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“People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering” – St. Augustine

I welcome the opportunity and privilege to walk with people through their journey of healing and growth. I believe that there is a time in our life where reaching out is the hardest but bravest step. In building a safe and trusting relationship with my clients, it allows them to take this step with confidence.

I am currently a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. I have a specific interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), but believe in an integrative approach, as each client is unique. I believe that in spite of difficult thoughts, feelings, and emotions, people deserve to and can live a full and meaningful life.

“People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long co... Read More

Melissa is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who has always been fascinated by the behavioral sciences. From a very young age, her dream has been to work in mental health, wanting to help others through their struggles.

Melissa believes that creating change does not have to fit into a one-size fits all approach. Instead, she believes that change is created when each individual and their personal experiences are at the heart of the therapeutic process.

Using a trauma focused lens, Melissa facilitates sessions with compassion, optimism, humour, and honesty. She believes that by exploring attachment, behavioural patterns and parts of self, a person can begin to understand themselves on a deeper level, allowing for healing to begin at the roots.

Melissa works primarily with adults and youth (ages 12 and up) who struggle with processing difficult life experiences, present with depressive or anxious symptoms, or who struggle to overcome past traumas. She has additional training in many modalities including CBT, TF-CBT, EMDR, Hypnotherapy, and many other interventions.

Melissa peut aussi offrir des services en français!

Melissa is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who has always been fascinated by the behavioral... Read More

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Laura Grams MSc, RD

Laura is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for supporting new Moms (prenatal and postpartum), children and families. As a new Mom herself, she is aware of the joys, challenges & messes that come with feeding a child. With that experience, Laura is committed to help families create a healthy foundation with food. She will strive to help you and your family nurture a positive, lifelong relationship with food.

Growing up on a farm near Edmonton planted the seeds for Laura to be interested in food. It was the ability to see food farm to fork that excited her. She studied nutrition at the University of Alberta with the purpose to not prescribe diets, or restriction, but to help people build a positive, and joy-filled relationship with food and their body. Her passion for prenatal nutrition, led her to complete a Master’s in Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Alberta, with her thesis focusing on counselling techniques to best support pregnant women. Following her Masters, Laura worked for 6.5 years at a Primary Care Network, providing care to clients across the lifespan. Laura’s practice is guided on principles of Intuitive Eating, Health at Every Size, and Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility.

Laura is committed to helping you find practical, delicious and sustainable ways to make simple changes. She enjoys translating the science into practical tips you can use in your life. Laura practices in a kind and compassionate way, meeting her patients wherever they are at.

Helping parents raise a future generation of adventurous and intuitive eaters is what excites her most about being a Registered Dietitian!

Clients Served:

Laura’s nutrition practice specializes in family nutrition:

Prenatal/Pregnancy New Mom’s/Postpartum Infant Feeding/Starting Solids Toddlers, Children & Youth Families Whether you are looking for ideas to nourish yourself in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, planning for meals postpartum, have low iron in pregnancy; or perhaps you have a child with a food allergy, low iron, constipation, growth concerns, or picky eating tendencies - Laura would be happy to help. As new parents have many scheduling demands, Laura welcomes you to bring your baby or child to the appointment.

In addition to family nutrition, Laura is seeing clients of any age for a variety of reasons, including:

Anemia/Low Iron Digestive Health (Celiac, Constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, GERD) Emotional Eating Fatty Liver General Healthy Eating Healthy Food Relationship Heart Health (Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Blood Pressure etc.) Fertility Food Allergies & Sensitivities Meal Planning Osteoporosis Pre-Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes Vegetarian or Vegan Laura sees clients in clinic at our Spruce Grove location, or virtually (video or phone) to any Alberta resident. Most health insurance plans cover Registered Dietitian visits, and direct billing is available.

Fun Facts about Laura

Since Laura is a foodie at heart, in a free time she enjoys checking out new coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants! You will also find her cherishing time with her family, walking her dog, curling, cross-country skiing, gardening, or baking. Laura’s happy place is Vancouver Island, at the ocean!

