OUR Team
amanda maciver, MA (she/her) - registered provisional psychologist
Amanda is a Registered Provisional Psychologist and holds a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioural Sciences in which she majored in Psychology and Sociology.
We have all been there when the struggles in life begin to accumulate or become too much and we seek to receive the necessary support to help us through. Perhaps you need someone to connect with, hear your story, and help you make sense of your experiences. Amanda strives to build a relationship with you in therapy where you feel safe, heard, validated, accepted, and empowered. You are the center of your counselling journey, and her approach is to focus on what is best for you and aligns with your personal values and views on health and healing.
Amanda works from a humanistic, person-centered approach that is tailored to you as an individual and your specific needs. Her areas of interest include, but are not limited to, neurodiversity, interpersonal relationships, setting healthy boundaries, attachment styles, parenting support, trauma, spirituality, depression, and anxiety. She has experience with clients with ADHD and ASD, first responder and military clients/family members, and has worked with mothers and their partners through life transitions.
Amanda is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming. She is located on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and is currently accepting new clients across Treaties 6, 7, and 8 boundaries known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email Amanda.
ben jespersen, DC (he/him) - counselling intern
Ben is a counselling intern in the final stages of his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree. His path to counselling and psychology was not linear, but his work and life experiences have enriched this path and he could not feel more privileged and excited to be here. Ben spent the past 13 years working as a Chiropractor and continues to work part-time doing so. His experience in working with individuals from varied backgrounds with a variety of issues led to an interest in chronic pain and the relationship between the mind and the body. This focus, over the past couple of years, on chronic pain and the mind-body connection deepened his passion and overall interest in counselling and psychology, which led him to this stage. He has extensive experience working with a variety of individuals and understands the complex biological and physiological contributions to our psychological well-being. Beyond his professional experience, he is married and has four children, which has furthered his understanding of family, relationships and parental challenges.
Acknowledging that we are all unique, Ben takes a collaborative, individualized, person-focused, and strength-based approach to counselling. He draws from a combination of modalities, such as solution-focused therapy, person-centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and narrative therapy. He is eager to work with individuals dealing with chronic pain/somatic issues, couples/relationship issues, parenting issues, anxiety, depression, spiritual concerns, religious trauma, self-esteem, work/life stress, grief, and loss. He is also very open to exploring issues or concerns beyond those listed.
Ben is a member of the LGBTQ+ healthcare directory, is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming, and is available to residents of Alberta.
Have questions? Email Ben.
britta carry, BA (she/her) - counselling intern
Britta is a counselling intern completing her Master of Counselling degree through City University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. Britta has obtained 5 years of experience working with neurodivergent children and youth through work in home-based environments and in the field of education. Through this work, she has developed a passion for providing clients a safe and welcoming space to explore their thoughts and feelings. She believes in accessible, affirmative care that supports individuals in living life authentically.
Britta takes an integrative, strengths-based approach to counselling, drawing from modalities such as narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy, DBT, and feminist therapy. She believes that we are all experts of our own lives and stories and possess the tools needed to make our lives more satisfying. She aims to create a collaborative therapeutic atmosphere to support each client's unique needs. Britta offers counselling to children (10+), teenagers, and adults for a variety of concerns, including depression, anxiety, self-esteem, neurodiversity, stress and burnout.
Britta is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and culturally sensitive. She is located on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and is currently accepting new clients across Treaties 6, 7, and 8 boundaries known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email Britta.
chris mcgregor, BA (he/him) - counselling intern
Chris is in the final stages of his Masters of Education in School and Applied Child Psychology, and is currently working as an intern student with Cultivate. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioural Sciences majoring in Psychology and Sociology. Chris’ background is in the social services, education, and mental health field, providing him with experience and competency collaborating and supporting neurodiverse children, as well as at-risk youth and their families struggling against systemic barriers.
Chris works to highlight the strengths of those he works with, maintaining a sensitivity to the potential trauma in their lives, while simultaneously supporting them to realize the agency and purpose that they hold. He does his best to deeply understand and become attuned to the interior world of his clients, supporting them to live their best story by teaching cognitive skills, as well as emotional regulation skills. Chris offers counselling to children, adolescents, as well as adults, and his areas of interest include, depression, anxiety, spirituality, and trauma. He has experience working as a psychometrist, and currently offers psycho-educational as well as behavioural-emotional assessments for people of any age
Chris is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and is available to residents of Alberta. He resides as a settler on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary). Chris is NOT accepting new clients at this time.
