Kim John Payne. M.Ed
Clinical Counselor,  Author, and International Speaker

Kim John Payne has been quietly and passionately working to help tens of thousands of people give voice to the feeling that something is not okay about the new normal of overwhelm that so many people are now experiencing. He offers do-able ways to realize the hopes and values we all have for ourselves, and build deep connections with our children that gives families resiliency and simple joy.

A consultant and trainer to over 230 U.S. independent and public schools, Kim John Payne, M.ED, has been a school counselor, adult educator, consultant, researcher, educator and a private family counselor for twenty seven years. He regularly gives key-note addresses at international conferences for educators, parents, and therapists and runs workshops and trainings around the world. In each role, he has been helping children, adolescents and families explore issues such as social difficulties with siblings and classmates, attention and behavioral issues at home and school, emotional issues such as defiance, aggression, addiction and self-esteem and the vital role living a balanced simple life brings.

He has also consulted for educational associations in South Africa, Hungary, Israel, Russia, Switzerland, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, Thailand and China. Kim has worked extensively with the North American and UK Waldorf educational movements. He has served as Director of the Collaborative Counseling program at Antioch University New England. He is the Director of the Simplicity Project a multi media social network that explores what really connects and disconnects us to ourselves and to the world. Together with his team they have trained around 1000 Simplicity Parenting Coaches around the world. Kim is the Founding Director of The Center for Social Sustainability, an organization that has trained thousands of teachers, parents and students in the Three Stream Process that gives social, emotional and behavioral support to children who struggle in the school environment.

In addition to authoring the #1 Best Seller Simplicity Parenting© . Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier and More Secure Kid, published by Random House Penguin in 2009, he also authored The Games Children Play©, (1996) published by Hawthorn Press ,The Soul of Discipline (2015 Random House/Penguin), co-authored Whole Child Sport™ How to Navigate Child & Youth Sports™. and Being At Your best When Your Kids Are At Their Worst (Shambhala Press 2017). His books have been translated into 27 languages.

He has appeared frequently on television including ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox; on radio with the BBC, Sirius/XM, CBC & NPR and in print including being featured in Time Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Parenting, Mothering, Times Union and the LA Times.

Kim strives to deepen understanding and give practical tools for life that arise out of the burning social issues of our time. He lives on a farm in Ashfield, Massachusetts with his wife and two children.

Jessica Joelle Alexander
International Author, Speaker, and Parenting Expert

 Jessica is a bestselling author, Danish parenting expert, journalist, speaker, and cultural ​researcher. Her work has been featured in TIM, Salon, The Atlantic, The Wall Street  Journal, NY Times, ​Vanity Fair, NPR, Huffington Post, and many more. She collaborated with BBC World News and acts as a spokesperson for LEGO on the Power of Play. Jessica speaks four languages and lives with her Danish husband and two children in Europe.​

Her best-selling book: The Danish Way of Parenting is an A revealing and fresh take on cross-cultural parenting advice, The Danish Way of Parenting will help parents from all walks of life raise the happiest, most well-adjusted kids in the world.

Cierra Chmiliar

Registered Provisional Psychologist

Cierra  is a Provisional Psychologist who practices out of Family Counselling Centres in Leduc. She primarily works with children, teens, and families, specializing in play therapy and equine-assisted counselling. Cierra works from a client-centered approach, and believes a non-judgmental relationship between the client and therapist is crucial for change. She works collaboratively with her clients to help them gain awareness and insight, so they can build and draw upon their own internal resources. To this effect, she uses a wide range of modalities, including person-centered, play therapy, sandtray, trauma therapy (EMDR), equine-assisted therapy, art, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Cierra also has experience working within the school system, working primarily with children with developmental disorders and their families.

Cierra works from a client-centered approach, and believes a non-judgmental relationship between the client and therapist is crucial for change. She works collaboratively with her clients to help them gain awareness and insight, so they can build and draw upon their own internal resources.

To this effect, she uses a wide range of modalities, including person-centered, play therapy, sandtray, trauma therapy (EMDR), equine-assisted therapy, art, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Cierra also has experience working within the school system, working primarily with children with developmental disorders and their families.

