Indigenous Psychological Services

04/15/2026

Allan Schore reminds us that the right brain is deeply shaped by our relationships. When we experience relational injury, our brain can lose its sense of regulation and shift into survival mode. In these moments of protection, we’re no longer able to be fully present, connected, or open—we’re simply trying to stay safe.

When we are stuck in protection, we can’t also be in connection.

Healing the right brain doesn’t always come through words. It’s often found in the rhythms of our cultural practices—when we dance, when we sing, when we pray. These experiences invite connection, restore regulation, and gently bring us back to ourselves and to one another.

There is deep wisdom in these practices. They help us move from survival back into relationship, where true healing can begIn.

04/08/2026

More cuts!!!

In Ottawa, leaders of several Indigenous organizations raise concerns about the expiration of federal funding related to the issue of missing and murdered In...

03/31/2026

Throughout March, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Community Engagement team was pleased to partner with the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations Indian Residential School department on a series of information sessions in Treaty No. 6 Territory.

They visited Edmonton, Cold Lake, and Red Deer where they met with Survivors, Elders and community members from sixteen Nations throughout Treaty No. 6 to share important updates on the NCTR’s work including their archives, access to records, and statement gathering. They began and ended the sessions in prayer to uplift their spirits and remain grounded in discussions. These sessions helped to strengthen relationships with partners, encourage meaningful dialogue, and continue efforts to share and uphold the truths.

The team works with Nations and various communities across the country to reach residential school Survivors and their families. On the NCTR’s Missing Children and Unmarked Burials Initiative, their main goals are to build relationships with communities to identify and commemorate the children who died or went missing; and consult with communities to build a shared vision for a new Burial Site Repository.

The Burials Site Repository will serve as an online tool for Survivors, families, communities, and researchers to store private burial site data and create their own interactive maps. Development of the repository is currently in progress, and we are aiming to launch it in the near future.

The NCTR’s Missing Children and Unmarked Burials Initiative is mandated to fulfil the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 72 and 73, which call for the identification and commemoration of children who died as a result of the residential school system.

03/27/2026

Meet Lindsay ✨

A Master of Counselling Psychology Intern at Indigenous Psychological Services. Lindsay completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology before beginning an After Degree in Education at Concordia University of Edmonton. Although she first imagined becoming a teacher, she quickly realized it was the relational side of the work that inspired her most, leading her to pursue the Master’s of Counselling Psychology program at CityU of Seattle.

Lindsay believes every person has a story that deserves to be heard with care, compassion, and without judgment! She approaches counselling from a warm, relational, and collaborative lens; with a deep belief in each person’s capacity for healing, growth, and reconnection to the strengths already within them.

She resonates with a Two-Eyed Seeing Approach, honouring both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing in practice. Lindsay identifies as Métis with roots on her father’s side and views her work at IPS as part of an ongoing journey of cultural reconnection, learning, and humility...

Her work is grounded in trauma-informed care while integrating Person-Centered Therapy, Somatic-Based Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy perspectives into practice. She especially loves working with children and teens, while also feeling honoured to support adults navigating life’s challenges.

If you feel called to connect with Lindsay – Call 587-594-9855 (9am — 4pm) to schedule your session.

Indigenous Psychological Services offers culturally and trauma-informed counseling and psychological support, with services led by Indigenous psychologists or professionals trained in Indigenous counseling. We provide specialized Indigenous training and workshops to enhance cultural competency and u...

03/20/2026

One of our Presenters shared her knowledge in working with ADHD in schools. Dakota Gladue presented yesterday and here is what she discussed:

Creating safe, supportive environments for kiddos with ADHD isn’t about “fixing” them — it’s about understanding them.

In her recent presentation, she focused on using strength-based, reframing language to shift how we see and support children with ADHD. When we move from “challenging behavior” to “communication,” and from “deficits” to “strengths,” we begin to build spaces where kids feel seen, capable, and valued.

Through an Indigenous lens, connection to land, body, and relationship becomes essential. The land teaches regulation, grounding, and belonging — things many ADHD kiddos are often searching for in structured environments that don’t always fit them.
When we create safe spaces, kids don’t have to mask — they can show up as they are.

Let’s keep building environments where children feel:
• Safe in their bodies
• Connected to their environment
• Understood in their experiences
• Empowered by their strengths

Because when kids feel safe, they thrive.

Great messages by Dakota Gladue. Our Indigenous Mental health therapist

Indigenous Psychological Services offers culturally and trauma-informed counseling and psychological support, with services led by Indigenous psychologists or professionals trained in Indigenous counseling. We provide specialized Indigenous training and workshops to enhance cultural competency and u...

03/18/2026

kisêwâtisiwin ᑭᓭᐊᐧᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ — kindness

To be kind is a choice.

When we choose kindness our body, mind, spirit, and emotion notice this.

When we choose kindness our communities, children, animals, Mother Earth, and ancestors feel this.

As we choose kindness we can all gather some good into becoming more as one. ❤️🪶✨🧡

03/16/2026

How amazing it was to witness her story.

03/16/2026

Meet Michelle ✨

A Master’s of Counselling Psychology Intern at Indigenous Psychological Services. Michelle joins our team with knowledge and good energy from working in Indigenous health and wellness that is rooted in holistic healing, cultural grounding, and community empowerment for over 18 years. Currently, she is completing her Master’s of Counselling Psychology degree at Yorkville University and completed her undergraduate degree in Social Sciences at Kings University College.

Michelle is a Cree woman/nêhiyaw iskwêw and proud member of Kawacatoose First Nation (Treaty 4 Territory).

She collaborates with adults and Elders utilizing her teachings from a trauma-informed approach to acknowledge other’s unique individuality and notice their own medicine as she believes each person has these gifts. Michelle’s work is rooted in supporting individual’s through reconnecting to their inner wisdom from a space of compassion, intuition, and Indigenous teachings.

The therapeutic modalities that Michelle practices are Compassion-Focused Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, and Narrative Therapy; while integrating a Two-Eyed Seeing approach that offers a diverse foundation of Indigenous ways of knowing and Western-Evidence Based Research that allow her to meet each client with cultural humility and walk with them alongside their path in the journey of healing.

If you feel called to connect with Michelle — Call 587-594-9855 (9am-4pm) to schedule your session.