Have questions? Email Chris.
dania saeed, MA (she/her) - associate counsellor
Dania is an associate counsellor who holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. Dania’s background in mental health includes several years of experience working with neurodivergent individuals and individuals from diverse backgrounds, including behavioural work with children. Dania also has experience in neurodiversity assessments for adults and youth.
Dania works from a collaborative, person-centred, and strengths-based approach to customize therapy to each individual’s distinctive needs. She draws from various therapeutic modalities such as CBT, mindfulness, culture-infused, and solution-focused interventions. Dania is an advocate of mental health within BIPOC communities, and she believes in creating a safe and collaborative space through which individuals can gain greater self-awareness.
Her areas of interest include neurodiversity (ADHD & Autism), depression, anxiety, stress management, and spiritual and religious issues.
Dania is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to residents of Alberta.
Have questions? Email Dania.
denisse martinez, MA (she/her) - associate counsellor
Denisse is finalizing her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree. She is a committed lifelong learner with a Bachelor’s degree in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies. Denisse has worked in the social services field for over 7 years in various settings, such as behavioural support and case management with neurodivergent children, youth, and adults of diverse backgrounds.
Originating from Mexico, Denisse highly values her cultural identity and sense of community while highlighting their influence on mental health. Denisse’s practice advocates for values of diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality with a relational cultural approach. Denisse also works from a Person-Centered, Strength-Based and Trauma Informed Approach focusing on intergenerational trauma.
Denisse offers counselling sessions to children, youth and adults. She is interested in neurodiversity, behavioural concerns, anxiety, depression, life transitions and other mental health concerns.
Denisse is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to residents of Alberta.
Denisse also offers counselling in both English and Spanish.
Have questions? Email Denisse.
elena groen, MC (she/her) - registered psychologist/associate director of student support and programming
Elena is a graduate of the Master of Counselling program at the University of Calgary. Over the past number of years, she has gained experience working with diverse individuals including neurodiverse children and adults, young adults, individuals in crisis, and people experiencing systemic oppression. Elena’s specializations and areas of interest are in neurodiversity, anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationships and interpersonal problems, grief and loss, and general mental health concerns.
In her work with individuals and families, Elena seeks to form a collaborative partnership with clients. Elena works from a stance of empathy and non-judgement in seeking to meet the client where they are at. She takes an integrative approach to counselling and draws from Narrative Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Experiential therapy including art and drawing, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Elena provides additional support to practicum students and provisional psychologists and runs program development and research opportunities for Cultivate.
Elena is L2SGBTQ+ affirming and is NOT accepting new clients.
farrah kanwal, MACP (she/her) - associate counsellor
Farrah is an associate counsellor and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology.
Farrah has had significant frontline and outreach experience within the addictions field working with vulnerable populations along with working with victims of domestic violence. She is a firm believer in the harm reduction and safety-first approach. She offers neurodiverse affirming care along with respect for people of diverse backgrounds.
Farrah provides an eclectic approach and understands that individual needs require individualized care and treatment plans. Some of the modalities she uses include humanistic, existential, psychodynamic, mindfulness, and narrative approaches. She believes that counselling should be collaborative between client and therapist to find an approach that fits them best.
Farrah brings a strength-based and empowerment approach and offers clients the opportunity to be unapologetically themselves without fear of judgement while helping them recognize and accept the strengths and skills they have within themselves. Farrah offers counselling for adolescents and adults dealing with a variety of different presenting concerns.
Farrah can provide counselling in English, Urdu, and Hindi.
Farrah is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to residents in Alberta.
Have questions? Email Farrah.
ghaida abosafi, MA (she/her) - associate counsellor
Ghaida is an associate counsellor wrapping up her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biological science. Ghaida is a passionate advocate for BIPOC and is committed to creating a safe and collaborative space for clients to develop their sense of identity and self-awareness by supporting them in reaching their therapeutic goals. She is eager to enhance the skills she has learned throughout her education to help individuals in a counselling setting.
Ghaida draws from a variety of modalities including Narrative, Mindfulness-Based CBT, and client-centered therapies. Ghaida uses an eclectic approach and believes in collaborating with her clients throughout treatment. Her areas of interest include depression, anxiety, attachment, neurodiversity, and spirituality.
Ghaida offers counseling in English and Arabic.
Ghaida is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming, available to residents of Alberta.
Have questions? Email Ghaida.
james ayodele, BSC, MD (he/him) - counselling intern
James is a counselling intern completing his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. His rich background spans diverse realms, encompassing general medicine, psychiatry, crisis intervention, and mental health advocacy. This broad spectrum has ignited his passion for delving into the intricate behavioural facets of human health, leading him to adopt a holistic approach to aiding individuals and families on their therapeutic journeys. This multifaceted experience equips him with a profound understanding of how complex physiological and pathological processes intricately contribute to our psychological welfare.
