More About Kathryn Maier

My work has focused on therapy with children and youth of all ages, including those living in care settings. Some roles I have specialized in are as a school counsellor (7 years), school teacher (5 years), autism behavioral therapist for preschoolers, foster parent, and a community child and youth care worker providing individual and group counselling for kids, teens, parents, and families. I also work with school teachers and  educational assistants as I understand the challenges these individuals face in their roles.

Building confidence by emphasizing strengths and developing personalized action plans leads to growth at school, home, work, and in the community. Using an integrative approach, I offer the option to choose from use of mixed arts media, play therapy, music, narrative therapy, trauma-focused CBT, and solution-focused brief therapy, to explore healing and new directions. I will also be offering psychoeducational assessments.

I am gentle, patient, and navigate with care, concerns with school-age and post-secondary learning challenges, ADHD, autism, social skill development, interpersonal conflict, self-esteem, healing from trauma, gender dysphoria, anxiety, grieving and loss, perfectionism, depression and suicidal ideation.

A QUESTION:

What do you do to keep your outlook optimistic?

Keeping an optimistic outlook is not always easy for me, but I try to remember that there might be a better day tomorrow or a better week next week, so I will need to ride it out. I find it helps to go to a friend or family member and let them know when I’m getting discouraged, and they always have some kind words to say. When I can get some music into my ears, or have some artwork to do, it lifts my heart.

 

Qualifications

Child and Youth Care Diploma

Bachelor of Education

Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology

Affiliations

College of Alberta Psychologists

Psychologists’ Association of Alberta

Canadian Association for Play Therapists

Certifications

Permanent Teaching Certificates in Alberta and British Columbia

Certification as a Play Therapist Level 3

Indigenous Rights Blanket Exercise Facilitator

Languages

• English

My Areas of Focus/Specialty Training:

Anxiety & Depression

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Suicidal Thoughts

Developmental Disorders

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Cognitive Disability
• Learning Disorders

Mental Health Disorders

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adults
• Cognitive Disability

Other Areas

• Emotional Regulation

Thrive (Child & Youth)

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children
• Behavioural Issues
• Child & Youth Self Esteem Issues
• Family Issues
• Graduation

Trauma Care

• Trauma

I have experience in:

• Abuse
• Adolescent and Teen Issues
• Anger Management
• Childhood Development Issues
• Children 3 to 5 Years
• Children's Mental Health
• Communication Disorders
• Conduct Disorder
• Cross Cultural Issues
• Divorce or Separation
• Emotional Regulation
• Expressive & Receptive Language Disorder
• Gender Identity
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Grief and Loss
• Impulsivity in Children
• Issues Related to Bullying
• Loss of a Loved One
• Motor Vehicle Accident Trauma
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Parenting Issues & Support
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Self-Esteem Issues
• Self-Harming
• Stress Management
• Tourette Syndrome

My treatment approaches:

• Exposure Therapy
• Faith Based Therapy
• Narrative Therapy
• Play Therapy
• Solution Focused Therapy

Assessment services:

• Anxiety Assessment
• Depression Assessment
• Psychoeducational Assessment