Morgan Bissegger

In 2012, I began my Masters in Counselling Psychology at City University of Seattle. While completing this degree, I also worked in a school setting supporting complex mental health in the classroom. Through this work I continued to witness the importance of relationships in the developmental process. In 2015, I completed my graduated degree and began work as a Child and Adolescent therapist at the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE), and also began a small private practice. I still hold both positions today and value you the rich learning and experience they provide me. I work primarily from an attachment perspective and believe that relationship is an essential component of healing. I help my clients to develop a sense of safety in relationship in order to create an environment in which they can process their experiences. I also support parents in understanding the impacts of trauma and developing strategies in supporting their children at home.

I feel privileged to continually have the opportunity to learn from the children, youth and families that I work with. I strive to work collaboratively with my clients so that I may learn about their unique experiences and support them on their path towards growth and healing.

Tammy Auten-Dye

Registered Psychologist

Samantha Dover

Mental Health Therapist; Grief Recovery Specialist 

Samantha  is a Mental Health Therapist/ Clinical Intern at both Family Counselling Centres in Leduc and The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre in Edmonton. Although she is currently finishing her Master of Counselling Degree, she brings with her extensive background knowledge regarding grief and trauma in children as the previous Director of Community Education and Engagement for the Zebra Child Protection Centre. In this role, Sam worked one on one supporting children and their family members who were facing the effects of abuse. In addition, she developed new means of teaching others about the effects of grief and loss and how best to support children and youth. Sam is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist® and now focuses much of her clinical practice on helping those who have suffered from loss or trauma.

Sam has presented in multiple international conferences and has been interviewed for numerous media outlets. She continues to be inspired by the brave individuals she works with and looks forward to sharing her stories and insights with you.

Dariel Cole

Christine Crocker

Registered Psychologist

Christine Crocker is a Registered Psychologist who has been providing services to families, couples and individuals since 2007, both in private practice and for agencies.  Christine has a Masters in Science in Marital and Family Therapy through Loma Linda University and a Bachelor of Science Specialization awarded from the University of Alberta.  She has walked the journey with children, youth and families through the process of divorce, to help navigate the many life changes this transition brings. She has supported families with blended family obstacles and also understands these transitions personally as a step-parent in a blended family.  

Jacquie Ganton

Teacher, Educator, and Speaker

I am both an educator and a mother of 4.  After completing a college diploma in Natural Resources and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sciences, I graduated from the University of Alberta in 2007 with my Bachelor of Education After-Degree.  I began teaching in the traditional classroom but shortly after travelled overseas to teach in South Korea. Upon my return, I started a position in a High School Outreach, a more alternative school setting offering courses for students working independently.  Over the next 8 years I would continue to teach both in the traditional classroom setting as well as in Distance Education.  I also run a small business providing equine instruction and coaching.  More recently, I am the founder of the Youth Launch Initiative, a company developed to provide support, resources and education to parents of students and young adults.

Simon Bennett

Founder/ Partner of Archetype Fitness.

Fitness Expert, Educator and Author

Simon is characterized by his energy, enthusiasm and passion for fitness and sport. He lives by the motto “your attitude in life determines your quality of life.” Simon is a prominent expert in the field of personal fitness and high performance conditioning. He has changed the lives of countless clients with his relentless commitment to training and education. He works and consults with a long list of high profile business leaders, CEOs and professional athletes. Simon is also a fitness educator and author. He has presented such topics as athletic conditioning, functional movement training and peak performance — to sports teams, professional organizations and fitness trainers. Simon is a contributing author and consultant to the Canadian bestseller book and video Young as You Look.

Sheldon Franken

Educator and School Counsellor

Sheldon Franken, B.Ed., M.A, (Counselling Psychology), is the founder of Inquiry Adventures, and is a school counsellor and former classroom teacher, physical educator, and outdoor education specialist for youth-at-risk, and community engagement. More about Sheldon here-> https://inquiryadventures.ca

Emily Mardell 

Registered Dietitian, Expert in Family Nutrition, and Founder of GetJoyfull—a movement that celebrates local producers, and empowers families to connect with the food on their tables. 

Emily studied biochemistry and neuroscience at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and later harnessed her passion for food and nutrition into a dynamic private practice. As a spokesperson for Dietitians of Canada, and Performance Dietitian for FC Edmonton she translates evidence-based nutritional science into nourishing plans for everyday eating.

This food-loving Mama of three, Emily is dedicated to creating kid-friendly recipes and resources that empower family nutrition and bring joy to mealtime. Follow Emily’s GetJoyfull adventure at www.getjoyfull.com, and be inspired to fill up on family time.

Janine Groeneveld

Registered Psychologist