During an illustrious 11-year professional journey, James has seamlessly navigated diverse cultures across Asia, Europe, and North America, engaging meaningfully with members of various indigenous communities in the Canadian Arctic. Notably, his strength lies in his remarkable multicultural competence in counselling.
James brings a versatile approach, cutting across multiple treatment modalities. He eagerly anticipates collaborating with individuals addressing concerns such as grief/loss, trauma, addictions, spiritual and religious issues, stress, depression, and anxiety. He is also open to working with youth and adults on many other concerns not explicitly listed.
Located on Treaty 6 territory in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), James proudly affirms his commitment to supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Embracing cultural diversity, he offers counselling services in English, Yoruba, and Russian. James warmly welcomes new clients across Treaties 6, 7, and 8 boundaries, known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email James.
janat randhawa, BA (she/her) - counselling intern
Janat is a counselling intern working towards completing her Masters of Counselling Psychology. Janat has spent over 7 years working with youth in the community through volunteer groups and holds a strong passion for understanding how culture is unique to each individual. Through this experience, she has gained a passion for learning the individual story of a person and providing a safe and welcoming environment for people to come to.
Janat takes an integrative approach drawing from various modalities such as Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, and narrative therapy. Through this taking a person-centered and trauma-informed approach in counselling that aims to create a safe therapeutic environment that supports the counselling journey of clients without any judgment. She aims to work in collaboration with you to highlight strengths and skills that can aid in your therapeutic journey. Her areas of interest include depression, anxiety, working with minority groups, and attachment.
Janat can provide counselling in English, Punjabi, and Hindi.
Janat is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to residents in Alberta.
Have questions? Email Janat.
jenna dalton, MA (she/her) - associate counsellor
Jenna has over 20 years of experience in the mental health and fitness world where she has worked in both the non-profit and private sector supporting children, adolescents, and adults. She holds a BA Honours degree in psychology as well as a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology.
Jenna provides support through a strengths-based approach where the client’s goals and desired outcomes are the driving force behind her therapeutic process. She is dedicated to providing a genuine, empathetic, non-judgmental, and collaborative environment to help her clients gain greater self-awareness and enjoy self-compassionate growth. She draws from a variety of modalities based on the client’s unique needs. These include acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and internal family systems therapy (IFS).
Jenna’s areas of interest include supporting individuals and partners seeking communication, attachment, and relational support in their romantic partnerships. She is sex-positive, kink-affirming, and welcomes clients in monogamous, consensual non-monogamous, polyamorous, and open relationships. She also provides support for clients who are struggling with confidence, self-worth and self-compassion issues, anxiety, depression, postpartum challenges, and concerns related to neurodiversity (ADHD and autism).
Jenna is 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming and is located on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and is currently accepting new clients across Treaties 6, 7, and 8 boundaries known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email Jenna.
joel roos, MA (he/him) - registered psychologist/clinical director
Joel’s background in mental health comes from a varied career with community non-profits, public healthcare settings, and various private educational institutions. Since 2013, Joel has been providing graduate and post-graduate level clinical supervision and education for learners in his areas of interest including family systems, behavioural health and chronic disability and disease management, and in neurology specific to neurodevelopment disorders and neurodiversity.
At Cultivate, Joel’s primary role is to provide clinical support and supervision to all staff and students and to oversee the day-to-day caseloads of all Cultivate clinicians providing services to the public. Joel maintains a small clinical practice with clients that have previously engaged his services and regularly involves his team members as collaborators in his clinical work and teaching.
Joel’s ongoing opportunities for fun and play in his work include public education, creative problem solving with larger organizations, education and training for the Cultivate team, and finding ways to integrate his love of lego and video games into his clinical work.
Joel is 2SLBGTQ+ affirming and is NOT accepting new clients.
Have questions? Email Joel.
jonathan wiebe, BA (he/him) - counselling intern
Jonathan is a counselling intern completing his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.
Jonathan believes that people are the experts on their own lives and aims to work collaboratively with clients and their expertise to move towards their therapeutic goals together. He favours a strength-based approach and draws from a range of modalities such as solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), person-centred therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches, but is open to exploring and incorporating other approaches and techniques to fit individual needs.
Jonathan’s areas of interest include stress management, anxiety, and working with children and youth, but he is happy to work with people of all ages with a variety of presenting concerns.
