We are all made of stories.
Our time together.
I believe we are all made of stories. The stories we tell ourselves, and the stories others tell about us. I think these stories have the power to propel us to the tops of mountains or drag us down into the mud. If this sounds a little messy, it’s because it is. Life is messy. Being human is hard, and you don’t have to do it alone. Our sessions together might involve going for a walk, or sitting with some trees, we might dance like nobody is watching, we might scream it out, or sit with the quiet; there will probably be swearing.
Scope of practice.
I am a pre-licensed, Master of Counselling intern therapist offering no cost therapy under the supervision of three registered psychologists.
I am currently available to see individuals aged 18+.
Just some areas of focus we could explore together include: Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Depression, Dementia Caregiving, Death & Dying, Grief & Loss, Major Life Changes and Transitions, Matrescence & Motherhood, Menopause, Neurodiversity, Parenting, Relationships, Identity and Sex & Sexuality, Queer, Trans-and Gender-Affirming Care.
As an uninvited settler on colonized land, I am actively working to decolonize myself as I (un)learn and learn to practice anti-oppression, intersectional therapy. I believe the personal change you seek can also be a meaningful part of social change, and we can do it together.
Member of Skipping Stone’s Trans Affirming Network.
The view from here.
I have always been curious about sociological roots of human understanding and I believe that we can learn a great deal about ourselves from considering the social and cultural constructs and systems that we live within. I bring strength based, emotion focused, existential, narrative, and intersectional feminist approaches to therapy.
I believe that a counsellor needs to embrace and even honour their own fallibility and to be open to change. I believe in failing forward. Part of what has brought me to study counselling psychology is just this; a willingness to acknowledge that life will go off the rails, for you, for me, for all of us. And I believe my ability to persevere, to get up and keep trying will be as invaluable to me as a counsellor as it has been in my life.
I strive to become the type of counsellor that offers a hand to walk with you through what you are experiencing, instead of telling you how you need to be. I believe acknowledging our flaws, challenges and failures is a key step in personal growth.
Narrative Roots Therapy
About me.
I am a storyteller. I forged a rewarding 20-year career in arts marketing and communications in the crucible of live theatre and I am excited to bring my experiences of the transformative power of collective storytelling to help you discover the agency and power I believe you have within yourself.
I am a mother to neurodiverse teenagers, caregiver to a parent with advanced dementia, social justice advocate, intersectional feminist and firmly in midlife; I am a work in progress.
The mountains and water have long been sources of healing and inspiration for me, but after a hiking accident two years ago that nearly took my life and left me with a paralyzed hand, I am rebuilding much of who I am. I have pivoted my graduate studies research from ecopsychology (the connection between biophilia and our mental health) to study resilience, personal narrative, and chronic pain. I have fought my way through the worlds of acute, traumatic, transitional and chronic pain. And like you, I am still here.
So when my head isn’t buried in a book or a research study, and my hands aren’t caring for someone or holding a protest sign, my soul will be in the woods, on the water, and up some rock. I can’t wait to meet you.
Cheers,
Jo
Let's Connect.
I am currently seeing clients under the supervision of Meg Hasek-Watt (she/her), R. Psych through Heart Body Mind Psychological & Assessment Services - a private practice part of Riverwest Therapy Collective.
Book with me as part of Heart Body Mind's Barrier-Free No Cost Program HERE
I also offer therapy through Tara Simpson, R. Psych, Cirrus Psychology and the CAPRI Pain Reset program, a 10-week multidisciplinary chronic pain program serving central Alberta through family doctor referral.
Located in the Riverwest Therapy Collective
850-700 4 AVE SW Calgary, AB T2P 3J4
Reach out today. JoAnn Reynolds (She/Her) BA, MC-in progress Graduate Intern Therapist narrativerootstherapy@gmail.com
