We offer trauma-informed coaching and counselling for adults healing from childhood trauma, trauma, and relational wounds. Online and in-person in Calgary.
EMDR and parts work therapy help clients build resilience, reclaim agency, and transform. Bright Horizon Therapies offers trauma-informed coaching and counselling for adults working to heal from adversities, including childhood abuse, trauma and relational wounds. Using evidence-based approaches such as EMDR and parts work therapy, we support clients in moving beyond complex trauma, anxiety, grief, and relationship challenges. Our holistic approach, rooted in social justice, helps clients reclaim agency, build resilience, and achieve lasting transformation. Flexible online sessions are available for clients across Canada and worldwide, with in-person sessions in Calgary.
09/04/2025
Finding calm in uncertain times
I don’t know about you, but the world feels a bit out of control right now. When the noise and stress around us build up, it can shake our sense of safety and connection.
While we can’t change the state of the world overnight, we can focus on small, grounding practices that help bring back a sense of calm and control.
Here are two that I often use and share:
5–4–3–2–1 Grounding
Look around you and gently name:
5 things you can see
4 things you can feel
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
This helps your nervous system shift away from overwhelm and back into the present moment.
Step Away from the Scroll
Disengage from social media for a while, take a short walk, or step outside. Even five minutes can help reset your system and remind your body to go back to the present.
These may seem simple, but simple is powerful when it comes to regulating the nervous system.
Which of these practices resonates most with you today?
08/11/2025
Healing Relational Trauma: What Nobody Tells You
Healing from relational trauma isn’t about fixing others — it’s about reclaiming your power.
In this honest episode, I share six core truths I’ve learned through lived experience and my work as a trauma counsellor. Healing won’t always bring perfect relationships or protect you from pain — but it can help you:
✔ Trust yourself
✔ Set clear boundaries
✔ Choose self-respect, even when others don’t
If you’ve wondered why healing hasn’t brought the relationships you hoped for, or whether it’s okay to walk away from someone you love, this episode offers grounded insights and gentle encouragement for your journey.
Listen here:
Discover six powerful truths about healing from relational trauma. Learn in this honest episode why self-respect matters for your wellbeing.
08/10/2025
Like many counsellors, I have a paid profile on Psychology Today—and I pay the exact same rate as my cisgender colleagues. But I recently noticed something concerning: their “quick filter” for gender offers only two options—male or female.
If someone chooses the quick filter without thinking (and most people do), my profile as a non-binary counsellor will be excluded. That means I become literally unsearchable—even by cisgender folks, who make up a large part of the people I work with.
I’m curious—what do you think about this? How important is it for platforms like Psychology Today to offer more inclusive options for gender identity when people are seeking support?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Send a message to learn more
07/19/2025
I’m deeply honoured to receive the GHP Mental Health Award for Leading Social Justice in Trauma Therapy Advocacy (Canada).
I don’t do this work for awards or recognition, but this moment means a lot to me. Over the past 11 years, I’ve spoken up repeatedly to advocate for social justice in trauma healing. Yet, the times I was silenced, excluded, or ignored have far outnumbered the moments when my voice sparked change. My heart grieves those losses, but still, I keep going.
My own healing journey has shown me that healing and social justice are inseparable. In today’s political climate, with increasing hatred toward trans and non-binary people, this award carries both honour and sadness. I wish more people would engage meaningfully with this vital work, but no matter what, I remain committed to the path.
This award reaffirms my mission: co-creating trauma-informed, anti-oppressive healing spaces where people can reclaim their voice, reconnect with their worth, and live with greater freedom and integrity.
Thank you to everyone who supports this vision. Together, we can keep building a healthier and more just world.
Discover my work in trauma therapy, recognized by the GHP Mental Health Award for its commitment to social justice.
06/25/2025
What does safety really mean in healing?
In this short clip, I share why safety isn’t a destination—but a journey of growth.
It’s a question I hear often—and the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all.
In my newest blog post, I examine EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS), two powerful approaches to healing, from a trauma-informed perspective. I share insights from my training and real-life practice, including why I believe integration is often essential, especially when working with complex or relational trauma.
Whether you're curious about recovery or want to understand these models more deeply, I hope this article brings clarity and empowerment.
Read the full post here:
Explore IFS and EMDR as effective trauma recovery models. Discover how they can transform your healing journey today.
03/06/2025
What Trauma Isn’t – Two myths that keep people from seeking the help they need.
Healing from trauma requires a specialized approach, often called trauma counseling, which integrates different evidence-based trauma treatment modalities. Many of my clients have felt stuck in therapy because traditional talk therapy didn’t fully address their trauma.
So, how do you recognize trauma? This post highlights two common myths and reveals the truth about trauma and healing.