Jonathan is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to residents of Alberta 10 years of age and older.
Have questions? Email Jonathan.
josh cameron, BSC (he/him) - counselling intern
Our life is our greatest story and we sometimes need an objective person to listen, affirm, and draw attention to the highlights and worst of times in our narrative. Josh strives to help people in their journey in a compassionate, non-judgmental way. He utilizes techniques from a variety of therapies including narrative, Gestalt, solution-focused, and cognitive-behavioural. Josh aims to recognize clients’ strengths and help them to use these strengths to gain new insights and develop new supports, internally and externally. His experience working with mental health and developmental disabilities has had him working with people of a large variety of ages, abilities, and cultures in settings ranging from hospitals, shelters, schools, treatment centres, and families’ homes. He recognizes the importance of one’s specific identity and how traumas big and small impact the way we see ourselves, others, and the world. Josh strives to eventually run a trauma-focused practice and believes that the counsellor is always learning as much from you, the client, as you are from him!
Josh is completing his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and has a BSc in Psychology. He is excited to be working with clients at Cultivate!
Josh identifies with the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community and is accepting clients over the age of 10 across Alberta.
Have questions? Email Josh.
karalee colmer, MACP (she/her) - associate counsellor
Karalee holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree from Yorkville University. She has spent several years supporting women, children, and youth in various settings and in crisis situations. She has experience supporting neurodiverse children and their families, vulnerable and at-risk youth, as well as women and children who have experienced domestic violence.
Karalee believes in meeting clients where they are at in their healing journey and provides support and understanding through a trauma-informed lens. Her therapeutic approach is largely client-centered, compassion-focused, and strength-based. She is committed to creating a safe and collaborative space for clients to develop their self-awareness and be supported in reaching their therapeutic goals. She incorporates a variety of modalities into her work and tailors her approach to each client’s individual needs. Some of these modalities include DBT, EFIT, mindfulness-based CBT, attachment-based and psychodynamic approaches. Karalee is also in the process of becoming trained and certified in EMDR therapy.
Karalee’s areas of special interest include working with individuals with self-esteem and self-compassion related issues, attachment related issues, neurodiversity, trauma, and those in need of parenting support.
Karalee is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming, available to residents of Alberta, and is NOT accepting new clients.
Have questions? Email Karalee.
kathlyn higgins, BA (she/her) - counselling intern
Kathlyn is in the final stages of her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University and is completing a counselling internship. She holds a bachelor's degree in child and youth care and an associate degree in social work and is registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Over the years, she has worked in many different communities.
Over the last few years, Kathlyn has researched and provided educational training on safer sex practices, HIV/AIDS, and other STBBI to professionals and community members. She aims to enhance HIV/AIDS support through therapy. She provides support to overcome barriers, stigma, isolation, and anxiety in a brave and supportive environment for individuals.
Kathlyn also focuses on settlement, immigrants, daily necessities, cultural navigation, race-based trauma and identity, life transitions, relationship issues, anxiety, life-cycle stress, spirituality and finding meaning, burnout, Career goals and objectives, dyslexia, ADHD, neurodiversity and the elderly isolation and grief.
Kathyn believes people can reach their life goals and have a meaningful life. Therapeutic connections in a non-judgmental, brave, and compassionate environment empower and improve clients' well-being and resilience to heal. Kathlyn finds that helping clients accept themselves, appreciate their strengths, cultivate self-acceptance, and live happy and empowered lives leads to a more balanced living, which breaks down barriers and unlocks mental wellness. With an emphasis on empathy, humanism, person-centeredness, and mindfulness, let's address your narrative, life journey and intersectionality needs.
Kathlyn is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to clients ten years and older who are residents of Alberta.
Have questions? Email Kathlyn.
keira shendaruk, MA, RSW (she/her) - associate counsellor
Keira holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology degree through Yorkville University as well as a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She is registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Over the past several years she has worked in areas such as group care, crisis response, domestic and child abuse, and in school settings.
In the midst of challenges Keira offers to walk with her clients as a witness to their unique stories and as an ally on their journey forward. She strives to offer a space where clients feel seen, where they can grow in awareness and skill, and ultimately experience a sense of wholeness and healing.
Keira has an eclectic style, drawing from a variety of modalities such as narrative therapy, Gottman method, inner child work, somatic and mindfulness-based therapies. She is also trained in EMDR. She believes in building a strong therapeutic relationship and integrating the approaches that best suit her clients.
Keira enjoys working with all ages 7 and older, as well as with couples and families. Common areas she works in include: trauma, neurodiversity, relational and communication issues, mental health, self-esteem, spirituality, and grief and loss.
