Rued-Fraser Psychology Services

10/01/2025

08/29/2025

Offering fully virtual services from the comfort of your own home or office!

08/20/2025

Holistic Therapy

A Holistic and Relational Approach to Healing

Annemarie believes that healing happens in the context of safety, connection, and meaning. Her approach is grounded in the understanding that we are not just minds or bodies—but whole beings shaped by our relationships, experiences, culture, and environment.

Drawing from both modern neuroscience and timeless wisdom traditions, Annemarie creates a therapeutic space that honors each client’s unique story. She integrates insights from Polyvagal Theory, Attachment Theory, Existential Therapy, and the Indigenous Medicine Wheel to support healing on emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual levels.

Whether you’re navigating trauma, life transitions, or a search for deeper purpose, Annemarie walks alongside you with compassion, curiosity, and respect.

08/09/2025

Did you know that Rued-Fraser Psychology offers virtual therapy in English or French, to people anywhere in Alberta, Quebec, and the Maritimes?

Hi, I’m Annemarie Rued-Fraser, a Registered Psychologist with more than 10 years of experience specializing in the treatment of complex traumas

I will help you build a pathway to understanding and overcoming life’s challenges so that you can achieve the personal growth, clarity, and freedom that are rightfully yours.

I work with clients to facilitate the journey to better mental and emotional health in a way that is best suited to each individual’s needs, their way of experiencing the world, and themselves. Become the person you were always destined to be.

08/06/2025

Benefits of Virtual Psychotherapy

Convenience & Flexibility

You can attend sessions from the comfort of your home, office, or even while traveling. This makes it easier to fit therapy into your busy schedule—no commute required!

Greater Accessibility

Virtual therapy removes barriers for people who live in rural areas, have mobility challenges, or lack reliable transportation.

Comfort & Privacy

Being in a familiar environment can help you feel more relaxed and open during sessions. Plus, you can choose a private space that feels safe and secure to you.

07/28/2025

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction—can significantly shape how we relate to others in adulthood. These early experiences impact brain development, emotional regulation, and core beliefs about self and others.

Here are some key ways ACEs can affect adult relationships:

1. Attachment Patterns

ACEs often disrupt secure attachment formation, leading to patterns like:

Anxious attachment: fear of abandonment, needing constant reassurance.
Avoidant attachment: emotional distancing, discomfort with intimacy.
Disorganized attachment: vacillating between craving closeness and pushing people away.
These patterns can make trust, vulnerability, and emotional intimacy difficult.

2. Emotional Regulation

Children exposed to chronic stress or trauma may struggle with:

Managing strong emotions (e.g., anger, fear, sadness).
Reacting disproportionately to perceived rejection or criticism.
Either shutting down emotionally or becoming overwhelmed in conflict.
This can lead to communication issues or high-conflict dynamics in relationships.

3. Sense of Self-Worth

When caregivers are critical, absent, or inconsistent, children may internalize beliefs like:

“I’m not good enough.”
“I have to earn love or approval.”
These beliefs can manifest as people-pleasing, perfectionism, or fear of being a burden in adult relationships.

4. Boundaries

ACEs may result in:

Weak boundaries: trouble saying no, overextending oneself to gain approval.
Rigid boundaries: keeping others at arm’s length to avoid being hurt.
Both extremes can hinder mutual respect and trust.

5. Repetition of Dysfunctional Dynamics

Without awareness or healing, individuals may:

Gravitate toward familiar but unhealthy relationship patterns.
Unconsciously reenact childhood roles (e.g., caretaker, scapegoat, peacekeeper).
Choose partners who replicate early experiences of neglect, chaos, or control.
6. Hypervigilance and Mistrust

ACEs, especially when trauma is involved, can lead to:

Constant scanning for danger or betrayal.
Misinterpreting neutral cues as threats.
Difficulty relaxing into safe, stable relationships.

The Good News: Healing Is Possible

While ACEs have lasting effects, they don’t define you. Healing can happen through:

Therapy, especially trauma-informed approaches (e.g., EMDR, IFS, somatic therapy).

Healthy relationships that model trust, safety, and emotional attunement.

Self-awareness and self-compassion, which can reshape inner narratives and patterns.