Learning to set healthy boundaries was an essential skill on my healing journey from childhood abuse. This quote from Mandy Hale often inspired me to redefine my boundaries and raise my standards for who I allow into my life. What inspired you to set healthy boundaries?
02/27/2025
Did you know that your nervous system shifts between different states depending on the cues of safety and danger in your environment, your relationships and your body?
The image breaks down the states of Polyvagal Theory:
🔹 Ventral Vagal (Safety & Connection) – Feeling calm, socially engaged, emotionally balanced and present.
🔹 Sympathetic (Fight or Flight) – Feeling restless, anxious, or reactive. Having overwhelming emotions and a need to take action.
🔹 Dorsal Vagal (Shutdown & Freeze) – Feeling numb, withdrawn, or disconnected.
Past trauma can also leave us in a chronic state of Dorsal vagus or Sympathetic activation. The good news? We can shift our nervous system state with awareness, persistence and the appropriate tools.
Learning to set healthy boundaries was one of the most empowering parts of my healing journey. I learned to discern what was okay for me and what wasn’t. The more I healed, the better I became at refining my boundaries. As a result, I began to feel more fulfilled and happier in my life. This skill is vital in my work with clients, especially since childhood abuse or relational and systemic trauma often involve constant boundary violations. We can learn this skill and make choices that empower us.
This post gives you three questions to reflect on your boundaries.
In my work, I have the privilege of holding space for people who share some of the most difficult experiences of their lives. Speaking about trauma—especially sexual abuse—takes immense strength. It’s a deeply vulnerable act, and how those words are received can shape a survivor’s healing journey.
Too many people have not only endured trauma but have also been harmed by the responses of those they turned to for support. Being dismissed, blamed, or invalidated can add another layer of pain. Finding the right support—someone who listens with care and believes your experience—makes all the difference.
I get it. I’ve been in a similar position as a client, searching for the right support and hoping to be met with understanding. It shouldn’t be so hard to find appropriate trauma-informed care, yet for many, it is.
To those who have shared their stories with me and to those who are not yet ready, I see you. You deserve to be heard with compassion, not judgment. You deserve support that validates your experience and empowers your healing.
If you're navigating trauma, know this: You are not alone. And you never have to walk this path unsupported.
You might notice that most of our older posts are gone. I’ve decided to update my feed to keep it clear, readable, and aligned with my vision. 💙
I’m excited to share more about healing from trauma, navigating grief an loss, and relationships in a way that feels right. Thanks for being here on this journey!
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Find Freedom with Freedom Counselling Calgary.
Transform a past of abuse and trauma and find joy in healthy, authentic relationship.
It was a warm Tuesday morning in September when my mother died after a period of great suffering. I could not imagine my life without her and I did not have any idea how my life was going to unfold. Her doctor encouraged me to see my mother’s death as though it had brought her freedom. I sensed by the energy of her words that being free must be wonderful. Freedom was a concept that I had never known before; sadness and sorrow was what I knew. I felt that maybe it was a wonderful choice for my mum. It was that day when I was 19 years old that I left home. I left behind years of darkness, violence and abusive relationships and began my own search for freedom.
Years later while washing my hair, I caught myself watching the water disappear down the drain. A feeling emerged from within me that I could finally put words to; I felt as if it was my life that was running away. I had a good job and a relationship, but I was trapped in my own fears and with a deep feeling of worthlessness. I knew that I deserved something better. I needed to do something and I knew that only I could make the difference. So I started this process of change. I cut my hair, took drawing classes, started yoga and moved into an internationally based career. I could not wait to see if the personal changes I was making would make other areas of my life better. I was ready to take responsibility for my own happiness.
I was sitting in a little bar by the Bi Tan Lake in Taiwan sharing stories with some of my colleagues of our relationships. I could hear the love and respect they had in their voices when they spoke of their partners. I could not speak this way about my partner; I did not feel those things. I realized with clarity that my relationship was not the way I wanted it to be. Soon after, my attempt to make changes failed and I decided that it was better to stay alone. I knew I would find the relationship that was right for me one day. Once again, being clear about my goal made it possible for me to take the right action at the right time.
On a sunny day in May I was sitting in a park with my sister, starting my new single life with a picnic. I was full of enthusiasm about what I was going to do next. I had never felt at home in Germany and I had always dreamed of living abroad. If finally felt like the right time for me to go. Three months later I arrived in Barcelona and started learning Spanish. Soon after, I found a job and made it a permanent move. It felt like home here instantly, like I had never felt anywhere else. I had finally found my freedom, 19 years after leaving home.
Natalie has founded Freedom Counselling Calgary to support people to break free from their past and find freedom.
Freedom Counselling Calgary
Our Mission
We empower people in Calgary to find joy in healthy, authentic relationships that are free from abuse of power.
Our Vision
We provide compassionate, non-judgmental and integrative counselling and healing services that allow people to connect body, mind and spirit and to heal on a deep level.
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