Keira is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to residents of Alberta.
Have questions? Email Keira.
kelsey fiss, MA (she/her) - registered provisional psychologist
Kelsey has a graduate degree in counselling. Her areas of interest and specialization include depression, anxiety, strengths coaching, couples and marital counselling, post-partum issues and adjustment, parenting concerns, grief, loss, and spiritual issues and concerns. She is available to work with large groups and organizations to facilitate mental health discussions, training and materials.
Kelsey works from an integrative approach and works primarily from attachment-based, emotion-focused, and neurobiological frameworks, making use of mindfulness practices, and art and play therapy techniques. Kelsey is passionate about working with clients to face the challenges that are holding them back from leading the life they desire.
Kelsey is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming, available to residents of Alberta, and accepting new clients.
Have questions? Email Kelsey.
madison cruickshank, MA (she/her) - RP (ontario), associate counsellor
Madison trusts that every person is the expert of their own life and experiences. She holds the belief that everyone has what they need, within themselves, to heal, and enjoys walking alongside her clients to help them access these strengths and resources. Madison strives to establish trusting and collaborative relationships that create a safe space for clients to explore and grow. She works from a person-centered and trauma-informed lens, while integrating a variety of modalities including Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Somatic, and Mindfulness-based interventions.
Madison is an Associate Counsellor with Cultivate and maintains registration as a psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Madison also holds a diploma in addiction studies and has more than a decade of experience working with those navigating trauma(s), substance use disorders, and other relational or mental health-related concerns. Beyond the counselling space, Madison enjoys spending time with her family (both human and animal), especially when it includes being outdoors.
Madison is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to adults residing in Ontario and Alberta.
Have questions? Email Madison.
malachi davis, MC (he/him) - registered provisional psychologist
Malachi is a registered provisional psychologist with a BA in psychology and an MA in counselling psychology. He has a background in working with children with over 10 years of experience in various child support roles. In these roles Malachi has developed a passion for supporting people and creating trusting safe spaces. He has worked with various populations in a counselling and assessment setting and is enthused to continue.
Malachi takes a person-focused, strength-based approach to counselling. He believes the client is the expert of their experience and aims to collaborate with you to build a therapeutic environment to support your unique life. Building off of your strengths and skills and creating new ones. His areas of interest include anxiety, depression, stress, interpersonal relationships, somatic work, and assessment.
Outside of counselling Malachi spends copious amounts of time with his family and friends, engaging in play, sports, and games any chance he gets. This interest in play finds its way into his counselling through the use creative interventions such as drawing, playing cards, lego, and games, especially when working with child clients.
Malachi is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to clients of all ages that are residents of Alberta.
Have questions? Email Malachi.
mckenzie lukacs, MC (she/her) - registered provisional psychologist
McKenzie firmly believes the therapeutic relationship is a partnership that learns and grows together. She aims to create a warm and safe(r) space that is focused on social justice, decolonizing, intersectionality, fat-liberation, unlearning normative values, and she is endlessly curious about new information and perspectives.
McKenzie is passionate about 2SLGBTQ+ and BIPOC advocacy, sexuality, kink, neurodiversity, size inclusivity, sports performance, relationships, and boundary setting. She uses various therapeutic modalities, such as narrative, systemic, humility, trauma- informed, solution-focused, somatic, and harm-reduction practices.
McKenzie is Queer, anti-diet, and has a background in high-performance sports. She is located on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and is currently accepting new clients across Treaties 6, 7 and 8 boundaries known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email McKenzie.
meghan reed, MACP (she/her) - registered provisional psychologist
Meghan is a Registered Provisional Psychologist working at Cultivate and holds a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. She is passionate about helping people of all neurotypes to understand themselves and believes in collaborating closely with her clients using a trauma-informed approach and strengths-based methods.
Meghan works with children, youth, and adults, and her areas of interest include neurodiversity, trauma, anxiety, depression, inner child healing, stress management, attachment and relationships, and self-esteem. She draws from a variety of modalities including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Strengths-Based Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Attachment Theory and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Meghan also enjoys supporting people to build emotional awareness to support emotional regulation and self-awareness.
Meghan has over 10 years of experience working in mental health related fields, including over 6 years of experience working in home-based and classroom-based settings where she assisted students, young children, and their families with a variety of therapeutic needs. Through her experiences, she developed a passion for advocating for mental health initiatives in her community.
Meghan is passionate about helping people recognize their inner strengths and supporting people to develop skills that will help them thrive throughout their lives.
