Our Team
Niam Keyes
Registered Provisional Psychologist
If you’re reading this, it’s likely that some part of you is feeling ready for change. You may be experiencing unbearable pain, or perhaps just not quite like yourself. Do your goals feel just out of reach? You might even be unsure of what your goals are.
I get it. This moment, right before the leap into change, can be terrifying and overwhelming. It can be so hard to know where to start. For many of us, investing in ourselves goes overlooked for far too long. You don’t need to know yet where you’ll end up, you just need to focus on this first step toward something new.
We can’t escape life’s challenges, but we also don’t need to endure them alone. You are so much more capable than you realize; sometimes we just need help finding clarity in the struggle.
My approach:
Humans are built for connection, and that’s exactly what I prioritize as a therapist. Therapy is a place to slow down and experience the safety of being heard, seen, and accepted just as you are. I believe that profound healing happens in the security of a safe relationship. Part of my job is to help you discover that healing– in therapy and in your own relationships.
I don’t expect you to fit the mold of one specific approach to counselling. Together, we will explore what’s most important to you, what you want to change, and how your strengths will help you accomplish your goals. Depending on the challenges you’re facing, I will offer you options that are grounded in the research of what “works” in therapy, and I’ll respect your decision to choose what feels right for you.
My background:
My work in human services has included supporting individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities, crisis intervention, and early childhood development. My education in developmental psychology, experiences supporting families with young children, and life lessons as a mother all contribute to my passion for understanding how our early experiences shape who we become.
I am a Registered Provisional Psychologist. I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. I am also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, The Gottman Method for Couples, Prolonged Exposure for PTSD, and support for individuals with ADHD.
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More About My specialties
[ Open All | Close All ]Children
... practice coping with challenges, and develop interpersonal skills that will set them up for healthy lifelong relationships. Parents play a huge role in supporting children’s progress in therapy: I will work together with you to set you up with a toolbox of skills to support your child at home.
Teens
...As teens learn to navigate life and make decisions about the person they’re becoming, there are huge benefits to providing them with knowledge and skills to support their mental health. Relationship turmoil, self-harm, and suicidality are all frequent concerns during these years. At the same time, developmentally normal changes to the parent-teen relationship can be painful for parents to experience. When working with teens, I am careful to collaborate with parents to strike the right balance between honouring teens’ privacy and ensuring their parents feel confident about the support they’re receiving.
Couples
...Throw parenting, sex, illness, work, and whatever else into the mix and suddenly cracks in the foundation can lead to larger issues.
I use The Gottman Method for Couples to teach partners helpful scripts and strategies to express their needs effectively, help their partner feel heard, and improve connection. I don’t choose sides: I help partners get a deeper understanding of themselves, each other, and their relationship.
Trauma
... Many symptoms after experiencing trauma are a normal, healthy response that require time and gentle support to work through. Some post-traumatic experiences may require more specific approaches to help your brain and body integrate the experience in a healthy way. For symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), I am trained in a first-line recommended and highly researched treatment protocol called Prolonged Exposure.