Kim John Payne

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 training’s 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.

Morgan Bissegger

Registered Psychologist

Over the course of my journey to becoming a Registered Psychologist I have had the opportunity to support children, youth, and families in residential, school, and therapeutic settings.

I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of the Fraser Valley, in British Columbia in 2010. During this time, I also worked in residential care settings with children and youth who had experienced significant trauma and presented with complex mental health challenges. Through a process of seeking support and guidance to best support these individuals I began to learn about attachment theory and the impacts of trauma on development. This knowledge now serves as my foundation.

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.

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.

Erin Newman

Registered Provisional Psychologist, Ph.D Candidate

I am a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and a member of the Psychologist Association of Alberta. I have a Bachelors of Psychology degree from MacEwan University and a Masters of Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta.

I began my career treating at-risk youth with complex trauma and mental health needs at a residential treatment facility. It was here that my passion for child and youth mental health and wellbeing arose. Since that time, I work in both private practice and for the public health sector, working primarily with children, youth, and their families.

My practice is grounded in attachment theory, and I firmly believe that relationships form the basis for development. I also believe that children and youth require skills in mental health taught and demonstrated to them by supportive adults, in order to help them manage this increasingly complex world. Thus, I am privileged and pleased to provide instruction on how to support child and youth mental health, to provide individual treatment and support directly to children and youth, and to provide consultation and support to parents and teachers.

Jocelyn Nand

Registered Provisional Psychologist

Jocelyn Nand is a Registered Provisional Psychologist in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She is the director of Family Counselling Centres in Edmonton, Alberta. Jocelyn engages in a counselling relationship with children as well as adults. She has completed her play therapy training through the Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT) and is a director on the board of directors with the CAPT. Jocelyn provides a counselling practice that is informed by trauma, grief and loss and attachment-based models and has taken numerous trainings in these topics. She has also completed training in filial play therapy practices like the Child Parent Relationship Therapy model and the Theraplay model. She is passionate about her work with children and believes in the importance of establishing resiliency and healthy coping skills. She utilizes a strengths-focused approach and explores the individual’s relationship with self and others. She believes that preventive mental health initiatives are vital for all children regardless of their unique experiences, strengths and struggles. She views Play Therapy as an age appropriate and evidence-based practice. She understands that counselling is not a “one size fits all” approach and integrates animal assisted Play Therapy as well as other expressive arts practices. 

Sarah Hopkins

Registered Provisional Psychologist

Sarah is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and a member of the Psychologist Association of Alberta. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of Alberta, and a Masters of Counselling degree from Athabasca University. She has completed the first level of Play Therapy training from Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute and will be working towards registration as a Play Therapist. She also has additional training in Theraplay.

She began her career as a Family Support Worker, supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in their homes and community. She has also worked with children and youth with learning disabilities in both the Edmonton Public school system, and Post Secondary environments.

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

Registered Psychologist

I have been working with individuals, children and families with a variety of educational and mental health needs for the last 10 years. My work experience has allowed me to have diverse opportunities in supporting people with diverse needs. I am currently a Registered Psychologist in the Province of Alberta. My work experience opportunities have included working in child protection, not for profit agencies, schools, clinics and hospitals.

I obtained my undergraduate degree with a major in Psychology from the University of Alberta in 2008 at which time I added a year of cooperative work experience to my degree so that I could have practical time working with children and families as a Behavior Interventionist. In between my educational endeavors I had the opportunity to volunteer and work with the Zebra Child Protection Centre where I gained a wealth of experience in child advocacy and court preparation and also supported children and families. I went on to complete my Masters of Counselling with City University of Seattle in 2012. For my Master’s level practicum I had the opportunity to work in the Stollery Children’s hospital in Pediatric Oncology providing therapeutic supports and assisting with neuropsychological assessments. Following my graduation and practicum I helped to co-develop a program supported in the Not For Profit Sector assisting children and families with pediatric cancer with reintegrating into the community.
I am passionate about the field of psychology and enjoy supporting clients in many ways. I like to help clients using several modalities including humanistic theoretical foundations, cognitive behavioural strategies, positive psychology influences and mindfulness practices. I am continually interested in learning about new resources and strategies and have completed the Mindfulness Schools Fundamentals Training. Furthermore, I  have been trained to use SandPlay Therapy which is based in Jungian psychology  and Kalffian theory and has beneficial applications for all ages. In addition to a thirst for learning; I am always adding to my pile of reading materials.

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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.

Jennifer Daines

Registered Psychologist

I believe people are wired for resiliency and personal growth. Through the Institute of Child Psychology, I am able to connect parents, caregivers and professionals with access to resources and information in order to promote wellness and build healthy relationships. Taking a strength-based approach that everyone is doing their best, I work to build on existing resources, challenge limiting beliefs and foster new perspectives. In private practice, I work with children, adolescents, adults and families.

Certification and Training Includes: Registered Psychologist, Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, Play Therapy training and ongoing training for Hakomi: A mindfulness-Centred Somatic Psychotherapy

Sue McIntosh

Certified Canadian Counsellor; Healing Hooves Founder

Sue McIntosh founded Healing Hooves, an Animal Assisted Therapy program in Alberta, twenty years ago. Sue is a certified Canadian counsellor with an MA in counselling and additional training and certification in attachment, trauma therapy, animal assisted therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy. She is a certified practitioner and consultant with the Neufeld Institute and a certified equine coach and trainer. Sue specializes in working with families, including adopted and foster children, and with individuals who have experienced trauma. Sue works with clients from an attachment framework and foundation which is grounded in the work of Dr. Gordon Neufeld, a Canadian developmental psychologist, author and educator. 

This is an insight-based approach which seeks to understand and address the underlying causes of struggles a client may be experiencing, rather than to simply address presenting problem behaviours and symptoms. Sue has a passion for training and supporting other professionals developing careers and programs in the Animal Assisted and Equine Facilitated Wellness fields and is a certified trainer, mentor and practitioner with EFW Canada – the national certification body for EFW in Canada. Sue has also written and published a series of therapeutic stories for children featuring the animals of Healing Hooves and exploring themes such as grief and loss, relationship conflict, and emotional expression.

Free resources for parents, educators, mental health professionals and anyone interested in the human animal bond, including free downloads of some of Sue’s children’s books, can be found on her website and Facebook page:

• Website: https://healinghooves.ca | http://www.equinefacilitatedwellness.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healinghoovescanada/
• Email: sue@healinghooves.ca