Meghan is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming, available to residents of Alberta.
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Have questions? Email Meghan.
natalie siu-mitton, MACP (she/her) - registered provisional psychologist & registered dietitian
Natalie has a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and is a Registered Provisional Psychologist. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor and Registered Dietitian.
Natalie has had the privilege of supporting clients from a variety of different backgrounds for over 15 years. She strives to create a safe, trauma-informed, non-judgmental, inclusive, affirming and collaborative environment for healing. Her integrative approach draws upon modalities such as Person-Centered Therapy, Strengths-Based Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Feminist Therapy and EMDR.
Natalie provides counselling to youth (14+) and adults. Areas she is passionate about supporting others in include biculturalism, life transitions, health psychology, chronic pain, neurodiversity, disordered eating, eating differences, intuitive eating, women’s health issues, trauma, grief and loss.
Natalie is culturally responsive, 2SLGBTQ+ affirming, neurodiversity affirming, anti-diet and weight-inclusive.
She is located on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and is currently accepting new clients across Treaty 6, 7, and 8 boundaries known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email Natalie.
niki whitefield, BA (she/her) - counselling intern
Life is a journey, with many bumps and unexpected detours along the way. Niki believes that individuals are the experts in their lives, possessing many strengths and resources that can be utilized in their journey. There are times that we could all benefit from some navigation support - your journey does not need to be a solo mission! Working from this collaborative, strengths-based approach, she strives to support individuals in identifying solutions and mechanisms that facilitate the change they seek. Niki is passionate about creating a safe therapeutic environment that is authentic, accepting, and supportive. Her practice is rooted in family systems theory which emphasizes the important influence of patterned relationship experiences. She also utilizes cognitive behavioural and solution focused strategies in her practice.
Niki has spent the last 17 years working with children, adolescents, and parents experiencing, among other challenges, relationship conflict, mental illness, school related problems, parenting difficulties, and neurodiversity. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is in the process of completing her master’s degree in counselling psychology.
Niki is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and accepting clients over the age of 10 across Alberta.
Have questions? Email Niki.
olivia reverie, MC (she/her) - registered provisional psychologist
Olivia is a passionate human who centres herself on fostering a safe(r) space and practice for all 2SLGBTQIA+, BDSM/kinky, BIPOC, abilities, sex work, and HAES® humans and experiences.
This includes her roles in supporting community reintegration initiatives for persons with incarceration experiences, federal penitentiary support groups, non-profit organizations, early childhood education, and the public and private mental health sectors.
She engages in a holistic, humorous, and curious approach when helping others and focuses on how to reconnect individuals with their mind and body experiences from the past and in the present. Her focus entails collaboration, psycho-education, DBT, Narrative Therapy, ACT, EFT, Gottman Method, trauma-informed, harm reduction, and sex and pleasure positive based practices.
Olivia’s areas of interest include: relational diversity (poly, open, ENM/CNM), sexuality, kink, 2SLGBTQIA+ concerns, neurodiversity (ADHD & Autism), assertive communication and boundary setting, life transitions, divorce/separation, addictions, and support for incarceration reintegration/criminal justice experiences. Her ongoing interests include diverse healing therapies, with certification of her foundational training in Psychedelic assisted Therapy (PaT) in 2022 and actively completing her advanced studies that will be integrated into her practice in the future.
She is located on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and is currently accepting new clients across Treaties 6, 7, and 8 boundaries known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email Olivia.
phoebe white, BA (she/her) - counselling intern
Phoebe is a counselling psychology student in her final year of study at City University. Phoebe has over 5 years of experience working with individuals of a variety of ages and backgrounds with mental health and developmental disabilities in settings ranging from hospitals, schools, treatment centres, and family homes. Through this work, she has developed a deep passion for providing a non-judgmental and safe environment for clients to navigate their journey.
Phoebe works to highlight the strengths of all individuals and aims to create a collaborative therapeutic atmosphere to support each client's unique needs. She is sex-positive, kink-affirming, and welcomes clients in monogamous, consensual non-monogamous, polyamorous, and open relationships. She also provides support for individuals who are struggling with stress, anxiety, burnout, depression, self-worth, or simply seeking self-discovery.
Phoebe offers counselling to residents of Alberta 18 years of age or older.
