
I believe in providing compassionate care that honours your unique journey. My approach combines empathy, creativity, and evidence-based methods to support healing that feels gentle, authentic, and grounded.
*collage by Lauren Coggins Shadd (2025)

Whatever brings you here, my aim is to offer support and guidance for healing and growth. I strive to create a space where healing feels gentle, real, and deeply supportive for those carrying pain or longing for a softer way forward.

When communication feels stuck, it can be deeply painful. Many couples share how much they miss feeling close and understood. I’m here to help partners reconnect—healing attachment wounds and learning practical, caring ways to communicate with one another.

For many people, spirituality is an important part of who they are. In our work together, we can gently weave your spiritual life into the healing process, honouring your whole person of mind, body, and spirit.

EMDR is a well-researched and proven method for PTSD treatment, and is beneficial for recent traumas and substance misuse as well. Attachment-Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) is a gentle, approach that helps heal the impact of early attachment wounds and trauma. Developed by Dr. Laurel Parnell, it builds on traditional EMDR while weaving in insights from attachment theory.

Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a gentle, body-based approach that helps release the effects of stress and trauma held in the nervous system. It focuses on how patterns like fight, flight, or freeze can keep us stuck, and supports the body’s natural ability to restore balance and resilience. I’m trained to Level IV in Somatic Experiencing®.
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Art-based counselling invites creativity into the healing process. Through collage, drawing, or other forms of expression, you can explore emotions that words may not capture, finding insight, release, and self-understanding along the way. No previous art experience necessary.
Communication is complex and when it breaks down we often feel emotional distress and overwhelm. Whether it's about boundary setting, identifying feelings, or resolving conflict, learning a handful of communication tools in counselling can make a huge difference.
Feel like you're caught in a hamster wheel, or maybe "Groundhog Day"? Let's talk about it and see if we can't uncover the root of the struggle and equip you to get off the wheel.
Learning practical tools to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, neurodivergence, low self-esteem, or substance use can be truly life-changing. Tools that help you understand your nervous system and regulate emotions can bring insight, balance, and a renewed sense of empowerment.
Substance misuse, and/or addictive behaviours, do not happen in a vacuum. Therapy can help you sort out why you may return to old ways of coping despite your desire to change. Research has taught us that addiction is a bio-psycho-social-spiritual issue and that approaching it in a holistic way supports the best possible outcomes. You are more than your behaviour ,and therapy should therefore focus on more than just behaviour.
Many people spend years in counselling yet still don’t feel free. When trauma remains unresolved, certain sensory experiences can reactivate the body’s stress responses like fight, flight, freeze, or fawn—leaving us feeling unsafe or disconnected. Trauma-informed approaches like AF-EMDR and Somatic Experiencing® emphasize trust, safety, choice, and empowerment. You should always feel in control of your therapy process.
Whether it's a happy or difficult change, good stress is still stress for the nervous system. Adjusting to changes in our health, marital status, parenting stages, new boundaries, moves, and job or school changes, can all overload the nervous system. An unbiased neutral and supportive ear in counselling can make the transition less stressful.
Respect for each person's values and beliefs, while tailoring therapy to their individual needs and preferences, is the foundation of my practice. When therapy provides a safe space to explore spiritual questions, doubts, or conflicts that may arise from religious or spiritual beliefs and experiences, healing is supported.
I opened my private practice to create a space where therapy feels gentle, creative, spiritually grounded, and deeply supportive. My work is especially suited for those navigating trauma, mental health challenges, substance misuse, relationship struggles, or a longing for deeper connection with themselves, others, or something greater.
My approach is person-centred integrating trauma-informed care with talk therapy, relevant education, and body-based modalities (including Attachment-Focused EMDR and Somatic Experiencing®), as well as Internal Family Systems and art-based strategies. Together, these approaches support reconnection with your body, emotions, and spirit, at a pace that feels safe and authentic. So what does all that 'jargon' mean? It means you have control and choice and together we will come up with a plan that supports your hopes and goals for change.
My own healing journey began over 35 years ago and changed the course of my life. Having experienced each of the approaches I now offer, I understand the courage it takes to not only begin, but to continue the process of healing even when it feels hard and life is busy. It’s my privilege to walk alongside you on your path toward healing.
I’m currently accepting a limited number of new clients. At this time, sliding scale spaces are full. Direct billing for most insurance plans available.
*photo cred to Con Tanasiuk @genesis.photo

Please reach out to us at rdangerfieldallen@mail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Social workers take a wider, more holistic approach to their clients' well-being, while psychologists assume a more scientific line of action that's geared specifically at treating mental health complications and emotional issues. I have a master's degree in clinical social work and have also studied psychology, at the graduate level, and have experience working in mental health so your experience would be similar.
I am covered by most plans but please contact your insurance provider to ensure that MSW level registered social workers are covered.
That question truly is impossible to answer before we speak. Once I have an idea of what your goals for therapy are, we can talk about the frequency and duration of your therapy.
Attachement-Focused. This modality includes everthing that the original EMDR model has, but adds attachment. We do not begin reprocessing any distressing material until you are comfortable and able to use a variety of resources that that will support your EMDR experience.
Anytime we can creative expression to the therapy experience, it can be called art-based. Collages, mandalas, drawing, painting, poetry, journalling, ect.
Absolutely! I respect each person's spiritual journey and experience. Some people come and say they aren't spiritual, I respect that, too. I will not endeavour to convert you to Christianity, and appreciate if you don't endeavour to convert me to your beliefs.
Yes, I offer no-cost brief consultations to answer any questions you may have and to learn about what you're hoping to work on to see if we may be a good fit.
~Brené Brown~
I’m glad you’ve found your way here. This blog is an extension of my counselling practice, a space where I can slow down, reflect, and share ideas about healing, relationships, creativity, and the everyday moments that shape who we are. I come with my own humanity and invite yours. My hope is that what you find here feels grounding, relatable, and maybe even encouraging, with gentle, sometimes humorous, reminders that you’re not alone in navigating the messy, beautiful work of being human.

The name is a play on my name, Renee, which means renaissance or rebirth, and also that I am a singer. The Wren bird is known for its loud singing and symbolizes rebirth, tranquillity, and good fortune, in many cultures and spiritual traditions.
*lyrics by Curis B. Doss
Please reach out of you have any questions or if you would like to book a no-cost brief consultation (15 minutes).
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107, 14 Mission Avenue, St. Albert, AB, Canada
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