07/23/2025

Is Seeing a Psychologist a Sign of Weakness? Quite the Opposite.

There’s still a lingering misconception that seeking help from a psychologist means you’re weak, “crazy,” or self-indulgent. But in truth, nothing could be further from reality.

The courage it takes to look inward—to face the parts of ourselves we’d rather avoid, to examine our patterns, fears, and contradictions—is a profound act of strength.

As Carl Jung once said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” Therapy invites us into that very process: to bravely acknowledge the shadow aspects of ourselves and integrate them, rather than deny or disown them. This isn’t about self-judgment—it’s about self-awareness, compassion, and transformation.

It can be tempting to avoid this kind of deep self-examination. After all, as Nietzsche pointed out, “If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” And yet, it’s in this gaze—this unflinching willingness to confront our inner world—that we find our way toward authenticity. Real growth doesn’t come from pretending we’re fine; it comes from embracing our complexity.

Irvin Yalom, a psychiatrist and author known for his existential approach to therapy, put it simply: “The act of revealing oneself fully to another and still being accepted may be the major vehicle of therapeutic help.” At its core, therapy offers a space not just for insight, but for connection—a space where we can be fully seen and still be held with care.

So no, seeing a psychologist isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a commitment to living more consciously. It’s a choice to stop running from ourselves, and instead move toward a fuller, more integrated life.

Far from a flaw, this is the work of becoming whole.

07/21/2025

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Building Skills for Emotional Balance and Stronger Relationships

DBT teaches practical tools for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and navigating life’s challenges. It’s especially helpful for those who feel overwhelmed, reactive, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve them.

DBT is a structured, skills-based therapy that helps individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and develop healthier coping strategies. Originally developed for people with borderline personality disorder, DBT is now widely used to support anyone struggling with emotional regulation, self-harm, or interpersonal challenges.

Through DBT, clients learn:

Mindfulness and present-moment awareness

Tools for managing overwhelming emotions

Strategies for navigating conflict and setting boundaries

Ways to reduce impulsive or self-destructive behaviors

Annemarie integrates DBT techniques to help clients build a more stable, fulfilling life.

07/20/2025

What Is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help people heal from the emotional distress caused by traumatic or disturbing life experiences. It was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and is widely recognized for its effectiveness in treating trauma-related conditions.

How Does EMDR Work?

EMDR helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories, so they no longer cause intense emotional reactions. It uses bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds—to mimic the brain’s natural processing during REM sleep. This stimulation helps “unstick” traumatic memories and allows the brain to integrate them in a healthier way.

What Can EMDR Help With?

Originally developed for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), EMDR is now used to treat a wide range of issues, including:

Anxiety and panic attacks
Depression
Phobias and fears
Performance anxiety
Chronic pain
Childhood trauma and neglect

What to Expect in a Session?

EMDR therapy follows an eight-phase protocol, including:
History-taking and treatment planning
Preparation and education
Assessment of target memories
Desensitization using bilateral stimulation
Installation of positive beliefs
Body scan for residual tension
Closure
Re-evaluation in future sessions

During the desensitization phase, you’ll focus on a specific memory while following the therapist’s finger or another stimulus. You’ll briefly revisit the memory, then report what comes up. Over time, the memory becomes less distressing and more neutral.

Is EMDR Right for You?

EMDR can be highly effective, but it’s not for everyone. It’s important to work with a trained therapist who can assess whether EMDR is appropriate for your needs. Many clients report significant relief in fewer sessions than traditional talk therapy.

Please contact us if you have any further questions about EMDR or therapy services!

07/19/2025

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Healing Trauma by Rewiring the Brain

EMDR helps people process and heal from trauma and distressing experiences by using guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation.

It reduces the emotional charge of painful memories and supports lasting emotional relief.

07/19/2025

Hi, I’m Annemarie Rued-Fraser, a Registered Psychologist with more than 10 years of experience specializing in the treatment of complex traumas

I will help you build a pathway to understanding and overcoming life’s challenges so that you can achieve the personal growth, clarity, and freedom that are rightfully yours.

I work with clients to facilitate the journey to better mental and emotional health in a way that is best suited to each individual’s needs, their way of experiencing the world, and themselves. Become the person you were always destined to be.