Phoebe is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming, and culturally sensitive. She is located on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and is currently accepting new adult clients, across Treaties 6, 7, and 8 boundaries known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email Phoebe.
raelene denae, RN (she/her) - associate counsellor
Raelene is finishing up her master's degree in counselling psychology and comes to Cultivate as a practicum student with over 17 years of experience working in healthcare. She is a registered nurse by background and a dedicated and compassionate counsellor. Her medical knowledge and experience working in emergency, psychiatry, naturopathic private practice, and community medicine allows her to bring a unique skill set and holistic approach to care. Raelene gets it, whether you are a healthcare provider, or have been a patient in the medical model for mental health or physical health issues, her experience will ensure that you receive the support and understanding you deserve.
She has a deep passion for helping individuals navigate their mental health and emotional well-being and brings a sense of humor and an empathetic perspective to her counselling practice. Whether you're facing challenges related to stress, anxiety, burnout, depression, trauma, grief, or simply seeking personal development and self-discovery, she is here to assist you on your journey. Her goal is to empower you with effective coping strategies, foster resilience, and help you build healthier relationships and a more fulfilling life.
Raelene is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming, and culturally sensitive. She is located on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and is currently accepting new adult clients, across Treaties 6, 7, and 8 boundaries known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email Raelene.
ranee fallorin, MACP (she/her) - associate counsellor
Ranee holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree and a Bachelors degree in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies. Ranee has worked in the social services field for 8 years with neurodivergent individuals and individuals from diverse backgrounds. She has experience working with educators, parents and children on effective behavior management strategies and is a strong advocate for inclusion by promoting the social adaption of settings and expectations to best fit the needs of the individual.
Ranee uses a holistic and collaborative approach in her practice that explores the client’s needs, strengths and values drawing from a variety of modalities including narrative, trauma-informed, solution focused, culture-infused, acceptance and commitment and dialectical behaviour therapy. Her counselling approach focuses on meeting clients where they’re at and acknowledges that they’re the expert in their life. Additionally, she has experience with various assessments and administering, scoring and interpreting neuropsychological, intelligence and personality assessments.
Ranee offers counselling sessions for children (10+), youth, and adults. She is interested in neurodiversity (ADHD, Autism, ODD & FASD), behavior concerns, anxiety, stress management, depression, trauma, identity development, parenting support, self-esteem, and divorce/separation.
She is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and is located on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and is currently accepting new clients across Treaties 6, 7 and 8 boundaries known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email Ranee.
ricardo avelar, MEd (he/him) - registered psychologist
Ricardo has worked in various fields, including non-profit organizations, K-12 schools, and post- secondary settings. He holds a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology, a Bachelor of Education in English Language Arts, and a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from the University of Lethbridge. Prior to his counselling career, Ricardo taught high school English in rural, urban, and international settings for ten years.
He feels privileged to support youth and adults with a wide range of concerns, such as anxiety, depression, career guidance, communication skills, neurodiversity (ADHD), relationship challenges, stress management, and trauma. He has specialized knowledge in sex therapy, queer identity development, and working with individuals who have experienced sexual violence. Ricardo uses a holistic and collaborative approach to counselling and integrates narrative, culture-infused, mindfulness-based, trauma-informed, and somatic therapies when working with clients.
Ricardo offers counselling in both English and Spanish.
Ricardo is 2SLGBTQ+ and kink affirming, and is NOT accepting new clients.
Have questions? Email Ricardo.
sacha gigliuk, MA (she/her) - associate counsellor
Sacha is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology program at Yorkville University. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree and has spent several years working with youth and their families as an elementary school teacher. Sacha’s passion for increasing access to mental health supports in her community is what pushed her to pivot and pursue a career as a counsellor.
Sacha works from a humanistic approach and believes that individuals are the experts on their own lives. She believes counselling should be safe and collaborative, and should provide an opportunity for clients to show up as their authentic selves. Sacha adopts a flexible, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach to best address clients’ unique therapeutic goals. She draws from a variety of modalities, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Sacha’s areas of interest include neurodiversity, relationship and communication issues, stress management, identity exploration, and grief and loss.
Sacha is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to residents of Alberta.
Have questions? Email Sacha.
samreen faraz, MACP (she/her) - associate counsellor
Samreen holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree in addition to previous degrees in Public Health and Neuroscience. With several years of experience working in health care and social justice settings, Samreen has developed a strong commitment to individuals and families affected by domestic violence and crisis situations. Samreen strongly believes in empowerment and is a passionate advocate for the BIPOC community.
Samreen is truly invested in creating a collaborative and safe therapeutic space for her clients, where they can achieve personal growth and healing. Embracing a holistic viewpoint, she integrates psychoeducation and strength-based perspectives into her approach. With a client-centered, trauma-informed approach, Samreen is interested in working with individuals, couples, and families. She utilizes a range of therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavior therapy, Gottman method, and Mindfulness-based practices to best serve her clients.
