Amy Quintal, IMSW RSW

05/07/2026

It’s difficult to put words to how crucial these skills and training are. Two more days of learning. I’m so grateful to be part of Indigenous Psychological Services and to learn from Karlee Fellner with ᒪᐢᑭᐦᑭᕀ maskihkiy wellness and the founder / grandmother of IFOT, Shirley Turcotte.

05/02/2026

Eduardo Duran and Renee Linklater have both critically examined how dominant Western therapeutic models can inadvertently perpetuate harm when working with Indigenous clients. They describe how conventional approaches rooted in individualism, pathology-based diagnosis, and symptom reduction may ignore the historical, cultural, and spiritual contexts central to Indigenous wellbeing.

Duran argues that Western psychology often medicalizes responses to colonial violence, framing distress as individual dysfunction rather than as a reflection of historical trauma, land dispossession, and cultural disruption. When therapy centers on “fixing” the individual without acknowledging collective and intergenerational trauma, it can replicate colonial dynamics positioning the clinician as expert and the Indigenous client as deficient. This dynamic risks patronization and reinforces power imbalances embedded in colonial systems. We can bring the spirit back by providing therapy that heals soul wound.

Renee Linklater similarly critiques mainstream mental health frameworks for failing to address the spiritual dimensions of healing. She emphasizes that for many Indigenous communities, wellness is inseparable from relationships—to land, ancestors, community, and spirit. Speaking the language is a part of the therapeutic process. Having land available in the sessions. Do you have plants, land bowls and rocks in the room.

05/01/2026

05/01/2026

People think they understand ADHD… until you try to explain what it actually feels like to live with it.

From the outside, it looks simple. Almost too simple.

But the reality is something most people never even come close to seeing.

**What People Think ADHD Is**

Most people reduce ADHD to just two things.

Distraction and hyperactivity.

They imagine someone who can’t sit still or someone who just loses focus easily.

And because it looks visible and obvious, they assume it’s manageable with a little more effort, discipline, or control.

But that version is only a tiny fraction of the full picture.

**The Reality That Stays Invisible**

ADHD is not just about losing focus.

It’s about attention that shifts without permission — even when you’re trying your best to hold onto it.

It’s about sitting down to start something important and feeling completely stuck, despite knowing exactly what needs to be done.

It’s about your brain choosing low-priority tasks, not because they matter more, but because they feel easier to begin.

And this constant internal battle is exhausting in ways that are hard to explain.

**The Mental Overload No One Sees**

Imagine your mind trying to process everything at once.

Thoughts don’t come one by one — they come all together.

Plans, worries, reminders, ideas — all competing for attention at the same time.

This is cognitive overload.

And when your brain is overloaded, even simple decisions can feel overwhelming.

That’s why something small can suddenly feel like too much.

**The Emotional Intensity Behind It**

ADHD is deeply emotional, even if people don’t talk about it that way.

Reactions feel stronger. Frustration hits faster. Disappointment lingers longer.

It’s not about being “too sensitive.”

It’s about a nervous system that processes emotions with more intensity and less regulation.

So while others move on quickly, you’re still trying to settle what you felt.

**The Time That Never Feels Right**

Time doesn’t behave normally with ADHD.

Sometimes it disappears completely. Other times, it drags endlessly.

You think you have time, until suddenly you don’t.

Deadlines feel distant… until they become urgent all at once.

This distorted sense of time creates a cycle of stress, rushing, and feeling behind.

**The Exhaustion of Constant Effort**

One of the least understood parts of ADHD is how tiring it is.

Trying to stay focused. Trying to stay organized. Trying to keep up.

It’s a constant mental effort that most people never have to think about.

So even when it looks like nothing is happening, there’s a lot happening internally.

And that’s what leaves you drained.

**Why Understanding Changes Everything**

When ADHD is seen only as distraction or hyperactivity, the real struggles get dismissed.

But when you understand the full picture — the overload, the emotional intensity, the time distortion, the exhaustion — it becomes clear that this is not about trying harder.

It’s about understanding differently.

Because ADHD isn’t just what people see.

It’s everything they don’t.

04/30/2026

One of Leigh’s favorite people in the whole world is Dr. Michael Yellow Bird. His work has profoundly shaped how we understand brain health, cognitive resilience, and the powerful role of culture in healing.