Laura Grams MSc, RD Laura is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for supporting new Moms (pren... Read More

The nature of human existence is that no matter how hard one endeavours to avoid difficulties, everyone will experience challenging times, thoughts, feelings, emotions and pain. Through this reality, I feel that people can embrace their inner wisdom and cultivate the life they hope to live despite the broad range of human emotions we must all navigate. By identifying one’s inner strengths to engage in life meaningfully, people can experience a more intentional and richer existence, fulfilling their innate desire to live their best life even when they face hardships.

The nature of human existence is that no matter how hard one endeavours to avoid difficulties, ev... Read More

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I am a mental health intern therapist, currently completing clinical training for my Master of Counselling.

My passion for this work comes from my own journey of healing. Counselling gave me a space where I felt seen, supported, and safe to grow. In that process, I discovered a deeper strength within myself—one that continues to help me find hope and wholeness in my life. I hope to offer the same kind of care to others as they navigate their own path forward.

I view every client as an expert on their own lives, and I consider it a privilege to be invited to walk alongside each person– offering a safe space to explore challenges, discover and grow their strengths, and move toward goals that are meaningful for them.

I am currently practicing under the supervision of a licensed clinician and am committed to providing compassionate, ethical, and culturally sensitive care to every client I serve.

Together, we can explore topics such as: * Anxiety * Depression * Anger * Grief and Loss * Self-esteem * Family Challenges * Relationships and Conflict * Emotional Regulation * ADHD/ASD * Stress management * Life transitions

My approach is collaborative, strengths-based and client-centered. I draw from Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). As an intern, I am committed to continually growing in my therapeutic skills and modalities to provide the most effective, client-centered care possible.

I am a mental health intern therapist, currently completing clinical training for my Master of Co... Read More

I am excited to join the Family Life Psychology assessment team! I have been completing psychoeducational assessments for over 10 years, both in schools and in private practice, and with individuals of all ages. I love using standardized assessment tools to learn more about each individual’s learning and emotional/behavioural profile, and getting to know each client in our assessment sessions. I believe in making evidence-based recommendations to support each individual’s learning needs, but I am also focused on practical strategies to make everyday life a little easier.

I am excited to join the Family Life Psychology assessment team! I have been completing psychoedu... Read More

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I am passionate about being able to provide a safe, inclusive and non-judgemental space for clients to have their stories heard and therapeutic journey supported in order to become their authentic selves. The opportunity to walk alongside client’s journeys is a true privilege and I view life and counselling with the perspective that many events, thoughts, feelings and behaviours contribute to who we are and how we interact within the world. By providing clients with unconditional positive regard, empathy, trust and warmth, we can form a therapeutic alliance and collaboratively work together to explore challenges that may arise, rediscover strengths, release potential and work towards positive change and growth. I look forward to meeting you and learning more about your unique story! I have experience working with children and adolescence with complex mental health needs and developmental disabilities for several years within educational and community settings. Additionally, I have experience facilitating social skills groups for children, adolescents and whole classrooms. Furthermore, I also have experience conducting psychoeducational assessments.

I believe in an integrative approach to counselling as each client is unique. My first priority in session is creating a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship with each client and getting to know them and their unique journey. From there, in practice, I am client-centered and collaborative, utilizing a variety of techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Therapy and Mindfulness in order to best meet the needs of my clients. It is inevitable that difficult situations, thoughts and emotions may arise in life, however, when we learn to process and accept these parts of our stories, we can live a full and meaningful life. I am a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and I have also received additional training in CBT, Play Therapy techniques, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Level 1 and 2, Somatic Approach to trauma and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI).

I am passionate about being able to provide a safe, inclusive and non-judgemental space for clien... Read More

Please note, Joel Pukalo is not currently accepting new clients.

Joel and his wife Andrea are registered psychologists and founders of Family Life Psychology. Joel has experience working in schools and in private practice supporting families, children, and teens with their social, emotional, behavioral, and educational needs.

Joel’s passion is to help families (couples, families, and children) develop the skills and strategies to grow more connected and resilient. His approach to counseling is collaborative, strength-based, and connection focused. As a parent of two beautiful girls, Joel believes the goal of a cohesive family is to empower each family member with the tools and strategies to regulate emotions, solve problems, prioritize the needs of others, think from multiple perspectives, and manage conflict in ways that develop deeper relational connections. Whether a family is seeking support for emotional/behaviors difficulties, strategies for managing ADHD or other medical diagnoses, or interpersonal conflict between siblings, parent-sibling, or parent-parent, Joel’s approach provides families with practical strategies that empower family members to work collaboratively with each other to address day-to-day issues in a way that maximizes relationship and challenges each individual to grow into a self-governing responsible decision-maker.

