Compassionate Somatic Therapy
Nurturing resilience and transformation
Alberta • In-person & Online Sessions
Welcome, I’m Monique.
MIND BODY THERAPIST
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
What I've discovered in my nearly 30 years as a psychologist is that each story is unique and there are many ways to approach healing.
Some people come to my practice because they are facing a difficult life challenge, a loss, or navigating a life transition. They are looking for a sounding board, information to make sense of their situation, help to sort through and map out possible directions, and to learn new strategies.
Others come to explore and heal from the impact of trauma whether recent or as far back as early childhood. It can be a single event or a complex series of injuries (emotional, physical, medical, sexual, neglect, attachment, oppression). I will work with you to listen for your story, to create more safety and stability, to better understand what happened and its impact.
When working with trauma, I mostly draw upon my knowledge of somatic therapies to provide avenues for healing. My work with clients is collaborative, intuitive and informed by research. Lastly, it is the stories and courage of clients that breathes life into my practice.
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BA in Humanities and Fine Arts
Coursework in Psychology, Spirituality, and Social Change
MA in Counselling Psychology
Registered Psychologist, 1996
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), 1998
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), 2016-2018 - at present assist with SE trainings
Bodynamics Training, 2011-2022
Early Developmental Trauma training, 2015- 2022
ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy), 2023
Deb Dana and Polyvagal theory, 2024
EMDR 2.0, 2025
Natural Processing, 2025
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The first coffee of the day
Time with friends and family
Creating home
Sunbeams in the winter and a cool breeze in the summer
Nature and my garden
Being active: kayaking, cycling, walking, skiing
Being creative: painting classes, photography, renos, landscaping
Finding peace within
You might be here because…
You feel anxious or stuck in patterns that don't make sense.
You’ve done talk therapy, but your body still holds the pain.
You're moving through grief or loss, recent or long ago.
You’re in a life transition and aren’t sure what’s next.
You carry wounds from early life or childhood.
You’re seeking deeper connection to yourself, others, or something greater.
Therapy can help you:
Feel safer and more at home in your body
Reduce anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or shutdown
Build compassion for yourself and your story
Increase clarity, confidence, and internal calm
Deepen your connection with others and with life
Find meaning and healing even in long-held patterns
Find more ease with navigating attachment styles
What is Somatic therapy?
In addition to a cognitive understanding found in talk therapy, somatic therapies incorporate an understanding of the body, nervous system and brain functioning in the healing process.
Books like “The Body Keeps Score,” point to how we hold patterns of stress, pain, physical symptoms, reactivity, and flight/fight/freeze responses in our body due to memories, grief and traumatic experiences as early as birth. It’s like the body holds its own version of the story which fills out a more complete picture. This branch of somatic therapies also looks for the ways to incorporate the body and understanding of the nervous system (along with talking) into the therapy process.
Other Somatic therapies will focus on how memories or experiences are storied in our brain and with the use of bi-lateral stimulation can release negative or traumatic associations and bring more freedom and healing.
Symptoms of trauma or grief may occur immediately or emerge over time from the compounding stress and challenges of processing and adapting to ongoing experiences in life.
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Somatic experiencing is process oriented and encompasses a range of approaches to restore well-being. Foundational to SE is that the body or nervous system tells an important part of our story and holds wisdom to assist with healing. They are also known for a technique called titration (small, manageable exposures to sensations) and pendulation (shifting between states of discomfort and safety) to process emotional experiences at a slower safe pace.
Natural Processing (NP) emerged from an integration of somatic based practices like SE with the bi-lateral stimulation of EMDR. NP believes in the healing nature of our nervous system as we explore experiences of disconnection, resilience and transformation.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured approach using bi-lateral movements to help the brain reprocess distressing memories, reducing their emotional charge and allowing them to be integrated more peacefully.
ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) is a brief, directive approach that uses eye movements and visualization to reduce emotional pain tied to traumatic events. It is effective for recent events.
EMDR 2.0 builds on the standard EMDR protocol by incorporating working memory theory and using techniques to increase client motivation, fully activate traumatic memories, and tax the client's working memory with specific tasks. This helps destabilize emotionally charged memories, making them less disturbing and improving the outcome of the therapy.
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Bodynamics is a developmental body-psychotherapy that explores how the energetic and physical body holds ways of being in the world that were formed developmentally as far back as in utero through to adolescence. It offers insight into long held patterns of tension, strategies of negotiating discomfort, and ways of relating to the others.
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Porges researched the development of the nervous system and its important systems for survival and enjoyment. Deb Dana translated Porge’s work into a therapeutic model. She is known for capturing “glimmer moments” that she anchors in brief body centered mindfulness.
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Focused on preverbal and attachment-based trauma that lives in the body, this work supports deep healing of patterns formed in the earliest stages of life.
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In addition to the Somatic work, I also bring my well loved techniques and knowledge Areas: Grief Counselling, Transactional Analysis (parent, adult, child), Parts Work, Attachment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Brief Therapy, Myers Briggs and Discovery Insights, Communication, Aging
Integrative Approach
My work draws on the deep connection between:
Mind: Understanding patterns, calming inner dialogue, building insight
Body: Tuning into sensation, understanding of the nervous system, implicit memories, releasing trauma and restoring balance
Spirit: Reconnecting with meaning, intuition, and what feels deeply true
Community: Healing in relationship through trust, support, and belonging
These four dimensions shape how we experience ourselves in the world and how we begin to heal. When we include all parts of ourselves in the process, change becomes deeper, more sustainable, and more meaningful.
Ways to Work Together
There’s no one-size-fits-all way to begin.
Whether you are navigating a specific challenge, recent trauma or life transition, in need of a sounding board, or simply checking in to maintain attunement with yourself.
The average sessions are 60 minutes, in-person in Calgary, online in Alberta.
Single Sessions
A one-time or occasional session to support you in the moment — whether you're navigating a specific challenge, need grounding, or want to check in with your body and nervous system.
Flexible, low-pressure, and focused entirely on what’s present for you now.
Ongoing Therapy
Regular sessions to support deeper healing, regulation, and transformation over time.
This is ideal for working with complex trauma, developmental trauma, some experiences of grief and anxiety, or long standing patterns you want to shift.
Each session is collaborative and attuned to your pace.
Let’s connect
I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can get to know each other and see if working together feels like a good fit.
Whether you're ready to begin or just have questions, you're welcome to reach out.
I’m based in Calgary, Alberta, and offer both in-person and online sessions. I have two offices located in the neighbourhood of Currie & Southwood with free parking and a welcoming, private space.
Fees are in keeping with the standard set by the Psychological Association of Alberta
I look forward to connecting with you.