Shakti is the Managing Director and founder of NewLeaf Counselling Services.

Shakti believes that the more we understand ourselves, the more fully we can step into our lives. She recognizes that personal struggles rarely exist in isolation—they are often shaped by the complex web of social systems that surround us, including our families. When working with Shakti, you’ll not only explore solutions to your immediate concerns but also reflect on how your experiences are connected to larger societal patterns and structures.

Shakti was a social worker from 1990 to 2020 and received a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Psychology and Counselling from St. Stephen’s College in Edmonton in 2013. She is a member in good standing with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association , the voluntary governing body that licenses and registers counsellors across Canada. She is also registered with the Association of Counselling Therapists of Alberta.

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Shakti is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy and uses this in all her work. She is also an experienced Mindfulness Practitioner. Shakti is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (C.Hyp) and can utilize hypnotherapy as a tool in some counselling sessions. She is also trained and experienced in providing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to assist with recovery from trauma. 

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Using evidence based attachment focused approaches, Shakti provides individual counselling for a wide range of concerns, including trauma, anxiety, grief, and identity. Shakti specializes in Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples, helping partners strengthen connection and repair patterns of disconnection. She also offers Family Therapy for adult children and their parents, creating space for healing, understanding, and renewed relationship. Her approach is trauma-informed and grounded in Attachment Theory.

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It’s hard to predict exactly how many sessions it will take before you start to feel better—everyone’s journey is different. Most clients have a sense of when things begin to shift and when they’re ready to step away from counselling. Throughout your work together, Shakti will regularly check in with you about your goals and whether the focus of your sessions still feels helpful or needs to shift as you grow.

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