Kirsten White
Owner & Registered Psychologist
Email:
Education & Certifications:
College of Alberta Psychologists (2019)
Masters of Counselling Psychology (2015)
Athabasca University
Hospice & Palliative Care Certificate (2023)
MacEwan University
A Bit About Me
Hello Everyone,
My deepest passion is to work with those going through end-of-life challenges and grief. It is a privilege and honour to be a part of such a vulnerable place in our life's journey. I myself have personally experienced death. My father died from pancreatic cancer and I am willing to share what I've learned and continue to learn about grief and death through this personal experience. I have also experienced deep grief and loss for pets and can relate to this experience in a unique way as well. Keep in mind that everyone's grief is unique to them and my experiences will be different than yours.
Art and creative writing have been a big part of my life from the beginning as I originally began a career in costuming in theatre before going down the path of psychology. It truly is a calling to work in grief. I love to read, learn, and create. I'm in to history, a good ghost story, historical sewing, and being with my dog (a black lab). I'm learning to garden, to play the violin, and I hope to write a fiction book someday.
Services
I work with all ages from 5+ through individual therapy. I can support you with grief, bereavement (includes pet loss). I also offer therapeutic support for end-of-life challenges and palliative care. I can also provide unique support for general areas of death and dying issues that might not include a terminal illness or death of a loved one.
Child & Youth
Professionals
End-of-Life Support
Life & Death Areas
I can offer grief support for parents, children, and teens who are struggling with grief or bereavement.
I work specifically with professionals that are working within the death and dying fields. This includes nurses, OTs, funeral directors, embalmers, medical doctors, care aides...
Palliative care support can be offered to both the family, friends, or patient themselves. I can support with anticipatory grief, palliative care, and hospice.
This might include oncological support, chronic illness, existential areas, anticipatory grief, caregiver support, medical traumas, near death experiences, or death anxiety.
Experience
August 2022 - December 2023
September 2021 - 2023
July 2019 - August 2023
May 2017 - Present
April 2016 - November 2018
September 2014 - April 2015
December 2012 - August 2017
April 2012 - April 2014
Guest Speaker for AHPCA Program - Living Every Season
Provided presentations and discussions to the participants of the weekly support group of people living with illness.
Consultant to AHPCA Volunteer Program - You're Not Alone
Provide consultation for the program as well as present to volunteers about Grief and Family Dynamics.
Psychologist - Ignite Nutrition
Provided therapy for those experiencing gut-related concerns and disordered eating. Experience in the area of childhood trauma, chronic illnesses, medical trauma, and anxiety/phobias.
Psychologist - Private Practice
The White Brick Road was created as a private practice to see people of all ages. Primarily worked with those struggling with bereavement, trauma, and pet loss.
Child & Youth Counsellor - Brenda Strafford Centre
Providing therapy to children who were fleeing domestic violence.
Student Counsellor (Masters Practicum Placement)
Hospice Calgary (Children's Grief Centre)
Provided bereavement counselling for children, youth & their family. This includes individual therapy and group therapy.
Comfort Care Volunteer - Dulcina Hospice, Santuari Hospice, Rotary Flames House
Volunteer Experience with local hospice's providing comfort care and monthly painting sessions. Offered support to residents and families at the Hospices.
Group Volunteer - Hospice Calgary (Children's Grief Group)
Volunteer Experience with Hospice Calgary's kids' club grief group. I helped support the facilitator and worked with the children and families during the program.
Therapeutic Approach
My approach to your care is client-centred. I believe you are the expert in your life and I work with you on this journey. Through the model of therapy called, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, I use the principles of mindfulness, compassion, and values in my therapy. I approach therapy with a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approach. My space is a safe space for all. My approach is holistic in that I approach not only the mind or thoughts, but also important to include the body (somatic approaches) and the heart (spirituality or existential approaches). I'm a narrative and experiential type of therapist. You will find I often use metaphors, narrative approaches, and experiences within sessions to heal and move through some of life's most challenging moments. Each person's experiences with death is unique and requires different sets of tools that I hope to match with your needs during the therapeutic process.
Continuing Education
"It's the Law" What every therapist needs to Know
April 2023 - Talk Therapy
Indigenous Awareness Training
April 2023
Indigenous Awareness Canada (IAC)
201 Indigenous Awareness Certification
301 Indigenous Peoples and Cultures
311 Indigenous Communication & Consultation
321 Outreach, Recruit, Retain Indigenous Employment
Introduction to Funeral Service
November 2022 – Mount Royal University
Iikakiimaat: A Best Practice
October 2022 - 2022 Suicide Prevention Summit
River of Life
October 2022 – Centre for Suicide Prevention
PD Event, Suicide Risk: Standard of Care for Assessment and Intervention
September 2022 – Psychologist’s Association of Alberta
Suicide 2 Hope
September 2022 – Centre for Suicide Prevention
ACT for Grief and Loss
November 2022 – Dr. Russ Harris
ACT for Depression & Anxiety Disorders
November 2021 – Dr. Russ Harris
ACT for Beginners
April 2021 – Dr. Russ Harris
The Grief Summit: Grief Counselling and Treatment in a Pandemic of Loss
April 2021 - PESI
Ritual Healing Workshops
August 2021 – The Centre for Sacred Deathcare
Eating Disorder Masterclass
May 2020 – Carolyn Ross, Jack Hirose & Associates Inc.
Brain Story
September 2019 - Alberta Family Wellness Initiative
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1: Affect Dysregulation, Survival Defenses, and Traumatic Memory
February, April, May, June 2018 – Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Training Institute
EMDR Training Level 1
October 2017 & January 2018- Sue Genest
Psychotherapy & Medically Assisted Dying Workshop
September 2017 – Psychologists Association of Alberta
Tattered Teddies & Straight Talk Certificates
September 2017 – Centre for Suicide Prevention
ASIST Certificate
July 2017 – Centre for Suicide Prevention
Circle of Security and Raising a Secure Child Training
June 2017 – Eckert Psychology & Education Centre
Strengthening Parent-Child Relationships – 2-Day Workshop
February 2017 – Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute
Play-Based Treatment of Trauma – 2-Day Workshop
January 2017 – Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute
Introduction to Therapeutic Play – 3-Day Workshop
November 2016 – Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute
Foundations in Motivational interviewing Level One
September 2016 – Paul Burke Training and Consulting Group
Trauma-informed Expressive Art Therapy
April 2016 – Trauma-Informed Practices & Expressive Arts Therapy Institute