Training Events

Sara Norum is a Registered Psychologist in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologist, a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Alberta College of Social Workers, and a Registered Family Mediator in good standing with the Alberta Family Mediation Society. She has a Doctorate in Psychology from California Southern University. She has a Master of Science in Counselling (Psychology) specializing in Mental Health Therapy, and a Master of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, both from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is a Certified EMDR Therapist, an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Consultant, EMDR Training Facilitator, and a LENS Neurofeedback Provider.

Sara has worked in the field since 1988 with children, youth, adults, couples, and families, all of whom have had complex mental health issues. She has worked in non-profit agencies, government organizations, school settings, and private practice, primarily in and around Calgary. Over the years, Sara has also provided training, workshops, and presentations on a variety of topics. Sara facilitates EMDR Basic Trainings and provides consultation toward certification to EMDR trained therapists. 

Sara sees clients with a variety of backgrounds, including members of Calgary Fire Department and Calgary Police Services, as well as Veterans Affairs and WCB. In addition, Sara provides therapeutic services and consultation for other therapists.

While Sara has advanced clinical training in a variety of modalities, she uses an approach based on EMDR Therapy integrated with LENS Neurofeedback, Parts/Ego State Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Somatic therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy strategies, CBT, Non-Violent Communication (NVC), Imago Therapy strategies, and other trauma-informed modalities as needed.

Dee Dee believes that every individual has the strength to work towards a happy, healthy and balanced life. She knows that no one just ‘gets over’ things but they can be assisted to work through their struggles and traumas. She prides herself on the therapeutic alliance and personal empowerment of individuals through respect, communication, and the acknowledgment that each individual is the author of their own lives.

Dee Dee is a Registered Psychologist with specialized training in working with children. As a registered Play Therapist she finds many ways to connect with younger kids and help them express themselves and find resolution to various issues. She has specialized training is in the area of resolving trauma. As a certified EMDR Therapist Dee Dee helps clients work through and find resolution to significant hurts, abuse and trauma both recent and past. Dee Dee is fluent in American Sign Language and provides counselling with Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. She also provides services through Indigenous Services Canada working with First Nations populations. She holds level two in Gottman Marriage Counselling training as well.

Dee Dee has been married for 37 years and is the mother of two. She enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, reading, connecting with friends and professional development. She has a lifelong commitment to learning. She also likes to travel and enjoys road trips.

Areas of Specialization: Works with children, teens, adults, families, couples, and Indigenous Individuals. With children through play, with teens empowering them to improve their self-esteem, family relationships, enhancing parenting skills, and developing parenting plan, with adults; stress, anger, depression & with couples communication enhancement. She also uses EMDR to support clients in working through their traumas.

At some point we are all challenged by loss, personal growth, change and decisions. And while we are similar in our humanity, we are individual in our history, desires, emotions and thoughts. Seeking professional and confidential counselling services during these times can help you gain clarity and cultivate lasting change.

Clients have said that my gentle, calm and non-judgmental presence helps them to feel safe and cared for through the counselling process.

After completing an ESL (English as a Second Language) diploma and undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Sociology, I began my career in 1998 in a village in north Japan. I lived and taught English for three years in this rural community as the only visible minority. Eventually, I backpacked for a year and then moved to Hong Kong where I continued to teach, travel and earn my teaching degree from The University of Hong Kong. After challenging my comfort zone for almost 10 years overseas, I returned to Canada feeling that I had built some solid personal and professional experiences. When I returned in 2007, I pursued a career in counselling. I completed my M.A. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Victoria as well as a second degree in Psychology and Co-operative Education. With over 25 years’ experience working with people from various countries, with diverse cultural practices and socio-economic back-grounds, I now devote my professional passions to counselling services in Victoria, BC. I also am a counsellor in a school district on Vancouver Island. Counselling can help anyone discover that life difficulties can be worked through or in some cases, accepted as part of a life story.

I believe that there is always a place to begin to heal, learn and grow. When we consider what is within our control (ourselves), we can earnestly cultivate lives that are meaningful. This life satisfaction can then ripple into our significant relationships, community and employment/volunteer.

I draw on person-centred approach, mindfulness, social justice and systems theories in the counselling process.

I also practice EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and organize Basic and Advanced trainings in Victoria, BC. Using this approach, I have witnessed clients benefit from incredible, lasting change.

Sarah is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Rhode Island, with over 10 years clinical experience. She received her Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada.

Sarah has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families in a variety of treatment settings—including residential, community-based, and outpatient.

She practices from an integrative, strengths-based approach that incorporates advanced clinical training in a variety of trauma-informed, evidence-based modalities.