Dr. Yellow Bird teaches that trauma is not just psychological — it can be carried in the body and even reflected in our biology. If it is Psychological- it is Physiological. The brain can become conditioned for survival, remaining in states of hypervigilance, shutdown, or chronic stress. However, the brain is also capable of change. Through intentional, daily practices, we can build capacity, strengthen regulation, and restore balance.

Imagine this: the same brain shaped by DNA trauma can also be reshaped by culture, movement, mindfulness, and ancestral practices.

Holistic wellness is not an abstract concept — it is neurobiological. When we engage with the Medicine Wheel and attend to mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing, we are actively supporting brain integration. We are helping the nervous system shift out of survival states and into presence.

Trauma and chronic stress often feel like living in your head while your body carries overwhelming energy — or sometimes no energy at all. Cultural and land-based practices help regulate these states:

Going for a walk in nature can increase BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), supporting neural growth and repair.
Dancing and singing stimulate endorphins and endocannabinoids, enhancing mood and connection.
Speaking your language and engaging in cultural identity can activate the ventral vagal system, promoting safety, calm, and relational connection.
What many now call neuroscience, our ancestors have long known: move your body, connect to land, sing, speak your language, be in community.

This ancestral knowledge is not only culturally grounding — it is supported by contemporary brain science. The brain can change. The nervous system can recalibrate. Capacity can be built.

Culture is not separate from healing. Culture is medicine. Please google on you tube Dr. Micheal Yellow Birds amazing videos. He is spreading hope and healing one brain at a time.

04/23/2026

Welcome to the Digital World Workshop

Media is changing rapidly, especially for our children. As parents, caregivers, educators, and community members, it is essential that we not only stay involved, but also understand the opportunities, risks, and safety concerns that come with media use and access to the digital world.
Anela will be leading an informative seminar focused on how we can better protect and support our children in today’s digital environment. This workshop will provide practical knowledge, tools, and strategies to help adults guide children in safe and healthy media use.
Indigenous Psychological Services (IPS) is proud to host this workshop in honor of the communities we serve across many Nations throughout Alberta.
This session is open to:
    •    Parents and guardians
    •    Teachers and school staff
    •    Frontline workers
    •    Community service providers
Registration Details:
    •    Standard cost: $250 per person
    •    IPS is waiving the full cost for individuals covered under our service agreements within the Nations we serve
    •    Individuals not associated with IPS may attend for a reduced fee of $25
We encourage you to share this opportunity with any groups, colleagues, or community members who may benefit from attending.
Together, we can strengthen our knowledge and better support our children as they navigate the digital world.
Register here: https://forms.gle/hRXFk8UJ3Why7rHX8

04/12/2026

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and emotional dysregulation are often dismissed as "being dramatic," but the science shows they are physiological responses rooted in how the brain is wired.

Learn more by attending our upcoming presentation with specialist Cheryl Becker. She will be discussing Emotional Regulation, Overwhelm and Rejection Sensitivity

Free tickets on eventbrite.

04/09/2026

Something exciting is coming to Spruce Grove 🎉

Kickstand Spruce Grove opens its doors on April 22nd and you’re invited!

We’re bringing free youth-centred support to the community including:

✨Mental Health Support
✨Substance Use Counselling
✨Peer Support
✨Workshops & Activities
✨Employment Support

And more!

Come meet the team, check out the space, and connect with support designed for you.

We can’t wait to welcome you! Stay tuned for more details as we get closer 👀

03/31/2026

The Psychology Benefit Program, Ni Natoohtaan, provides financial support to Métis Citizens accessing care with Psychologists, Social workers, or Counsellor for longer-term and complex mental health needs. In partnership with Alberta Blue Cross, we are excited to offer a modern, best-in-class psychology benefit program.

If you are currently seeing a licensed Psychologist, Social Worker, or Counsellor you may be eligible to receive financial coverage for 12 sessions.

The next applications period will open on April 13th, 2026, and will remain open until all program spots have been filled. Applications will be processed on a first come first serve basis and you will be contacted by an MNA staff member to confirm your enrollment.

To review your eligibility and apply please go to albertametis.com/psychology-benefit-program