Brandi Gruninger

M.C., Registered Psychologist

Brandi is the owner and director of Evolution Psychology, is a registered psychologist, and specializes in adolescent and women's issues. Brandi has sixteen years' experience in the field and works from a primarily cognitive-behavioural (CBT) perspective to help clients modify their self-defeating thoughts to adapt to stressful environments, childhood trauma, or anxiety and depression symptoms. She utilizes Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) interventions for emotional distress and Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma.

She also specializes in helping clients recover from abusive relationships, disordered eating, and a negative body image using a CBT and Feminist perspective. Brandi enjoys working with adults and also specializes in older children and adolescents, with whom she helps to navigate issues such as peer relationships, self-harmful behaviour, body image issues, anxiety and depression that are common at this life stage. She enjoys working with mothers experiencing postpartum mental health issues, facilitates the Chrysalis group for teenage girls and enjoys presenting in workshops regarding domestic violence, balancing motherhood and mental health, stress management and anxiety, and general mental health issues in the school system.

Brandi also supervises provisional psychologists and enjoys mentoring student therapists. Brandi loves the genuine connections experienced in therapy and is authentic in her approach. She strives to create a beautiful, warm and comforting environment for clients and colleagues alike in Evolution Psychology.

Brandi is not currently accepting new clients.

Susan Eapen

MSC. MFT., REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

Susan received a Master of Science degree with a Marital and Family therapy focus from Loma Linda University. Susan has an interest in both working with couple and family dynamics. Her therapy style heavily draws from both solution-focused and family structure theories. She believes that clients are their best resource and sometimes need to be reminded of their inner strengths, desires and abilities. She also believes each individual is enriched with his or her own stories, history, and familial ties which have all contributed to the person he or she is today. Her philosophy is that people from all walks of life deserve to give themselves the chance to be the best “person” possible and everyone can do just that!

During her practice she has dealt with issues regarding relationships, couple dynamics, families, anxiety, stress, depression, marriage, divorce, mental health concerns, weight management, anger management and self-esteem. Susan believes in offering every client that comes through our doors a healing experience that is unique to them. Every human being deserves to be heard, listened to and understood and she looks forward to supporting you through many of life's challenges and struggles.

Susan currently has a wait list.

Emilie Morin-Yaremchuk

M.C., Registered Psychologist, PTI

Emilie is a registered psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and a member of the Psychologist Association of Alberta (PAA). She is a Play Therapist Intern with the Association for Play Therapy in the United States (APT) and is currently an intern with the Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT). She enjoys providing play therapy for children over the age of 4, as well as working with adolescents. She also believes in the importance of working with parents and families to help children succeed. She has experience working in multiple school districts and understands the dynamic relationship between home and school and the importance of creating a strong partnership to further help the child. She also has experience completing psychoeducational assessments with school-aged children.

Emilie recently completed specialized training in perinatal mental health and is expanding to work with women experiencing difficulties related to pregnancy or postpartum, including anxiety and depression.

Emilie takes a cognitive-behavioural approach, while also integrating client-centered theory, attachment theory, and mindfulness. Her goal is to offer a safe, comfortable space for clients and to provide a caring, honest, collaborative, and non-judgmental relationship.

Kirsten Weir

M.C., REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

Kirsten is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists with a Master of Counselling degree from City University of Seattle. Kirsten takes a person-centred approach to therapy recognizing the importance of meeting clients where they are at in their healing journey. She believes that every client is unique, valuable, has intrinsic strength, and has the potential to make meaningful change in their lives. In her sessions, Kirsten is warm, compassionate, and empathetic and emphasises the importance of creating a safe atmosphere for her clients. Kirsten provides her clients with the space to be seen, heard, validated, and supported, and helps them feel more comfortable with being vulnerable. Through her care, curiosity, nonjudgement and respect, Kirsten aims to foster a strong therapeutic alliance providing her clients with the opportunity to fully explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

Kirsten enjoys working with teens, adults, and couples. Kirsten is experienced in working with trauma; childhood abuse/neglect; attachment issues; domestic violence; depression; anxiety; mood disorders; grief and loss; boundaries; body image issues; self-esteem issues; relational issues; emotional regulation difficulties; self-harming behaviour; and addictions.   

Kirsten is trained in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT); Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR); Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT); Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT); Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT); Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT); and mindfulness. Kirsten is flexible in her treatment approaches, with the aim of providing her clients with interventions rooted in the best available research to help best target their treatment goals. 

Vanesa Nieto-Rucian

M.Sc., RegistereD Psychologist

Vanesa is a registered psychologist who believes in the importance of the mind-body connection: how negative thoughts and strong emotions can affect the body, debilitating the immune system and showing physical symptoms like tension, pain, stomach issues and difficulty sleeping among others.

