Laura Kennedy

Psychologist, MA, RPsych

As a counselling psychologist, I offer adult individuals and couples the space and means to feel empowered and (re)discover joy. I respect the innate wisdom of our minds and bodies and trust that each individual has the ability to find a way back to health and wholeness. 

I am pragmatic as well as creative in my approach, and work with each individual and couple to discover the best next step in their healing process. 

Many individuals seek counselling to deal with symptoms that often manifest in anxiety, depression, disrupted sleep, chronic irritability, physical pain, and break down of relationships. Sometimes there is an immediate cause for these symptoms such as recent stressors. Sometimes symptoms manifest after prolonged and chronic stress.

I work with you to address the stress provoking the symptoms, while also supporting symptom management. As such, I specialize in working with individuals who have experienced trauma, such as abuse and/or assault, accidents and/or injury. I have a particular interest in medical and dental trauma, the most under-reported and often most prevalent of all experienced trauma. 

Over the pas 10 years, I have increased my practice and interest in working with individuals who deal with chronic pain, auto-immune disorders and inflammation. Part of this interest is due to my own experiences in this area. I recognize that a multi-modal approach is essential to healing in these complex areas.

I offer body-centred therapy such as SRT (Self-Regulation Therapy), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples.

In addition, I have a keen interest and experiential training in the expressive arts. I have found creative modes of expression to be a key factor in my own healing journey. I have also facilitated and witnessed its power in many of my clients. 

Prior to becoming a psychologist, I offered movement and expressive art workshops to children, adolescents and adults across Alberta, providing a framework to feel empowered through the joy of improvisational play. During my tenure as a counsellor at The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, I co-developed & facilitated a Movement and Expressive Art Therapy Group for women who are survivors of sexual abuse and/or assault. This group won a Laurel Award in 2012.