Andrea (Thrall) Dobbs, MACP, R.P Psych

Registered Psychologist
306, 200 Boudreau Road, St Albert, Alberta, T8N 6B9
Phone: 825-343-5996
Send A Message To Andrea.
Session Fees: Fees for Registered Provisional Psychologists range from $160-$180 per hour; Student Therapist Fees are $75 / hr
www.thecounsellingspace.ca
This member is also available for online counseling.
Online-counseling methods: Phone, Webcam

Free 30 Minute Initial Consultation

We firmly believe in the healing power of relationship and we strive to nurture my clients’ connection to loved ones and significant others. We believe that positive change starts with healthy individuals who then form healthy relationships and establish positive child-parent connections. These relationships give rise to healthy families and thriving communities. To us, empathy and compassion are at the heart of healthy connection and by creating a space for these qualities to flourish, we take the first steps toward healing.

At The Counselling Space, the therapeutic relationship is an essential starting place for positive growth. Therapy is a space to be received and welcomed, a space where we can look at life’s challenges with a compassionate eye so that we may be curious about what changes might make life more enjoyable.

We are a group that includes a Registered Psychologist, three Registered Provisional Psychologists, a Certified Canadian Counsellor and a Master's Level Student Therapist. Together, we represent a wide range of experiences and backgrounds in the field of mental health. We have extensive experience and training in providing counselling to children, adolescents, adults, couples and families.

In therapy, we incorporate a variety of modalities, including: Internal Family Systems, Person Centered Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Art-based Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, Solution Focussed Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Play Therapy and Mindfulness-Based stress management. When supporting children, we rely on play-based therapeutic strategies and have formal training in Play Therapy.

Counselling Children:
Working with children is both a joy and an honour for us. With many years’ experience supporting families and providing counselling to children within an elementary school settings, our therapists offer a broad framework for understanding the unique needs of children. We believe that children thrive when they have a secure, healthy attachment to their caregivers. Because of this belief, our therapeutic work with children often includes a combination of parental support and individual, play-based therapy. We also incorporate a variety of mindfulness, play and art-based strategies to encourage children to become more aware of, and better able to manage, their feelings.

Counselling Adolescents:
At The Counselling Space, we view adolescence as a rich period of growth for both teens and parents. By understanding the neurological changes happening in the teenage brain, we encourage parents and youth to embrace this exciting phase of development. We enjoy working with teens and supporting their emerging sense of identity through a variety of creative approaches. For example, we incorporate elements of talk therapy, artistic expression, and mindfulness skills. We believe that unconditional acceptance and compassion are essential in any therapeutic relationship, but especially so with teen clients.

Counselling Couples:
We view relationships as essential to our sense of wellbeing and connection to the world around us. In many ways, relationships can be a source of great fulfillment as well as deep suffering. When our relationship is struggling, we can experience a range of feelings including sadness, loneliness, frustration and anger. We believe that in therapy, couples can work together to heal past hurts, learn new skills and build a new future for themselves and their family. When we work with couples, we look to understand the influence of early family experiences on current challenges and support couples to develop more fulfilling ways of relating to each other. In doing so, we draw on principles of Nonviolent Communication, Emotion Focussed Therapy techniques and skills from the Gottman method. We see couples counselling as a truly rewarding opportunity for couples to develop and move into their best selves.

Working With Anxiety:
Whether it’s racing thoughts, chronic worry, shaky hands, or a pounding heart, anxiety can take away from our ability to enjoy life and take pleasure in daily experiences. Anxiety can show up in many ways and negatively impact our feelings, thoughts, physiology and relationships. The good news is that therapy can be an excellent opportunity to learn new ways of being that incorporate a greater sense of peace and calm. When supporting clients who struggle with anxiety, we draw on a variety of therapeutic approaches, including skill development, cognitive therapy, and mindfulness training.

Working with Trauma:
Experiencing trauma, whether in childhood or through upsetting events later in life, can have a lasting impact on many aspects of our wellbeing. The process of healing after trauma is unique to each person, though we keep in mind a broad framework of phases. First, we support individuals to strengthen their ability to effectively cope with difficult emotions, then we work together to process and integrate traumatic memories. Lastly, we strive to restore a sense of connection to community and to find meaning in personal activities. By working together in a safe space, we can use therapy as an opportunity to move beyond hurt and into a place of acceptance and healing. Additionally, we are trained in the use of EMDR and ART, and often incorporate this intervention when supporting clients who have trauma histories.

Our areas of specialty:
Children and Teens
Men's mental health
Anxiety
Anger management
Adjusting to a blended family
Coping with divorce / separation
Depression
Effective communication skills
Grief and Loss
Life transitions
Self esteem
Self-harm, suicidal thoughts
Stress management (work / school)
Trauma
Veterans
First Responders
Adults
Healthy relationship skills
Individual growth and development
Parenting challenges
Couples
Communication and conflict resolution
Healing after an affair
Healthy relationship dynamics
Co-parenting following divorce / separation
Relationship challenges

Therapy Approaches:
Internal Family Systems
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Existential
Family Systems
Gottman
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Narrative
Person-Centered
Play
Solution Focused
Trauma Informed
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Andrea (Thrall) Dobbs Reaches

St Albert AB

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