Therapeutic Orientation:

I consider myself to be an integrative psychologist, meaning that I will often integrate a variety of approaches, depending on your needs. These may include:

- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

- Solution Focused Therapy (SFT)

- Internal Family Systems (IFS)

- Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Education:

University of Victoria - Bachelor of Arts (2015)

City University of Seattle - Masters of Counselling (2019)

Relevant Training:

As part of our ethics, we are required to complete a certain amount of hours every year towards our continuing competence. Some of my recent trainings include (but are not limited to):

- Trauma Treatment Certification Training (CCTP)

- Polyvagal Theory for Embodied Trauma

- EMDR & Parts Work for Treating Complex Trauma

- Certified ASD Clinical Specialist Intensive

About McKay Psychology

Hi, I'm Natahlie!

I have worked in the field of mental health for over a decade, and made the transition to private practice in 2021 after spending years supporting unhoused individuals in a shelter setting. This background gave me the unique opportunity to gain a wealth of experience in the areas of trauma and addiction. Since transitioning to private practice, I have continued to advance my training in the areas of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and various mood disorders, including anxiety and depression.

The things I value most in the therapy room are the therapeutic relationship, and authenticity. This means that I promise to show up and be 100% myself, and hope that you will too. Sometimes that might look like laughter, swearing, or reviewing the latest TikTok trend before we dive into the session. I candidly share my own diagnosis of ADHD during intake sessions, as it can help to know that your psychologist really "gets" the complexity of a neurodivergent brain. My clients' know that I am not an old school psychologist that you might have seen in movies, in the sense that there will be no blank face reactions, or minimal feedback provided. Instead I will be myself: a real human being, who is here to listen to you, provide suggestions, and challenge you to untangle patterns that might be making you feel stuck.