Samreen is interested in neurodiversity assessments and has experience administering, scoring, and interpreting neuropsychological assessments with a focus on Autism and ADHD.
Samreen offers counselling in English, Hindi, and Urdu, and is affirming of 2SLGBTQ+ identities. She is currently accepting new clients across Treaties 6, 7, and 8 boundaries, also known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email Samreen.
shacarra orr, BA (she/her) - associate counsellor
Shacarra approaches her practice through an existentialist, humanistic, and somatic lens. With nearly ten years of experience in the yoga community and teaching at multiple studios within Calgary, she draws inspiration from yoga philosophy and movement practices.
Shacarra recognizes that life is hard and bad things happen to all of us. Through creating a space without judgement and guided by empathy she wants to sit with you through these challenging times. The areas that she is most interested in working are trauma, sexual assault, addictions, relationships of all denominations, Sex therapy (including sexuality, kink, BDSM) self-esteem, self-discovery, anxiety and depression. With an extensive background in the paralympic community, she is very confident working with individuals with physical disabilities.
Shacarra is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to residents of Alberta above thirteen years of age for online and in-person sessions.
Have questions? Email Shacarra.
stephanie schoenberg, MACP (she/her) - associate counsellor
Stephanie holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Intercultural Studies and a Diploma in Holistic Nutrition. For the past 15+ years, Stephanie has worked in the social service sector supporting diverse individuals with a variety of needs. She has also spent time studying, volunteering, and working in various parts of the globe including Belize, Jamaica, Germany, China, and South Korea.
Stephanie works from a humanistic, person-centred, trauma-informed lens and takes a stance of collaboration, empathy, and non-judgement, meeting clients exactly where they are at. She is passionate about helping people recognize their inner strength, resilience, and uniqueness in order to create uniquely meaningful lives.
Stephanie offers counselling sessions for adults aged 18+ who may be experiencing anxiety, depression, chronic stress, trauma, self-esteem struggles, grief and loss, relationship, career, spiritual and existential issues. Stephanie draws from a variety of modalities including Existential, Narrative, CBT, and ACT therapies along with Mindfulness, and Somatic-based treatments. She is also trained in and utilizes EMDR and clinical hypnosis in her practice.
Stephanie is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to residents of Alberta.
Have questions? Email Stephanie.
tiffany ross-fletcher, MA (she/her) - associate counsellor
Tiffany is an associate counsellor with a strong background in community mental health, specializing in social justice and advocacy for vulnerable populations. She is finalizing her Master of Arts degree in counselling psychology at Yorkville University.
Tiffany has ten years of experience providing mental health support services, including harm reduction education, training, and peer support. She has been actively involved in harm reduction and sexual violence prevention initiatives, taking a leadership role in coordinating and facilitating peer support programs at festivals and nightlife venues across Western Canada, Germany, and Spain.
Guided by an intersectional, feminist, strength-based, and trauma-informed perspective, Tiffany's approach is rooted in creating a safe(r) and empowering therapeutic space. She embraces and affirms neurodiversity, ensuring a non-pathologizing environment for individuals with diverse cognitive profiles. Tiffany's commitment to inclusivity and non-judgmental support allows her to connect with individuals from many different walks of life. She is eager to collaborate with clients, helping them navigate their unique journeys toward healing, growth, and self-discovery.
Tiffany is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and is located on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and is currently accepting new clients across Treaties 6, 7 and 8 boundaries known as Alberta.
Have questions? Email Tiffany.
veronica jackson, MA (she/her) - registered provisional psychologist
Veronica is a registered provisional psychologist at Cultivate with a BA in psychology and an MA in counselling psychology. Veronica began her counselling career as an intern at Cultivate and has continued practicing with a variety of clients through her first year of practice. Her work at Cultivate has included both assessment and counselling and has focused on client profiles of neurodivergence, trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. Through this work, sessions are typically focused on safety, coping, processing, and validation. Veronica acknowledges the strength and courage it takes for individuals to begin counselling and honours that in her practice.
Veronica takes a strengths-based approach with her clients and draws from various therapeutic modalities such as person-centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and narrative therapies. She believes that individuals receiving counselling are the experts in their experiences, and values the individuality of each person entering her practice. Veronica’s approach with her clients is non-judgemental, collaborative, responsive, and humorous. Her continued areas of interest include assessment, neurodiversity, trauma therapy, anxiety, depression, and attachment.
Veronica is 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and available to residents of Alberta.
Have questions? Email Veronica.