She likes to work with adults, kids and families. She researched and published on the subject of how parental mental illness impacts the family system and how growing up in a family with a parent who is mentally unwell may affect a person’s decisions as an adult. She completed her undergraduate degree in Spain, Master’s degree in Psychology in the UK, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) at Harvard Medical School and post graduate studies in Canada.

Vanesa uses different approaches, providing flexible and individualized treatment depending of the needs of each client. She has specialized training in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that she uses to help clients to identify and modify thoughts, feelings and behaviors; mindfulness and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to help clients to regulate their emotions and strengthen their body mind connection; and eye movement desensitizing and reprocessing (EMDR) to process traumatic and emotional experiences that are still affecting us in the present.

Vanesa is trained in play therapy and enjoys using play to help children as young as four years old to work through trauma and develop adequate methods of coping.

Jennifer Medeiros

M.C., Registered Psychologist

Jennifer is a Registered Psychologist with a Master of Counselling degree from City University of Seattle.

Jennifer’s mission is to cultivate a safe and supportive space to help clients navigate suffering with dignity and grace. She does this by offering a blend of kindness, compassion, as well as insights, perspectives, and experiences.

Jennifer enjoys working with adults and adolescents and is passionate about working with clients impacted by: grief/loss; trauma; emotion dysregulation; anxiety; shame/self-loathing; perfectionism; people-pleasing; depression; suicidality/self-harm; stress/time management; emotional eating; self-esteem; and assertiveness.

She operates primarily from a person-first, holistic, trauma-informed, and attachment-based lens. Jennifer strives to provide flexible and individualized treatment, by drawing on both top-down and bottom-up modalities, such as: person-centred therapy; Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT); Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT); mindfulness; existential therapy; and Somatic Experiencing (SE).

The thing that drives Jennifer every day is simple: love. Love is the energy that fuels her to wish the best for herself, others, and the world. She believes trauma inherently disconnects us and that compassionate and curious states offers opportunities to shift our relationship to the present moment, allowing us to cultivate more tolerance of life's difficulties and lean more fully into experiencing and savouring life’s pleasures and joys.

Jennifer looks forward to compassionately connecting and collaborating with clients as they strive to create ripple effects of change from the inside out.

Hendrika Tennant

M.ed., Registered psychologist

Hendrika is a Registered Psychologist with a Master of Education degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta. There she researched the lived experiences of hope amidst loss. She brings experience working with Alberta Health Services, as a sessional instructor for Concordia University, and as a psychologist in private practice. Hendrika enjoys working with individuals of all ages to provide a safe space to care for internal processes that affect everyday life and what matters most. Some areas of counselling Hendrika has experience in are: self-esteem and self-worth, sleep, communication, boundaries, building a sense of identity, relationships, past trauma and/or abuse, anxiety including social anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and phobias, ADHD, burnout, anger, stress, and grief. Hendrika uses empirically supported approaches including mindfulness and relaxation, Cognitive and Behavioural tools, and gentle exposure techniques (PT, PE) to provide practical interventions. It is exciting to see people find increased wellbeing through accessing their own resilience and continuing to create a meaningful life by identifying and moving towards personal values. Therapy can even be fun within a warm and empowering environment within which to receive support.

Kerri Severin

B.A., M.C.Registered Psychologist

Kerri (She/Her) is a registered psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists, she is a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed, empathetic, genuine, and warm counselor who believes in cultivating a strong working alliance with her clients. She uses person-centered, solution-focused, CBT, DBT, ACT, grief and loss, existential, and EMDR approaches to counsel clients.

She recently completed Gottman Level One training for couples. She worked at the Family Centre and Pride Centre of Edmonton during her practicum (counselling individuals, couples, and families) and has studied First Nations history and culture at University nuhelot'ine thaiyots' nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills.

She identifies as an LGBTQ2S+ and POC ally. She has experience working with teens from 13 years old to seniors, working through depression, anxiety, stress, gender identity, sexuality, grief and loss, PTSD, addictions, self-esteem, work-related issues and life transitions.

She is dedicated to helping people achieve overall life balance, including work or school/life balance for professionals and students.

She believes that counselling can offer a safe place for people to increase hope, identify personal strengths, and grow awareness in order for clients to function better in life.

Ashley Hardy

Registered Provisional psychologist M.A.C.P.

Ashley is a Registered Provisional Psychologist. She completed her Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology with Yorkville University in 2018.

Ashley has spent the past 16 years supporting individuals through various challenges. Working with children through to seniors, she has always held the belief that we cannot go this life in isolation and will each need support in some form at various stages in life. Ashley’s primary areas of focus includes anxiety, depression, grief and loss, emotional dysregulation, trauma, women’s health, barriers for men and boys, and general growth and wellbeing. She continues to grow her interest and education in holistic health and psychology, and focuses on exploring resources with her clients to support them as a whole person. Her professional background includes working with children and youth in crisis and acting as an advocate with police and courts for individuals who have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence.