Please note, Joel Pukalo is not currently accepting new clients. Joel and his wife Andrea are re... Read More

My grief journey began in 2013 after the death of my only sister and best friend, following a traumatic brain injury from a car accident. The impact of this loss was profound, eliciting a level of pain and grief that was completely unfamiliar to me. For a long time, I struggled—not only with the pain of losing her but with the pressure to “move on.” Over time, I came to understand that grief doesn’t have a timeline, and that healing looks different for everyone.

This experience led me to pursue a deeper understanding of psychology in 2018. While completing my master’s degree, I experienced further loss with the deaths of my grandmother and my son’s father. Each experience of grief was unique, and it was through both lived experience and clinical knowledge that I found the strength to keep going. I’ve learned that we don’t get over the death of a loved one—but we can grow around our grief and find meaning again.

Since 2022, I’ve co-facilitated grief support groups and continue to value the healing that can come from compassionate connection. In addition to supporting those who are grieving, I’ve worked with high-risk youth in government care, and with adults and seniors navigating a range of challenges including complex trauma, intergenerational trauma, childhood abuse and neglect, sexual trauma, anxiety, depression, relational struggles, and attachment wounds.

My approach is holistic and rooted in the belief that our life experiences shape who we are. I draw from a range of therapeutic models including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotion-Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), mindfulness, and person-centered therapy. I also incorporate somatic experiencing (SE) and polyvagal techniques to support nervous system regulation. I believe that every individual has the capacity for growth and reaching their highest potential and that, often, it is through some of our greatest struggles that we can realize our greatest strengths. Most importantly, I believe in building a safe, collaborative space where clients feel heard and empowered to grow in their own way.

Adolescents (12+), adults, and older adults

Grief & Loss

PTSD & CPTSD

Interpersonal Relationship Challenges

ADHD

Addiction

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Anger Management

Anxiety

Burnout

Childhood Trauma, Abuse, and Neglect

Conflict Resolution

Death of a Child

Death of a Loved One

Death of a Pet

Death of Sibling

Death of Spouse

Depression

Disenfranchised Grief

Divorce and Separation

Emotional Abuse

Emotional Regulation

Faith-Based

Intergenerational and Historical Trauma

Interpersonal Communication

Life Transitions

Losing Someone to Suicide

Motor Vehicle Accident Trauma

Post-Traumatic Growth

Self-Esteem

Social Anxiety

Spirituality/Religion

Stress

Substance Use Disorders

Suicide Ideation & Self Harm

Traumatic Grief

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (with Distinction), Athabasca University

Master of Counselling, City University of Seattle

Additional Training and Certifications

Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy (PESI)

ACT for Behavioral Addictions: A Shame-Free Approach for Helping Clients Understand Their Triggers, Break Compulsive Patterns, and Embrace Pain with Purpose (PESI)

Trauma-Sensitive Movement: Somatic Techniques to Support the Nervous System (PESI)

Mindfulness and Interpersonal Neurobiology in Clinical Practice (PESI)

EMDR & Parts Work for Treating Complex Trauma: Somatic Techniques to Decrease Defensiveness and Facilitate Trauma Processing (PESI)

Transforming Trauma with EFIT (PESI)

Trauma Informed Care eLearning Certificate, Alberta Health Services (AHS)

Indigenous Canada: Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), University of Alberta: Coursera

QPR: Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Program, Imagine Institute for Learning

Understanding Loss and Grief During Celebrations and Holidays, Imagine Institute for Learning

Warmly, Amanda

My grief journey began in 2013 after the death of my only sister and best friend, following a tra... Read More

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I have years of experience working with children and adolescents in various leadership roles within schools and community organizations. I bring an ability to build strong, encouraging, and impactful relationships in the therapy room. I also have experience in counselling settings working with adults dealing with various situations, including addictions, life planning, distress, and grief, among others. I encourage and promote a strong therapeutic alliance with every individual and look forward to working with you to help you on your journey.

I have years of experience working with children and adolescents in various leadership roles with... Read More