Warmth, open-mindedness, and unconditional positive regard are at the forefront of Sarah’s work. She strives to create a welcoming, supportive space for growth and healing, regardless of where people are on their journey.

Sarah is an EMDR Certified Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. She has advanced training in EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems, Ego State therapy, and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy.

Sarah currently works in a small private practice setting in Portsmouth, Rhode Island with children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples. Although she works with a variety of presenting issues, her special interest areas—which initially led her to EMDR—include women’s issues, sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence.

Sarah is licensed to provide therapy to those residing in the state of Rhode Island.

She provides individual and group consultation services to clinicians across North America who are working toward EMDR certification or looking to build confidence using EMDR with clients.

I have always been guided by my passion for the mental health field, so I am extremely proud to be able to offer services to fellow clinicians through New Perspective Consultation & Supervision. Driven by my desire to help others, I have expanded my practice to include training and guiding other clinicians who are seeking additional education within their profession.

My name is Jacquelyn Kirby, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor with over 15 years in the field. I graduated from Louisiana State University in 2006 with my Bachelor of Science in Psychology and in 2011 with my Master of Science in Counseling Psychology.

I have worked in various settings including an inpatient psychiatric facility, community mental health rehabilitation center, substance abuse clinic, and private practice. The unique opportunities and challenges that each of these settings provided have helped me become a well-rounded and experienced clinician.

Throughout my time in private practice, my knowledge and experience in treating complex trauma and dissociative disorders have grown exponentially. I have a passion for working with clients experiencing these issues utilizing an integration of EMDR Therapy, Somatic Interventions, and Ego State/Parts work. Equal to this passion is my love of guiding clinicians in their work in these areas.

In addition to being a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant, I hold various certifications and have participated in countless hours of post-graduate training which demonstrate my dedication to continually seeking knowledge and furthering my expertise in the field.

When we work together during consultation services, you can feel confident in the fact that you are receiving expertise coming from the years of my mental health background. We will collaborate through every step of the process, which will ensure that our efforts together come from a shared passion for EMDR and all that it entails.

I’m constantly inspired by my clients’ courage and positive intention for change and personal growth. In my sessions and my work with EMDR Trainees, I strive to be non-judgemental, empathic, and respectful; fully dedicated to providing a safe and trusting space. A strong therapeutic relationship is based on collaboration and the ability to capitalize on strengths – these are key components I use to support lasting changes.

In my Therapy, I use several modalities such as EMDR, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Attachment, and Mindfulness in order to support clients to cultivate meaningful connections in their individual lives and interpersonal relationships.

I am also a registered facilitator for a program called “Circle of Security – Parenting™” (COS-P). COS-P is a well-researched program designed to strengthen attachment security between parents and children. Through this interactive, engaging, and reflective program, parents discover how to read and respond to their child’s emotional cues, successfully organize their child’s feelings, enhance the development of the child’s self-esteem, and more! I offer both individual and group sessions to parents and caregivers of children from birth through 6 years old.

Upon achieving my Master’s Degree from Yorkville University in Ontario, I had the opportunity to work with an amazing set of children on the Autism Spectrum. Over the years I have expanded my client base and now regularly provide counselling services to individuals (teens and adults), couples, and families.

I am inspired by clients’ resilience, positive intentionality, and dedication to growth. I believe that together we achieve a greater sense of well-being in their unique journey.

Frances (she/her) is a Marriage and Family Therapy Associate who earned a Bachelor of Arts
in Psychology and Sociology from Bellarmine University, and Master’s degrees from the University of Louisville—an MA in Bioethics and Medical Humanities, an MS in Social Work, and an MS in Couple and Family Therapy. Frances lives and practices in Kentucky with Northstar Counseling Center.

Frances completed EMDR training with Sue Genest in early 2022 and has since seen amazing benefits with integrating EMDR into her practice, using techniques and theory from EMDR training with every client, and reprocessing with many. Frances is working towards EMDR certification in consultation with Michelle Gay. Frances uses EMDR along with other evidence-based therapies and theories, including attachment theory, Narrative Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, and Internal Family Systems, taking an integrative approach to finding the unique way to best support each client.

Frances believes that different areas of wellness are connected, and that our wellness is deeply connected to our contexts—our relationships, families, communities, and cultures—bringing an intersectional feminist and anti-oppressive lens to exploring these influences. She takes a collaborative approach, trusting the expertise that each person holds about their own experiences, and working with clients to identify goals, strengths, barriers. Frances works to create a safe space for clients with flexibility, respect, empathy, humor, and curiosity.

Before graduate school, Frances worked as a preschool teacher and at an art studio for adults with developmental disabilities. She gained further experience working with youth in a residential facility, and in a psychiatric hospital supporting people of all ages facing many different mental health issues.