Kristin Janzen

M.A.C.P., Registered Provisional Psychologist

Kristin is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She earned her Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University in 2022 and has enjoyed being a member of the Evolution team since her internship days.

Before becoming a therapist, Kristin gained many years of experience working with vulnerable populations and students facing learning and mental health challenges in post-secondary settings. As a mother of three, Kristin has a special interest in supporting children aged 10 and up, adolescents, and young adults, as they navigate life’s complexities. She is also dedicated to assisting adults of all ages in exploring their childhood and life experiences to cultivate more understanding, hope, purpose, confidence, and meaning in their present day lives.

Kristin specializes in a range of areas including anxiety, depression, self-esteem, emotional regulation, stress management, parenting issues, life transitions, trauma, and more. She has a particular fondness for working with women and girls with ADHD, anxiety, trauma, and stress. Her primary goal is to meet clients where they are, offering a compassionate and nonjudgmental space while providing personalized coping strategies for managing life’s challenges. Kristin’s motto for her clients is, “Come as you are.”

Kristin’s therapeutic approach person-centred, emphasizing that clients are the experts in their own lives. She collaborates with clients to define and achieve their goals, ensuring a warm, empathetic, and nonjudgmental environment. Kristin integrates various evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Attachment Theory, and Polyvagal Theory, tailoring her methods to each individual’s needs.  

When not in the office, Kristin enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years, their three children (aged 13, 11, and 9), and their three-year-old Goldendoodle. The family enjoys exploring the Edmonton area, including its ravines, bike paths, and dog parks, as well as cheering each other on at various football, gymnastics and volleyball games. Kristin values quality time with loved ones, and can often be found deep in conversation with a good friend, mixed in with a lot of laughs and good snacks. She embraces opportunities for continuous learning, currently focusing on psychoeducational assessments with the aim of offering this service to clients in the future.  

Kristin is able to incorporate a faith-based perspective into her practice if requested and welcomes clients from all faith backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and demographics.

Makayla Caputo

M.C., Registered Provisional Psychologist

Makayla is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Makayla completed her Master’s degree at City University of Seattle. With more than nine years of hands-on experience in the field of human services, she is well-equipped to support adolescents, teens, adults, and couples facing various life challenges. 

Makayla enjoys working with a wide range of concerns, such as trauma, PTSD, interpersonal relationships, attachment issues, perfectionism, self-esteem, emotional dysregulation, stress management, ADHD, burnout, chronic pain, and more. 

Makayla firmly believes in the innate human ability to heal, grow, and flourish. She strongly believes therapy is a collaborative journey that creates a safe and non-judgmental space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and aspirations while being your true, authentic self. She understands that therapy is a unique healing journey. She customizes her approach to meet your specific needs and goals, drawing from various therapeutic modalities like Emotion-Focused Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). 

Nikita Eglinski

M.A.C.P., Registered Provisional Psychologist

Nikita is a Registered Provisional Psychologist. She completed her Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree through Yorkville University.

Nikita believes that every client has an inherent knowledge within themselves to process and understand their unique needs. Nikita believes that cultivating a space that creates safety, support, and understanding can provide an opportunity for clients to explore and reflect upon their inner thoughts without judgement. Nikita believes that clients have transformative knowledge of themselves and their world that can provide insights into their situations better than anyone else.

Nikita utilizes a person-centered and cognitive behavioural therapeutic (CBT) approach with her clients. She believes in listening to a client's story and uncovering their therapeutic needs together. Nikita additionally utilizes solution-focused brief therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for individuals; Gottman method therapy for couples, and creative arts with children and teens. Nikita has an innate understanding of cultural diversity and experience with classic music that are both utilized within the therapy setting as well.

Nikita enjoys working with clients through anxiety, anger, compassion fatigue, depression, grief, intimate partner violence, relationships, stress, sexual orientation & gender identity, suicide prevention, trauma, and women & girls.

Kiersten Todd

M.A.C.P., Registered Provisional Psychologist

Kiersten is a Registered Provisional Psychologist. She completed her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University.

Kiersten's passion for mental health was fostered during her teaching career when she realized she wanted to help the students and staff on a deeper level. She strongly believes that when people are given the time and space to understand what is happening within their mind and body, remarkable change can occur. In her career, she has had the opportunity to assist teens, adults, first responders and vets who have suffered from adverse traumatic events to regain their identity, heal past hurts, and discover the possibilities of their future.

She utilizes an integrated framework, which draws from attachment, psychodynamic, gestalt, trauma-processing, and cognitive behavioural therapies. She is also certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Kiersten allows her clients' space to safely explore their realities while deepening the conversation to help provide insight into underlying negative core beliefs.

