Kirsten White
Founder & Registered Psychologist
Email:
Education & Certifications:
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College of Alberta Psychologists (2019)
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Masters of Counselling Psychology (2015)
Athabasca University
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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.
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
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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
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Introduction to Funeral Service
November 2022 – Mount Royal University
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Iikakiimaat: A Best Practice
October 2022 - 2022 Suicide Prevention Summit
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River of Life
October 2022 – Centre for Suicide Prevention
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PD Event, Suicide Risk: Standard of Care for Assessment and Intervention
September 2022 – Psychologist’s Association of Alberta
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Suicide 2 Hope
September 2022 – Centre for Suicide Prevention
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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
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The Grief Summit: Grief Counselling and Treatment in a Pandemic of Loss
April 2021 - PESI
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Ritual Healing Workshops
August 2021 – The Centre for Sacred Deathcare
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Eating Disorder Masterclass
May 2020 – Carolyn Ross, Jack Hirose & Associates Inc.
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Brain Story
September 2019 - Alberta Family Wellness Initiative
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Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1: Affect Dysregulation, Survival Defenses, and Traumatic Memory
February, April, May, June 2018 – Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Training Institute
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EMDR Training Level 1
October 2017 & January 2018- Sue Genest
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Psychotherapy & Medically Assisted Dying Workshop
September 2017 – Psychologists Association of Alberta
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Tattered Teddies & Straight Talk Certificates
September 2017 – Centre for Suicide Prevention
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ASIST Certificate
July 2017 – Centre for Suicide Prevention
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Circle of Security and Raising a Secure Child Training
June 2017 – Eckert Psychology & Education Centre
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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
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Foundations in Motivational interviewing Level One
September 2016 – Paul Burke Training and Consulting Group
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Trauma-informed Expressive Art Therapy
April 2016 – Trauma-Informed Practices & Expressive Arts Therapy Institute