concerns including working with post-traumatic stress disorder (and other forms of trauma), anxiety, depression, relationship problems, boundaries, emotion regulation, grief, and more.  

Specialized Training:  

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) through EMDRIA 

Special Groups/Areas 

  • Rural and remote individuals 

  • Police, Veterans, and their family members 

  • I complete Veteran Affairs Canada Medical Questionnaires and Rehab Assessments 

  • Other First Responders and support staff (i.e., watch clerks, dispatchers, etc.) 

  • Christians/Faith   

I am currently accepting adult clients on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as some Saturday mornings. I am a REMOTE-ONLY THERAPIST and see clients through a secure version of Zoom or via telephone. My fees are consistent with the recommendations of the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta.  

Please feel free to contact me at (587) 599 5649 for a free 15-minute consultation. You can also email me at laura.crmh@gmail.com. I try to respond to messages within two business days. My Alberta license and jurisdictional agreements allow me to work only with clients physically located in Alberta, Yukon, Nunavut, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. I can also provide services to those living in the Northwest Territories.

~ Laura