She encourages her clients to take an active role with her as you collaboratively navigate a new path where you feel free, confident and capable moving forward.

Tucker

Level-one Obedience, continuing training

Therapy Partner to Kiersten Todd

Tucker is a two-year-old Leonberger and Kiersten’s therapy partner. Tucker received a perfect score in his level-one obedience class through Tracken Kennel Academy and will continue his training this year. In our sessions together, Tucker is available for pets, comic relief, and cuddles (he often forgets his size as he lays on you!). The most wonderful thing about having Tucker in the therapy room is his ability to see people and support them when needed. His grounded presence creates a calm and enjoyable atmosphere for his humans.

Tucker’s favourite things are walks by (in) the river, couch snuggles, napping, road trips, hotdogs, and meeting new people and animals.

Tucker is in the office two days per week. If you would like him to be present in your session, please let us know and we will align your session with his. We will also explain his role and how we can work with him.

Nicole Wheaton

M.C., B.A., Registered provisional psychologist

Nicole (she/her) is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists who has several years working with high-risk children and teens.

Nicole practices from a client-centered, holistic approach that places the client as the expert in their life. She believes in working with clients towards common goals that honor the unique person they are while supporting, empowering, and providing them with a safe space to grow. She believes that it is important to establish a therapeutic relationship that is collaborative, authentic and honors the unique world that each client lives in.

Clients can expect a non-judgmental and supportive environment where individuals of all ages, culture, and identity are welcome. Nicole has a passion for empowering individuals to achieve their fullest potential while meeting them where they are at. Nicole enjoys working with children, teens, adults, couples, and families. Nicole has a passion for supporting individuals with disordered eating, eating disorders and body image. Outside of the office, you can find Nicole hiking, paddleboarding, and taking her dog Lacy for walks in the river valley.

“You cannot stop the waves, but you can learn to surf” 

-Jon Kabat-Zinn

Cecilia Kasten

M. C., Registered Provisional Psychologist

Cecilia is a Registered Provisional Psychologist. She completed her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Yorkville University.

Cecilia utilizes a compassionate and collaborative approach to guide clients as they heal from emotional pain, connect with their own strength and resilience, and move toward personal growth and fulfillment. She strives to create a safe and welcoming space for individuals from all backgrounds and communities and her clinical interest includes a variety of topics including anxiety, grief/loss, relationship challenges, and disordered eating. Cecilia is also passionate about supporting individuals who have been impacted by trauma and has over ten years of experience working with survivors of childhood trauma and family violence.

Cecilia tailors her approach to fit the individual needs of each client and draws from various therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR).

With an emphasis on self-compassion and empowerment, she walks alongside clients as they embark on their unique therapeutic journeys and endeavor to find peace with the past, joy in the present, and hope for the future.

Terrie Burry

M. Div., M.A.C.P., Canadian Certified Counsellor

Terrie received a Master of Divinity degree from the Atlantic School of Theology, and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Yorkville University. Terrie’s approach to therapy is one of empathy, warmth, and unconditional positive regard for her clients. Terrie deeply values the connections formed with clients in therapy, and enjoys working with adults, adolescents, older children and couples. Terrie works predominantly from a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) perspective, while also utilizing solution-focused therapy (SFT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) interventions. Terrie also draws upon the Gottman Method for her work with couples, is trained in clinical hypnosis, and has advanced Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training and is a reiki master

Terrie works with individuals and couples experiencing issues such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, grief and trauma. Terrie also enjoys working with those struggling with questions relating to spirituality and religion, members of the 2slgbtqia+ community, as well as those seeking to learn specific skills, such as effective communication, boundaries and self-compassion. Terrie strives to create a safe and inclusive space in counselling sessions; Terrie is an ally of the LGBTQ2+ community and affirming of polyamorous relationships in therapy

Charlene Lowe

Master's Student Therapist

Charlene Lowe is a counselling psychologist intern from City University of Seattle and is currently completing her practicum hours.

Charlene's passion for mental health became apparent when during her teaching career she saw the struggles that families and children were subject to. As a teacher, she has been able to aid many students in pursuing ways in which they face challenges in meaningful and positive ways. She believes that with support and guidance people are able to achieve their goals in constructive ways. She hopes to learn the best ways in which to aid people to do this.

Currently, Charlene utilizes Dialectical Behavioural Therapies (DBT) in conjunction with Narrative and Attachment theories to support people in understanding how their past affects the decisions they make for their future. She hopes to explore how these modalities can be used to aid people in having deeper relationships between families, friendships, and couples. She especially has a goal of aiding 2slgbtqia+ adolescents in understanding their identities and creating healthy paths for their future.