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Nicole's Story

Child Therapist
Registered Provisional Psychologist

My journey to becoming a therapist has been a long path. After going through a high-conflict divorce and becoming a single parent I knew that my family would benefit from counselling. The support we received from family, friends and mental health professionals helped us through some very challenging times. During these years, people often came to me for advice and support so the decision to become a therapist seemed like a natural fit. I even discussed it with my therapist. I became a therapist in order to give back and to assist others in a meaningful way. My practice takes a trauma-informed and evidence-based treatment approach, supporting individuals in their mental health journey.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Areas of Practice

​Populations

  • School Aged Children (7+)

  • Adolescents

  • Adults

  • Groups

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Presenting Concerns

  • ADHD & Autism

  • Anxiety and Depression

  • Behavioural concerns

  • Bullying

  • Grief and loss

  • LGBTQ2+ issues

  • Parenting concerns

  • Social skills

  • Suicidal thoughts

  • Trauma

    • Attachment trauma

    • ​Childhood abuse (physical, emotional, neglect, sexual, spiritual)

    • First responders: PTSD, Post-traumatic Growth

    • Sexual Violence

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Therapeutic Modalities​

​Nicole uses an integrative approach to therapy that comes from an attachment based, person-centered and  trauma informed perspective. Therapeutic modalities include:

  • Art therapy

  • Attachment therapy

  • Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Mindfulness Based therapy

  • Narrative therapy

  • Play therapy

  • Sand tray therapy

  • Somatic interventions

Education and Credentials

Professional Membership

Nicole is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Nicole also has professional affiliations with organizations as a trauma practitioner

  • 2023-Present: Breaking Free Trauma Foundation, Trauma practitioner roster

  • 2022-Present: Warrior Health, Healthcare providers directory

 

Master of Counselling

Nicole graduated from City University of Seattle in 2019 with a Master of Counselling degree. Her capstone research studied the characteristics of peer support that facilitate post traumatic growth in first responders. Her research was published in the Trauma Journal in March 2022:

​

Peer support facilitates post-traumatic growth in first responders: A literature review

  • Author: Nicole Donovan

  • March 2022

  • Trauma Journal

  • DOI: 10.1177/14604086221079441

 

Nicole completed a counselling internship with Edmonton Catholic School District where she did psychological assessments, individual and group counselling as well as crisis intervention for adolescents in a junior high school setting. She also provided online counselling for adults using an online video platform.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Nicole graduated from the University of Alberta in 2013. Her major was in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Nicole participated in independent studies on thematic dream analysis.

Post-Graduate Training

Nicole recognizes that ongoing training is a vital piece of her professional development and has a plan to continue developing her professional skills with post graduate training on body-oriented approaches to trauma.

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Additional Training:​​

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • EMDR Flash Technique

  • EMDR Parent Child Attachment Specialist Certificate Program

  • Introduction to First Responder Culture, Warrior Health Training 

  • Introduction to Trauma Exposed Professionals, Warrior Health

  • Introduction to Play Therapy

  • Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) 

  • PTSD in Newcomer Families (EPS) 

  • Counseling on Access to Lethal Means 

  • Mental Health First Aid 

  • CISM- Critical Incident Stress Management: Group & Individual

  • ASIST- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

Mental Health Experience

With ten years of experience in the mental health field, Nicole works with school-aged children, youth and adolescents with unique and diverse needs. Nicole offers a trauma informed, attachment based and person-centered approach to counselling. Nicole is passionate about working with children and adolescents on issues impacting their development, mental health, and wellbeing. Nicole enjoys working with young people and has been credited with significant changes in the mental health of her clients. Nicole believes that early mental health intervention contributes to improved developmental and behavioural outcomes in children. Nicole also understands that caregivers are an integral part of the success of the therapeutic process and emphasizes the importance of a collaborative approach towards meeting the therapeutic goals of their children.

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Nicole enjoys working with trauma clients. She is excited about the growth she sees in her clients, and is aware of the significant positive impact that trauma processing can have on people of all ages. Nicole's ongoing training in EMDR has allowed her to work with a variety of trauma concerns with great success.

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Professional Experience

Nicole has spent the last seven years working for first responder agencies. During this time, she has engaged in many training programs and conversations with first responders about mental health. Throughout her degree she extensively researched the mental health of first responders and has a comprehensive understanding of the psychological needs of a population routinely exposed to trauma.

 

Nicole worked as the Mental Health Coordinator for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services in 2017 and 2018. In this position, she worked with employees in identifying mental health issues and provided them with referrals. Nicole facilitated training programs for employees and their families. Nicole also conducted crisis intervention for firefighters after critical incidents.

 

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